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Samantha Womack

Samantha Zoe Womack[2] (née Janus; born 2 November 1972) is an English actress, singer, model and director who has worked in film, television and stage. Womack initially planned a career in singing and she represented the United Kingdom in the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest. Her song for the contest, "A Message to Your Heart", was released as her first (and only) single in April 1991 and reached number 30 in the UK Singles Chart.

Samantha Womack
Womack in 2016
Born
Samantha Zoe Janus

(1972-11-02) 2 November 1972 (age 50)
Brighton, England
Alma materSylvia Young Theatre School
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, model, director
Years active1989–present
Spouses
  • Junfan Mantovani
    (m. 1997; div. 1998)
  • (m. 2009; sep. 2018)
PartnerOliver Farnworth (2021–present)[1]
Children2
Relatives
Musical career
GenresPop
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1991
LabelsSony Music Entertainment

Womack made her name in the mid-1990s with her role as Mandy Wilkins in Game On (1995–1998) leading onto roles in the BBC One drama Pie in the Sky (1995–1996) and the sitcom Babes in the Wood (1998). She has since become known for playing the role of Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders (2007–2011, 2013–2017). Her portrayal of Ronnie gained her more prominence and acting roles after some time out of the limelight. She also played Tanya Porter in Sky One comedy-drama Mount Pleasant from 2013 until the final episode in 2017. Womack has also toured across the United Kingdom playing Morticia Addams in the stage musical The Addams Family.

Early life

Womack was born in Brighton. Her singer-songwriter father, Noel Janus (born Janes),[3] left the family when she was six, and soon after, her model-actress mother, Diana O'Hanlon, married a doctor and the family moved to Edinburgh.

 
Womack lived on the QE2 (pictured here in 1976).

Womack lived on the QE2 with her choreographer grandmother, Sheila Holt (a former actress and choreographer to magician David Nixon for a short time). Womack has a younger half-sister, Zoe. During an appearance on Big Star's Little Star in 2014, it was revealed that she attended the same school as members of All Saints, sisters Nicole and Natalie Appleton,[4] before going to the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London, where she met future EastEnders co-star Danniella Westbrook.[5][6] At the age of 15, as a self-confessed "wild child", she left home for a life squatting, drinking, smoking and taking drugs.[7]

Womack is the niece of Angie Best, her father's sister and former wife of footballer George Best.[7] Angie's son, Calum Best, is Womack's cousin. As revealed on an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? in 2012, Womack's great-great-grandmother Jessie Ryder was an actress in New York City in the early 20th century.[8]

Career

Eurovision and early career

The actress first came to prominence in March 1991 aged 18, when she won the annual A Song for Europe competition to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest.[9] She finished joint tenth and the song, "A Message to Your Heart", peaked at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart.[10] Despite her achievements, her Eurovision entry is frequently remarked upon. She has said regarding the experience that her failure in the contest "devastated" her at the time and thought it would spell the end of her career. She has also called her appearance "ridiculous", in that she was dressed in a pink mini dress while singing about starving children and said the lyrics of the song are "burned into her memory" forever.[11]

Womack developed her first love of acting, appearing in episodes of The Bill and Press Gang; in 1993 she appeared in Demob with Griff Rhys Jones and Martin Clunes; and took to the West End stage, replacing Debbie Gibson as Sandy in Grease.

From 1994 to 1998 Womack played Mandy in the BBC Two sitcom Game On opposite Ben Chaplin (later replaced by Neil Stuke). She remained on the show until its end in 1998. In between series of Game On, she had a part in the BBC One drama Pie in the Sky from 1995 to 1996 as Nicola Dooley, a waitress.

Womack then appeared in the pilot for The Grimleys with Jack Dee, and the film Up 'n' Under with Neil Morrissey. In 1998 she starred in the ITV1 series Liverpool 1 with her future husband Mark Womack. She then returned to comedy in the sitcom Babes in the Wood co-starring another Sylvia Young Theatre School student, Denise van Outen, it was critically panned despite respectable ratings, and Womack left after the first series.

In 2002 Womack starred as Cinderella in the ITV Christmas pantomime alongside Harry Hill, Alexander Armstrong, Frank Skinner, Paul Merton, Ronnie Corbett and many more.

A popular choice for photo shoots in men's magazines such as FHM, she came 21st in the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll in 1998 and 41st in 1999.

Smaller roles

In 1990, she appeared as a guest in two episodes of the CITV comedy sitcom Spatz; Series 1 Episode 2 and 3. It is rumoured that a possible falling out may have occurred leading to her swift exit from the show after such a brief stint. This is fuelled by her reluctance to admit for many years that she was part of the show.[12]

In 2002 she returned to TV in BBC One drama Strange and she appeared in films The Baby Juice Express, Lighthouse Hill and Dead Man's Cards.

In January 2005 she narrated Jordan & Peter: Laid Bare for ITV2. She later directed an anti-bullying music video for Liverpool band Just 3, entitled Stand Tall. The video starred her and Liverpool F.C. footballer Jamie Carragher. The video was heavily backed by Childline ambassador Esther Rantzen.

In 2006, Womack starred in the BBC One comedy Home Again as Ingrid, and as Miss Adelaide in the West End production of the musical Guys and Dolls at London's Piccadilly Theatre, initially with Patrick Swayze and then Miami Vice star Don Johnson. She reprised the role at the Sunderland Empire opposite Alex Ferns in 2007.

