EastEnders Legend Samantha Womack Opens Up on Life Away from TV with Emmerdale Partner in Spain
“The Beautiful Chaos of It All”
Former EastEnders star Samantha Womack, best known for her powerful role as Ronnie Mitchell, has spoken candidly about how surviving breast cancer transformed her life. Appearing on Loose Women, the 52-year-old actress shared how her diagnosis in 2022 forced her to slow down and embrace life’s unpredictability.
“My whole outlook on life has changed in the last two years,” she told the panel. “I got diagnosed with breast cancer and survived it, but the beauty of all of it, the beauty of every single little thing that happens to you—the ups, the downs—it’s the beautiful chaos of it all.”
Sam described feeling “absolutely blessed” to have spent nine years on EastEnders, and equally grateful to have faced something as life-altering as cancer in her 40s. “I was terrified, but I learned so much,” she said.
A Journey Through Cancer and Recovery
Womack’s cancer was discovered after she followed a gut feeling that something wasn’t right, despite feeling perfectly healthy. A private ultrasound revealed a 4cm tumour—an aggressive grade three invasive ductal carcinoma in her right breast that had already spread to her lymph nodes.
She underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, and later had five lymph nodes removed. Three years on, she is clear of cancer and continues with regular check-ups every six months.
Now, the actress is using her platform to raise awareness about breast density, encouraging women to ask about their results after mammograms. “If you’ve got fatty breasts, tumours are easier to see,” she explained. “But as they become more fibrous, it’s more difficult.”
Life in the Mountains with Oliver Farnworth
Away from the spotlight, Sam divides her time between the UK and Valencia, Spain, where she lives with her partner, Oliver Farnworth, known to ITV viewers as John Sugden in Emmerdale.
Speaking warmly about their life together, Sam said: “We live in Valencia, so we’re away from TV. We live in the mountains. We just mainly talk about the rescue dogs and who’s walking them in the morning. For us, acting is a job and we love it, but it gets left behind when we leave the set.”
She also revealed that living abroad has helped her embrace a calmer, more grounded lifestyle. “I just enjoy it,” she added. “I walk the dogs every day and try to make good choices about my body. I’m listening to my body a lot more now, rather than being panicked about what I eat or how much I sleep. I’m just sensible.”
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Family and a Fresh Perspective
The actress is a proud mum to Benjamin, 24, and Lili-Rose, 20, whom she shares with her ex-husband, actor Mark Womack. Today, she focuses on family, health, and the simple pleasures of life away from fame.
After years in the fast-paced world of soap drama, Samantha Womack now finds peace in the quiet rhythms of Spain—surrounded by love, nature, and a deep gratitude for her second chance at life.