‘I get happier as I get older,’ says Samantha Womack
Samantha Womack reveals how, struggles with vanity aside, she’s loving her forties…
Samantha Womack spent nearly a decade playing Ronnie Mitchell in
EastEnders, when she experienced and engineered abductions, affairs and murders, until she was killed off on her wedding day in 2017. And the actress, 46 – who has Ben, 18, and Lily, 14, with her actor husband of 10 years, Mark – is evidently drawn to damaged characters. Her latest role is troubled alcoholic Rachel Watson, in the stage adaptation of thriller The Girl On The Train. Here, through a bad case of the snuffles, she talks about her intense stage role, life with teens and ageing…
How are you doing? Recovering from a virus! When you’re on stage and have an opening night coming up, you get all excited, then any surge of adrenaline can knock you over the edge healthwise! To be fair, I don’t have to look great for this show, so it’s fine. I’ve gone method.
Tell us about Rachel – she’s a lost soul, isn’t she?
Rachel’s a functioning alcoholic, like a lot of people. She’s been drinking a long time. But the story is more complex – it’s looking at the effect someone abusing you can have, that loss of your own identity. It’s disguised as a thriller, but it’s really about a controlling, abusive relationship. Rachel’s unruly and unpredictable, but she’s had a hard time. She can be unlikable, but you fight for her.
Ronnie Mitchell was broken, in her own way…
She was, but Ronnie was damaged because of the loss of a father figure – she had an abusive relationship with Archie. I like those characters aren’t what they seem, and Ronnie was that, too. I stay in touch with Rita [Simons] who played my sister, Roxy – we speak all the time.
You’ve said before that you’re not a ‘conventional’ person – in what way?
I don’t like institutions! I left school at a young age and chose to home-school my daughter, Lily. Artistic people often get told off for being naughty, when actually they’re just using a different side of their brain and need to move around to be engaged.
Do you get criticism when you say ‘home schooling’?
It’s interesting… I wouldn’t feel I had the right to condone or not condone other parents’ decisions. I’d say, your child, your choice! My son, for example, wouldn’t have liked home schooling – he likes structure. Whereas my daughter is creative, and it was like watching a light go off at school – she lost that creativity.
What’s it like having teenagers?
It’s lovely, just messy. If I get a day off from touring, all I do is spend it tidying their bedrooms!
Did your granny introduce you to showbiz?
Yes, she was a
choreographer at a stage school and could see at 12 I was really struggling in normal school, so she introduced me to the theatre. I didn’t stay long, but it gave me a real introduction into the creative world. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to act, dance or paint – I enjoy them all, it’s just acting that’s paid the bills the longest!
Hubby Mark is also an actor – what’s that like?
It makes conversations round the dinner table about our day very easy! The only thing that’s hard is working out schedules. In theatre and film, you find out very late if you get a job, which is not ideal when you’ve got kids, dogs and horses!
Do you love the country life, though?
I do. Once you’ve made that leap, it’s hard to go back. I’m settled when I’m around green spaces. The minute I’m in small spaces, I start to get stressed. That’s why people gravitate towards going on holiday so much.
Are you enjoying your forties?
Oh, I get happier as I get older. You have to let go of vanity a little bit. But being comfortable in your own skin is massive. It’s hard for young women. Girls are harder on themselves than boys. It’s my biggest upset that I did that to myself at a young age, and now I watch my daughter trying hard not to be manipulated by social media – it makes me sad. But we talk everything through – we’re good talkers in our family.
You always look very glam – what’s your secret?
Do I? I’m terrible! I never go to the hairdressers – I dye and cut my own hair. I like to look good, but I hate the time that it takes to do it. Who wants to sit in a salon for three-and-ahalf hours?! I’m quite good at putting on make-up, though. My go-to is a nice blusher, as I get quite pale. But happiness and a good night’s sleep give you a better glow than anything.
The Girl On The Train runs at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre until 17 Aug, then continues its UK tour through the autumn. More at girlonthetrainplay.com