EastEnders

On 11 May 2007 it was announced that she would be joining EastEnders as Ronnie Mitchell, a cousin of the well known Mitchell brothers.[13] She had previously appeared in the soap in a minor role as a girlfriend of Simon Wicks.[14] During her first stint, Womack's character Ronnie was central to many storylines including the controversial baby-swap story which was aired during 2011. On 6 January 2011, it was announced that she had quit the soap due to her unhappiness with the baby swap storyline. Womack made her final appearance as Ronnie on 7 July 2011 when the character was sent to prison.[15]

Since appearing on EastEnders she has made regular television appearances on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, The Paul O'Grady Show, Richard & Judy and Loose Women. In November 2007, she sang with EastEnders co-stars in the 2007 Children in Need charity appeal.

In May 2013, it was confirmed that Womack would return to EastEnders as Ronnie Mitchell. Womack's character Ronnie Mitchell was later killed off on the episode broadcast 1 January 2017 when she was trying to save Roxy Mitchell from drowning and drowned herself. Her last appearance was on the episode broadcast 19 January 2017 when Ronnie was shown as a corpse lying in her coffin.[citation needed]

Theatre and continued success

In 2011 Womack played the lead role, Ensign Nellie Forbush, a US Navy nurse from Little Rock, Arkansas, in the Lincoln Center production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical South Pacific at the Barbican Theatre in London.[16] In March 2013, Womack starred opposite her husband on stage in the world premiere of Hope at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool.[17]

From September 2013, Womack played the regular role of Tanya in series three of Sky Living's Mount Pleasant. She continued in this role until the final episode in 2017. Altogether, Womack appeared in 25 episodes as Tanya Dawson (later Porter when the character married).

In 2015, she appeared in the film Kingsman: The Secret Service as lead actor Taron Egerton's character's mother. This was Womack's first main role in such a high-profile film. In 2017 Womack reprised the role in a smaller appearance in Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

In 2017, Womack toured as Morticia Adams in the musical-comedy Addams Family as Morticia around the UK and Ireland.[18] She was announced to reprise the role in 2021 for a tour around UK and Ireland, however she did not reprise the role on tour for unknown reasons. The role of Morticia Addams was instead played by Strictly Come Dancing champion Joanne Clifton

In September 2018, it was announced that she would be playing Fairy Bow Bells in the pantomime Dick Whittington.[19]

Womack appeared in Silent Witness in early 2019.[20] On an episode of Loose Women in February 2019, Womack confirmed that offers had been made to her about a project with co-star and best friend Rita Simons. In response to this, they both said that they would wait for the right one to come along.

From 2021 to 2023, she portrayed the White Witch in the UK touring and West End productions of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.[21][22]

Other ventures

In January 2011 she appeared as one of the celebrity contestants on the BBC show The Magicians, working with magician Chris Korn. For her "celebrity's choice" trick, she chose being sawn in half by Korn in an illusion called Clearly Impossible. In March 2011 she appeared with Lenny Henry, Angela Rippon and Reggie Yates in the BBC fundraising documentary for Comic Relief called Famous, Rich and in the Slums, where the four celebrities were sent to Kibera in Kenya, Africa's largest slum.[23]

In November 2011, it was reported that Womack was in the running, alongside Dannii Minogue to become a judge on the 2012 series of Britain's Got Talent. However, it was later confirmed that the judging panel for series six would be Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and David Walliams. Womack has since confirmed that she was offered a place on the judging panel and that she had a meeting with Cowell in Los Angeles. She has said that although she was grateful, she rejected the offer as "it's just not me".

In 2012 Womack appeared in series nine of the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? The episode revealed her descent on her father's side from two musicians, her great grandfather Alexander Cunningham Ryan, his partner's father Pierre François Odilon Garraud, & Pierre's partner, an actress, Jessie Ryder.[3][24]

In February 2013, she took part in All Star Family Fortunes, donating money to Comic Relief and ActionAid.[25]

Womack was interviewed on John Bishop: In Conversation With... in November 2017. This episode titled John Bishop: In Conversation With...Samantha Womack included an in depth conversation about her life and career. In February 2020, it was announced that Womack would be taking part in the challenge for Sport Relief. In 2021, she acted alongside Harry Potter actress Jessie Cave in the British sitcom Buffering.

Personal life

In 2007, Womack won "substantial" damages from the Sunday Sport newspaper over a story headlined "Sam's sex and drugs shame". She sued the Sport over an article published on 22 July, which claimed she had "coke fuelled threesomes" and took part in a "three-hour drug fuelled lesbian orgy".[26]

In September 2015, it was reported that she was "living in fear" and had alerted the police that she was being stalked.[27] The stalker was given a suspended sentence in December, the same year.

Relationships

Janus married an Italian citizen, Junfan Mantovani, in 1997 after a long relationship. The relationship broke down and the couple divorced in 1998.

