Facts

Attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School.

Has a younger sister, Zoë.

Represented the UK in the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest.

Engaged to fellow “Liverpool 1? (1998) co-star Mark Womack. [1999]

Son born with Mark Womack, Benjamin. [February 2001]

Second child with Mark Womack, daughter Lily-Rose, born April 2005.

Her mother was a model and her father a songwriter, he left the family home when Samantha was three, soon after her mother married a G.P and the whole family relocated to Edinburgh.

Starred on the West End stage as Sandy in “Grease” in 1993. She later returned to the West End stage in 2006, starring as Miss Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls” at London’s Picadilly Theatre alongside Patrick Swayze and then Don Johnson.

Has been best friends with actor Scott Maslen since she was 16.

Broke her shoulder after falling down stairs at home whilst rushing to get to work (April 2008).

A close female friend has been Rita Simons, who plays her younger sister in “EastEnders”, since they began working together in 2007.

She represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest. She finished equal tenth with the song, “A Message to Your Heart”.

She’s already appeared in EastEnders. She played Wicksy’s girlfriend.

Her favourite EastEnders character is Angie Watts: “She was fabulous and so iconic – never to be repeated.”

Samantha bonded immediately with her co-stars: “Obviously, I immediately bonded with Rita (Roxy) as we play sisters and started on the same day and I already knew Barbara (Peggy) so it has been lovely seeing her. And Adam Woodyatt (Ian) is liquid gold – a really great guy.”

She was born in Brighton and spent some time as a toddler living on the QE2, where her grandmother was the resident choreographer.

She admits that she isn’t as glamorous as her alter-ego, Ronnie: “I tend to put on whatever is at the end of the bed that is clean and quick. I like comfy shoes like flip-flops just to wear every day.”

She’s a massive fan of The Sopranos.