Womack began a relationship with Liverpool 1 co-star Mark Womack. They married in 2009 after ten years together. The couple have two children:[28][29] son Benjamin Thomas Womack (born 2001) and daughter Lili-Rose Womack (born 2005). Mark Womack also has a son, Michael Womack, from a previous marriage.[30][31] In 2009, Womack took her husband's surname and began to use it professionally.[32] In August 2020, Womack announced that she and Mark had quietly separated in 2018, but that they are still living together in the same house with their children.[33]

Womack and her husband Mark are best friends with Scott Maslen and his wife Estelle Rubio. They have known each other since they were teenagers. Maslen is godfather to Womack's two children, and she is godmother to Maslen's son, Zak. They often go on holiday together with their children, which Womack revealed during an appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross in January 2008. In late 2007 Maslen joined the cast of EastEnders as Jack Branning, who has a relationship with Womack's character, Ronnie. This was something that both Maslen and Womack were initially uncomfortable with when they read the scripts, with Maslen commenting in various interviews that having to kiss Womack was like having to kiss his sister.[31][34] Womack is also best friends with her former EastEnders co-star Rita Simons, who played her sister Roxy Mitchell.[35]

Health

In April 2008, Womack broke her shoulder when she tripped and fell down the stairs at her home while rushing to get ready for work.[36]

On 8 August 2022, Womack paid tribute to Dame Olivia Newton-John following her death from breast cancer, and confirmed on Twitter that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer herself.[37] In December 2022, Womack announced that she was now cancer free.[38][39]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Mama's Back Sharon Emmanuel
1995 Call Up the Stars Zoe Gail
1997 Deadly Instincts Louise
1998 Up 'n' Under Hazel Scott
2004 Short Tall Woman
The Baby Juice Express Trixie
Lighthouse Hill Jennifer
2006 Dead Man's Cards Kris
2007 Forgiven Kate
2014 One Night in Istanbul Carmella Jones
2015 Kingsman: The Secret Service Michelle Unwin
2017 Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Jekyll & Hyde Young Maid (Margaret)
Spatz Antonia "Toni" Gordon
1991 The Bill Secretary
1992 Annie Carlisle
1991 Wogan Herself Performing "A Message to Your Heart"
Top of the Pops
Eurovision Song Contest 1991 United Kingdom's entry; 10th place
El C.I.D. Waitress
Press Gang
A Murder of Quality Alice Lawry
1992 Starting Out Trixie
1993 Demob Hedda 6 episodes; series regular
Health and Efficiency Charmaine
1994 Minder Marian
1995 That's Showbusiness Herself Panelist
Shooting Stars
1995–1996 Pie in the Sky Nicola Dooley 22 episodes; series regular
1995–1998 Game On Mandy Wilkins 18 episodes; main role
1996 Sharman Jane
1997 The Grimleys Geraldine Titley
The Generation Game Herself Contestant
1997–1998 This Is Your Life
Noel's House Party Guest
1998 Imogen's Face Imogen 3 episodes; lead role
Babes in the Wood Ruth Froud 7 episodes; main role
Liverpool 1 DC Isobel de Pauli 12 episodes; lead role
2000 Cinderella Cinderella
2002–2003 Strange Jude Atkins 7 episodes, lead role
2002 Judge John Deed Mel Powell
2003 Undercover Sex Jake
2005 The Afternoon Play Emma Priestley
2006 Home Again Ingrid Main role
Where the Heart Is Marla Episode: "Home Grown"
2007 Wild at Heart Tessa Episode: #2.2
2007–2011, 2013–2017 EastEnders Ronnie Mitchell Series regular; 778 episodes
2013–2017 Mount Pleasant Tanya Porter/Dawson Series regular; 25 episodes
2019 Silent Witness DI Kate Ashton 2 episodes
2021 Buffering Steph Episode: #1.1

Theatre credits

Year Title Role Notes
1994–1995 Grease Sandy Dominion Theatre
2007 Guys and Dolls Miss Adelaide Piccadilly Theatre
2011 South Pacific Ensign Nellie Forbush Barbican Centre, London
2013 Hope Hope Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
2013–2014 Jack and the Beanstalk Spirit of the Beans Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
2014–2015 Dick Whittington Alice Fitzwarren Sheffield Lyceum
2016–2017 Dick Whittington Alice Fitzwarren Milton Keynes Theatre
2017 The Addams Family Morticia Addams UK Tour
2017–2018 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Wicked Queen New Theatre, Cardiff
2018–2019 Dick Whittington Evil Queen Theatre Royal, Plymouth
2019 The Girl on the Train Rachel Watson Various Locations
2019–2020 Cinderella Fairy Godmother New Wimbledon Theatre
2021–2023 The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe The White Witch UK Tour, Gillian Lynne Theatre

Discography

Awards and nominations

Year Result Award Category
2008 Nominated All About Soap Bubble Awards Fatal Attraction (with Scott Maslen)[41]
Nominated The British Soap Awards Best On-Screen Partnership (with Rita Simons)[42]
Nominated Sexiest Female
Won Digital Spy Soap Awards Best On-Screen Partnership (with Rita Simons)[43]
2009 Nominated The British Soap Awards Best Actress[44]
Shortlisted TV Quick and TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress[45]
2010 Nominated All About Soap Bubble Awards I'm A Survivor[46]
Nominated The British Soap Awards Sexiest Female[47]
Shortlisted Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female[48]
2011 Won All About Soap Bubble Awards Best Baby Drama (with Jessie Wallace)[49]
Nominated The British Soap Awards Sexiest Female[50]
2012 Nominated Shorty Awards Best Actress[51]
Nominated Best Fansite[52][53]

References

  1. ^ Adejobi, Alicia (16 May 2021). "EastEnders actress Samantha Womack "dating" former Coronation Street actor Oliver Farnworth following split from husband". Metro. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Soaps – Soap Scoop – Jack's proposal, Jason and Tina's romp, E'dale secret". Digital Spy. 14 June 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Who Do You Think You Are? Samantha Womack". thegenealogist.co.uk. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  4. ^ Crawford, Sue (25 May 2021). "The Addams Family actress Samantha Womack: My best friend is my daughter". Daily Express. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Sam's relishing theatre return". Manchester Evening News. 15 February 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Westbrook, McFadden: 'We'd love Grant back'". Digital Spy. 8 September 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  7. ^ a b . Uktv.co.uk. 29 March 2007. Archived from the original on 17 May 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  8. ^ Samantha Womack – Who Do You Think You Are? dated 1 August 2012 at thegenealogist.co.uk, accessed 25 August 2017
  9. ^ "The unlikely stars of Eurovision". Metro.co.uk. 9 January 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  10. ^ "SAMANTHA JANUS | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  11. ^ Radio Times interview, April 2006
  12. ^ "Spatz S1E3 (1990) - FULL EPISODE". YouTube. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Samantha Janus lands EastEnders role". Digitalspy.co.uk. 11 May 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  14. ^ . Bbc.co.uk. 1 January 1970. Archived from the original on 26 August 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  15. ^ Still, Jennifer (6 January 2011). "Womack quits 'EastEnders' over cot death plot". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  16. ^ Barbican programme for South Pacific, 2011
  17. ^ . Liverpool-live.info. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  18. ^ EastEnders star Samantha Womack to play Morticia in Addams Family musical – Coronation Street's Les Dennis will be Fester!, Radio Times, 18 November 2016
  19. ^ "TV stars John Partridge and Samantha Womack to headline in regional pantomime". The Cornish Times. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  20. ^ Yaqoob, Janine (9 June 2018). "Samantha Womack lands new starring role in her first TV job since leaving EastEnders". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  21. ^ "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tour reveals first look and additional dates | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  22. ^ Bosanquet, Theo (20 May 2022). "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to transfer to the West End this summer | WhatsOnStage". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 24 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ Mangan, L. (4 March 2011). "The Guardian, TV Review". London. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  24. ^ "BBC One – Who Do You Think You Are?, Series 9, Samantha Womack". Bbc.co.uk. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  25. ^ "All Star Family Fortunes" (Press release). ITV. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  26. ^ "Samantha Janus wins payout over lesbian orgy claim". Press Gazette. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  27. ^ Shenton, Zoe (15 September 2015). "EastEnders star Sam Womack calls police after terrifying stalker CAMPS outside family home". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  28. ^ "England & Wales births 1837–2006 Transcription for Benjamin Thomas G Womack, Westminster". Retrieved 13 October 2015 – via Find My Past.
  29. ^ "England & Wales births 1837–2006 Transcription for Lili-Rose Womack, Westminster". Retrieved 13 October 2015 – via Find My Past.
  30. ^ "Samantha Womack profile: news, photos, style, videos and more – HELLO! Online". Hellomagazine.com. 2 November 1972. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  31. ^ a b "EastEnders' wife-swap? | Metro.co.uk". Metro.co.uk. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  32. ^ . BBC. 24 July 2007. Archived from the original on 26 August 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  33. ^ "Ex-EE star Samantha Womack confirms split from Emmerdale's Mark Womack". Digital Spy. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  34. ^ "Soaps – News – Walford actress struggled with kissing scene – Digital Spy". Digital Spy<!. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  35. ^ "Rita Simons and Samantha Janus – Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008 – Digital Spy". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  36. ^ "Samantha breaks shoulder. Samantha Janus sported a sling at the Bafta TV Awards after she broke her shoulder". Metro. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  37. ^ MacLeod, Melanie (9 August 2022). "EastEnders star Samantha Womack reveals cancer diagnosis with emotional statement". Hello. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  38. ^ "Former EastEnders star Samantha Womack reveals she is cancer free five months after her diagnosis". Sky News. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  39. ^ McLoughlin, Lisa (5 December 2022). "EastEnders star Samantha Womack reveals she's cancer free five months after her diagnosis". Evening Standard. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  40. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 279. ISBN 978-1-904994-10-7.
  41. ^ . 19 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  42. ^ "The British Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". digitalspy.co.uk. 4 May 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  43. ^ "Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". digitalspy.co.uk. 21 March 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  44. ^ "British Soap Awards 2009: The Winners". digitalspy.co.uk. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  45. ^ "TV Quick and TV Choice Awards Shortlist". msntvuk.wordpress.com. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  46. ^ "Vote in the All About Soap 'Bubble' Awards". digitalspy.co.uk. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  47. ^ "British Soap Awards 2010: The Winners". digitalspy.co.uk. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  48. ^ "Inside Soap Awards Shortlist". digitalspy.co.uk. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  49. ^ "In Full: All About Soap Bubble winners". digitalspy.co.uk. 27 March 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  50. ^ "British Soap Award nominations revealed". 3 May 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  51. ^ . shortyawards.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  52. ^ . shortyawards.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  53. ^ . shortyawards.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.

External links

samantha, womack, womack, redirects, here, american, football, player, samuel, womack, samantha, womack, née, janus, born, november, 1972, english, actress, singer, model, director, worked, film, television, stage, womack, initially, planned, career, singing, . Sam Womack redirects here For American football player see Samuel Womack Samantha Zoe Womack 2 nee Janus born 2 November 1972 is an English actress singer model and director who has worked in film television and stage Womack initially planned a career in singing and she represented the United Kingdom in the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest Her song for the contest A Message to Your Heart was released as her first and only single in April 1991 and reached number 30 in the UK Singles Chart Samantha WomackWomack in 2016BornSamantha Zoe Janus 1972 11 02 2 November 1972 age 50 Brighton EnglandAlma materSylvia Young Theatre SchoolOccupation s Actress singer model directorYears active1989 presentSpousesJunfan Mantovani m 1997 div 1998 wbr Mark Womack m 2009 sep 2018 wbr PartnerOliver Farnworth 2021 present 1 Children2RelativesAngie Best aunt Calum Best cousin Musical careerGenresPopInstrument s VocalsYears active1991LabelsSony Music EntertainmentWomack made her name in the mid 1990s with her role as Mandy Wilkins in Game On 1995 1998 leading onto roles in the BBC One drama Pie in the Sky 1995 1996 and the sitcom Babes in the Wood 1998 She has since become known for playing the role of Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders 2007 2011 2013 2017 Her portrayal of Ronnie gained her more prominence and acting roles after some time out of the limelight She also played Tanya Porter in Sky One comedy drama Mount Pleasant from 2013 until the final episode in 2017 Womack has also toured across the United Kingdom playing Morticia Addams in the stage musical The Addams Family Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Eurovision and early career 2 2 Smaller roles 2 3 EastEnders 2 4 Theatre and continued success 2 5 Other ventures 3 Personal life 3 1 Relationships 3 2 Health 4 Filmography 4 1 Film 4 2 Television 5 Theatre credits 6 Discography 7 Awards and nominations 8 References 9 External linksEarly life EditWomack was born in Brighton Her singer songwriter father Noel Janus born Janes 3 left the family when she was six and soon after her model actress mother Diana O Hanlon married a doctor and the family moved to Edinburgh Womack lived on the QE2 pictured here in 1976 Womack lived on the QE2 with her choreographer grandmother Sheila Holt a former actress and choreographer to magician David Nixon for a short time Womack has a younger half sister Zoe During an appearance on Big Star s Little Star in 2014 it was revealed that she attended the same school as members of All Saints sisters Nicole and Natalie Appleton 4 before going to the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London where she met future EastEnders co star Danniella Westbrook 5 6 At the age of 15 as a self confessed wild child she left home for a life squatting drinking smoking and taking drugs 7 Womack is the niece of Angie Best her father s sister and former wife of footballer George Best 7 Angie s son Calum Best is Womack s cousin As revealed on an episode of Who Do You Think You Are in 2012 Womack s great great grandmother Jessie Ryder was an actress in New York City in the early 20th century 8 Career EditEurovision and early career Edit The actress first came to prominence in March 1991 aged 18 when she won the annual A Song for Europe competition to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 9 She finished joint tenth and the song A Message to Your Heart peaked at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart 10 Despite her achievements her Eurovision entry is frequently remarked upon She has said regarding the experience that her failure in the contest devastated her at the time and thought it would spell the end of her career She has also called her appearance ridiculous in that she was dressed in a pink mini dress while singing about starving children and said the lyrics of the song are burned into her memory forever 11 Womack developed her first love of acting appearing in episodes of The Bill and Press Gang in 1993 she appeared in Demob with Griff Rhys Jones and Martin Clunes and took to the West End stage replacing Debbie Gibson as Sandy in Grease From 1994 to 1998 Womack played Mandy in the BBC Two sitcom Game On opposite Ben Chaplin later replaced by Neil Stuke She remained on the show until its end in 1998 In between series of Game On she had a part in the BBC One drama Pie in the Sky from 1995 to 1996 as Nicola Dooley a waitress Womack then appeared in the pilot for The Grimleys with Jack Dee and the film Up n Under with Neil Morrissey In 1998 she starred in the ITV1 series Liverpool 1 with her future husband Mark Womack She then returned to comedy in the sitcom Babes in the Wood co starring another Sylvia Young Theatre School student Denise van Outen it was critically panned despite respectable ratings and Womack left after the first series In 2002 Womack starred as Cinderella in the ITV Christmas pantomime alongside Harry Hill Alexander Armstrong Frank Skinner Paul Merton Ronnie Corbett and many more A popular choice for photo shoots in men s magazines such as FHM she came 21st in the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll in 1998 and 41st in 1999 Smaller roles Edit In 1990 she appeared as a guest in two episodes of the CITV comedy sitcom Spatz Series 1 Episode 2 and 3 It is rumoured that a possible falling out may have occurred leading to her swift exit from the show after such a brief stint This is fuelled by her reluctance to admit for many years that she was part of the show 12 In 2002 she returned to TV in BBC One drama Strange and she appeared in films The Baby Juice Express Lighthouse Hill and Dead Man s Cards In January 2005 she narrated Jordan amp Peter Laid Bare for ITV2 She later directed an anti bullying music video for Liverpool band Just 3 entitled Stand Tall The video starred her and Liverpool F C footballer Jamie Carragher The video was heavily backed by Childline ambassador Esther Rantzen In 2006 Womack starred in the BBC One comedy Home Again as Ingrid and as Miss Adelaide in the West End production of the musical Guys and Dolls at London s Piccadilly Theatre initially with Patrick Swayze and then Miami Vice star Don Johnson She reprised the role at the Sunderland Empire opposite Alex Ferns in 2007 EastEnders Edit On 11 May 2007 it was announced that she would be joining EastEnders as Ronnie Mitchell a cousin of the well known Mitchell brothers 13 She had previously appeared in the soap in a minor role as a girlfriend of Simon Wicks 14 During her first stint Womack s character Ronnie was central to many storylines including the controversial baby swap story which was aired during 2011 On 6 January 2011 it was announced that she had quit the soap due to her unhappiness with the baby swap storyline Womack made her final appearance as Ronnie on 7 July 2011 when the character was sent to prison 15 Since appearing on EastEnders she has made regular television appearances on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross The Paul O Grady Show Richard amp Judy and Loose Women In November 2007 she sang with EastEnders co stars in the 2007 Children in Need charity appeal In May 2013 it was confirmed that Womack would return to EastEnders as Ronnie Mitchell Womack s character Ronnie Mitchell was later killed off on the episode broadcast 1 January 2017 when she was trying to save Roxy Mitchell from drowning and drowned herself Her last appearance was on the episode broadcast 19 January 2017 when Ronnie was shown as a corpse lying in her coffin citation needed Theatre and continued success Edit In 2011 Womack played the lead role Ensign Nellie Forbush a US Navy nurse from Little Rock Arkansas in the Lincoln Center production of Rodgers and Hammerstein s musical South Pacific at the Barbican Theatre in London 16 In March 2013 Womack starred opposite her husband on stage in the world premiere of Hope at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool 17 From September 2013 Womack played the regular role of Tanya in series three of Sky Living s Mount Pleasant She continued in this role until the final episode in 2017 Altogether Womack appeared in 25 episodes as Tanya Dawson later Porter when the character married In 2015 she appeared in the film Kingsman The Secret Service as lead actor Taron Egerton s character s mother This was Womack s first main role in such a high profile film In 2017 Womack reprised the role in a smaller appearance in Kingsman The Golden Circle In 2017 Womack toured as Morticia Adams in the musical comedy Addams Family as Morticia around the UK and Ireland 18 She was announced to reprise the role in 2021 for a tour around UK and Ireland however she did not reprise the role on tour for unknown reasons The role of Morticia Addams was instead played by Strictly Come Dancing champion Joanne CliftonIn September 2018 it was announced that she would be playing Fairy Bow Bells in the pantomime Dick Whittington 19 Womack appeared in Silent Witness in early 2019 20 On an episode of Loose Women in February 2019 Womack confirmed that offers had been made to her about a project with co star and best friend Rita Simons In response to this they both said that they would wait for the right one to come along From 2021 to 2023 she portrayed the White Witch in the UK touring and West End productions of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe 21 22 Other ventures Edit In January 2011 she appeared as one of the celebrity contestants on the BBC show The Magicians working with magician Chris Korn For her celebrity s choice trick she chose being sawn in half by Korn in an illusion called Clearly Impossible In March 2011 she appeared with Lenny Henry Angela Rippon and Reggie Yates in the BBC fundraising documentary for Comic Relief called Famous Rich and in the Slums where the four celebrities were sent to Kibera in Kenya Africa s largest slum 23 In November 2011 it was reported that Womack was in the running alongside Dannii Minogue to become a judge on the 2012 series of Britain s Got Talent However it was later confirmed that the judging panel for series six would be Simon Cowell Alesha Dixon Amanda Holden and David Walliams Womack has since confirmed that she was offered a place on the judging panel and that she had a meeting with Cowell in Los Angeles She has said that although she was grateful she rejected the offer as it s just not me In 2012 Womack appeared in series nine of the BBC s Who Do You Think You Are The episode revealed her descent on her father s side from two musicians her great grandfather Alexander Cunningham Ryan his partner s father Pierre Francois Odilon Garraud amp Pierre s partner an actress Jessie Ryder 3 24 In February 2013 she took part in All Star Family Fortunes donating money to Comic Relief and ActionAid 25 Womack was interviewed on John Bishop In Conversation With in November 2017 This episode titled John Bishop In Conversation With Samantha Womack included an in depth conversation about her life and career In February 2020 it was announced that Womack would be taking part in the challenge for Sport Relief In 2021 she acted alongside Harry Potter actress Jessie Cave in the British sitcom Buffering Personal life EditIn 2007 Womack won substantial damages from the Sunday Sport newspaper over a story headlined Sam s sex and drugs shame She sued the Sport over an article published on 22 July which claimed she had coke fuelled threesomes and took part in a three hour drug fuelled lesbian orgy 26 In September 2015 it was reported that she was living in fear and had alerted the police that she was being stalked 27 The stalker was given a suspended sentence in December the same year Relationships Edit Janus married an Italian citizen Junfan Mantovani in 1997 after a long relationship The relationship broke down and the couple divorced in 1998 Womack began a relationship with Liverpool 1 co star Mark Womack They married in 2009 after ten years together The couple have two children 28 29 son Benjamin Thomas Womack born 2001 and daughter Lili Rose Womack born 2005 Mark Womack also has a son Michael Womack from a previous marriage 30 31 In 2009 Womack took her husband s surname and began to use it professionally 32 In August 2020 Womack announced that she and Mark had quietly separated in 2018 but that they are still living together in the same house with their children 33 Womack and her husband Mark are best friends with Scott Maslen and his wife Estelle Rubio They have known each other since they were teenagers Maslen is godfather to Womack s two children and she is godmother to Maslen s son Zak They often go on holiday together with their children which Womack revealed during an appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross in January 2008 In late 2007 Maslen joined the cast of EastEnders as Jack Branning who has a relationship with Womack s character Ronnie This was something that both Maslen and Womack were initially uncomfortable with when they read the scripts with Maslen commenting in various interviews that having to kiss Womack was like having to kiss his sister 31 34 Womack is also best friends with her former EastEnders co star Rita Simons who played her sister Roxy Mitchell 35 Health Edit In April 2008 Womack broke her shoulder when she tripped and fell down the stairs at her home while rushing to get ready for work 36 On 8 August 2022 Womack paid tribute to Dame Olivia Newton John following her death from breast cancer and confirmed on Twitter that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer herself 37 In December 2022 Womack announced that she was now cancer free 38 39 Filmography EditFilm Edit Year Title Role Notes1993 Mama s Back Sharon Emmanuel1995 Call Up the Stars Zoe Gail1997 Deadly Instincts Louise1998 Up n Under Hazel Scott2004 Short Tall WomanThe Baby Juice Express TrixieLighthouse Hill Jennifer2006 Dead Man s Cards Kris2007 Forgiven Kate2014 One Night in Istanbul Carmella Jones2015 Kingsman The Secret Service Michelle Unwin2017 Kingsman The Golden CircleTelevision Edit Year Title Role Notes1990 Jekyll amp Hyde Young Maid Margaret Spatz Antonia Toni Gordon1991 The Bill Secretary1992 Annie Carlisle1991 Wogan Herself Performing A Message to Your Heart Top of the PopsEurovision Song Contest 1991 United Kingdom s entry 10th placeEl C I D WaitressPress GangA Murder of Quality Alice Lawry1992 Starting Out Trixie1993 Demob Hedda 6 episodes series regularHealth and Efficiency Charmaine1994 Minder Marian1995 That s Showbusiness Herself PanelistShooting Stars1995 1996 Pie in the Sky Nicola Dooley 22 episodes series regular1995 1998 Game On Mandy Wilkins 18 episodes main role1996 Sharman Jane1997 The Grimleys Geraldine TitleyThe Generation Game Herself Contestant1997 1998 This Is Your LifeNoel s House Party Guest1998 Imogen s Face Imogen 3 episodes lead roleBabes in the Wood Ruth Froud 7 episodes main roleLiverpool 1 DC Isobel de Pauli 12 episodes lead role2000 Cinderella Cinderella2002 2003 Strange Jude Atkins 7 episodes lead role2002 Judge John Deed Mel Powell2003 Undercover Sex Jake2005 The Afternoon Play Emma Priestley2006 Home Again Ingrid Main roleWhere the Heart Is Marla Episode Home Grown 2007 Wild at Heart Tessa Episode 2 22007 2011 2013 2017 EastEnders Ronnie Mitchell Series regular 778 episodes2013 2017 Mount Pleasant Tanya Porter Dawson Series regular 25 episodes2019 Silent Witness DI Kate Ashton 2 episodes2021 Buffering Steph Episode 1 1Theatre credits EditYear Title Role Notes1994 1995 Grease Sandy Dominion Theatre2007 Guys and Dolls Miss Adelaide Piccadilly Theatre2011 South Pacific Ensign Nellie Forbush Barbican Centre London2013 Hope Hope Royal Court Theatre Liverpool2013 2014 Jack and the Beanstalk Spirit of the Beans Marlowe Theatre Canterbury2014 2015 Dick Whittington Alice Fitzwarren Sheffield Lyceum2016 2017 Dick Whittington Alice Fitzwarren Milton Keynes Theatre2017 The Addams Family Morticia Addams UK Tour2017 2018 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Wicked Queen New Theatre Cardiff2018 2019 Dick Whittington Evil Queen Theatre Royal Plymouth2019 The Girl on the Train Rachel Watson Various Locations2019 2020 Cinderella Fairy Godmother New Wimbledon Theatre2021 2023 The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe The White Witch UK Tour Gillian Lynne TheatreDiscography EditMay 1991 A Message to Your Heart Heaven is a Place for Heroes Hollywood Records UK Singles Chart No 30 40 Awards and nominations EditYear Result Award Category2008 Nominated All About Soap Bubble Awards Fatal Attraction with Scott Maslen 41 Nominated The British Soap Awards Best On Screen Partnership with Rita Simons 42 Nominated Sexiest FemaleWon Digital Spy Soap Awards Best On Screen Partnership with Rita Simons 43 2009 Nominated The British Soap Awards Best Actress 44 Shortlisted TV Quick and TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress 45 2010 Nominated All About Soap Bubble Awards I m A Survivor 46 Nominated The British Soap Awards Sexiest Female 47 Shortlisted Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female 48 2011 Won All About Soap Bubble Awards Best Baby Drama with Jessie Wallace 49 Nominated The British Soap Awards Sexiest Female 50 2012 Nominated Shorty Awards Best Actress 51 Nominated Best Fansite 52 53 References Edit Adejobi Alicia 16 May 2021 EastEnders actress Samantha Womack dating former Coronation Street actor Oliver Farnworth following split from husband Metro Retrieved 23 October 2022 Soaps Soap Scoop Jack s proposal Jason and Tina s romp E dale secret Digital Spy 14 June 2009 Retrieved 22 October 2009 a b Who Do You Think You Are Samantha Womack thegenealogist co uk 1 August 2012 Retrieved 27 October 2014 Crawford Sue 25 May 2021 The Addams Family actress Samantha Womack My best friend is my daughter Daily Express Retrieved 25 May 2021 Sam s relishing theatre return Manchester Evening News 15 February 2007 Retrieved 25 May 2021 Westbrook McFadden We d love Grant back Digital Spy 8 September 2009 Retrieved 10 September 2009 a b UKTV G2 Stars Profile Samantha Janus Uktv co uk 29 March 2007 Archived from the original on 17 May 2007 Retrieved 22 October 2009 Samantha Womack Who Do You Think You Are dated 1 August 2012 at thegenealogist co uk accessed 25 August 2017 The unlikely stars of Eurovision Metro co uk 9 January 2007 Retrieved 22 October 2009 SAMANTHA JANUS full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Retrieved 5 April 2016 Radio Times interview April 2006 Spatz S1E3 1990 FULL EPISODE YouTube Archived from the original on 17 November 2021 Retrieved 19 July 2021 Samantha Janus lands EastEnders role Digitalspy co uk 11 May 2007 Retrieved 22 October 2009 BBC One EastEnders Characters Bbc co uk 1 January 1970 Archived from the original on 26 August 2009 Retrieved 7 June 2014 Still Jennifer 6 January 2011 Womack quits EastEnders over cot death plot Digital Spy London Hachette Filipacchi UK Retrieved 6 January 2011 Barbican programme for South Pacific 2011 NEWS Samantha Womack joins cast of Hope for Royal Court Premiere Liverpool Live Liverpool live info Archived from the original on 17 April 2014 Retrieved 7 June 2014 EastEnders star Samantha Womack to play Morticia in Addams Family musical Coronation Street s Les Dennis will be Fester Radio Times 18 November 2016 TV stars John Partridge and Samantha Womack to headline in regional pantomime The Cornish Times 19 September 2018 Retrieved 13 January 2019 Yaqoob Janine 9 June 2018 Samantha Womack lands new starring role in her first TV job since leaving EastEnders Daily Mirror Retrieved 11 June 2018 The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe tour reveals first look and additional dates WhatsOnStage www whatsonstage com Retrieved 4 August 2022 Bosanquet Theo 20 May 2022 The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe to transfer to the West End this summer WhatsOnStage WhatsOnStage Retrieved 24 March 2023 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Mangan L 4 March 2011 The Guardian TV Review London Retrieved 4 March 2011 BBC One Who Do You Think You Are Series 9 Samantha Womack Bbc co uk 5 January 2013 Retrieved 7 June 2014 All Star Family Fortunes Press release ITV Retrieved 12 April 2015 Samantha Janus wins payout over lesbian orgy claim Press Gazette Retrieved 7 June 2014 Shenton Zoe 15 September 2015 EastEnders star Sam Womack calls police after terrifying stalker CAMPS outside family home Daily Mirror Retrieved 15 September 2015 England amp Wales births 1837 2006 Transcription for Benjamin Thomas G Womack Westminster Retrieved 13 October 2015 via Find My Past England amp Wales births 1837 2006 Transcription for Lili Rose Womack Westminster Retrieved 13 October 2015 via Find My Past Samantha Womack profile news photos style videos and more HELLO Online Hellomagazine com 2 November 1972 Retrieved 7 June 2014 a b EastEnders wife swap Metro co uk Metro co uk 27 November 2007 Retrieved 22 October 2009 EastEnders Characters amp Cast Samantha Womack BBC 24 July 2007 Archived from the original on 26 August 2009 Retrieved 22 October 2009 Ex EE star Samantha Womack confirms split from Emmerdale s Mark Womack Digital Spy 24 August 2020 Retrieved 24 August 2020 Soaps News Walford actress struggled with kissing scene Digital Spy Digital Spy lt 19 January 2008 Retrieved 22 October 2009 Rita Simons and Samantha Janus Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008 Digital Spy Digital Spy Retrieved 22 October 2009 Samantha breaks shoulder Samantha Janus sported a sling at the Bafta TV Awards after she broke her shoulder Metro 21 April 2008 Retrieved 5 December 2022 MacLeod Melanie 9 August 2022 EastEnders star Samantha Womack reveals cancer diagnosis with emotional statement Hello Retrieved 9 August 2022 Former EastEnders star Samantha Womack reveals she is cancer free five months after her diagnosis Sky News 5 December 2022 Retrieved 5 December 2022 McLoughlin Lisa 5 December 2022 EastEnders star Samantha Womack reveals she s cancer free five months after her diagnosis Evening Standard Retrieved 5 December 2022 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 279 ISBN 978 1 904994 10 7 All About Soap Bubble Awards 19 February 2012 Archived from the original on 2 April 2008 Retrieved 27 September 2012 The British Soap Awards 2008 The Winners digitalspy co uk 4 May 2008 Retrieved 30 September 2012 Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008 The Winners digitalspy co uk 21 March 2008 Retrieved 14 September 2012 British Soap Awards 2009 The Winners digitalspy co uk 10 May 2009 Retrieved 30 September 2009 TV Quick and TV Choice Awards Shortlist msntvuk wordpress com 8 July 2009 Retrieved 26 September 2012 Vote in the All About Soap Bubble Awards digitalspy co uk 16 February 2010 Retrieved 27 September 2012 British Soap Awards 2010 The Winners digitalspy co uk 9 May 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2012 Inside Soap Awards Shortlist digitalspy co uk 19 September 2010 Retrieved 28 September 2012 In Full All About Soap Bubble winners digitalspy co uk 27 March 2011 Retrieved 27 September 2012 British Soap Award nominations revealed 3 May 2011 Retrieved 9 September 2012 The Best Actress in Social Media shortyawards com Archived from the original on 9 January 2016 Retrieved 27 September 2012 Samantha Womack was nominated for a Shorty Award shortyawards com Archived from the original on 16 January 2012 Retrieved 27 September 2012 The Best Fansite in Social Media shortyawards com Archived from the original on 9 January 2012 Retrieved 27 September 2012 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Samantha Womack Samantha Womack at IMDb Samantha Womack at AllMovie Samantha Womack discography at Discogs Samantha Womack at AllMusic Samantha Womack on Twitter Awards and achievementsPreceded byEmmawith Give a Little Love Back to the World UK in the Eurovision Song Contest1991 Succeeded byMichael Ballwith One Step Out of Time Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Samantha Womack amp oldid 1159800820, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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