Roxy Mitchell
| Roxy Mitchell | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| File:Roxie mitchell.jpg | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2007— | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 24 July 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | Diederick Santer | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roxanne Lizette "Roxy" Slater (née Mitchell) is a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. She is played by Rita Simons.[1] Roxy arrived in Walford with her sister Ronnie (played by Samantha Janus) on 24 July 2007[2] and decided to move permanently to Walford from Ibiza where they ran a bar together.[3] Roxy is 30,[4] and the younger of the two sisters.[1] She is described as the fire, as opposed to Ronnie's ice.[1]
Roxy's major storylines have seen her break off her engagement with her fiancé, fall out with her sister on several occasions, and assume relationships with Jase Dyer and Sean Slater, as well as betraying Ronnie by sleeping with her boyfriend, Jack Branning. The character has proved popular with viewers, with Simons winning 'Best Newcomer' award at the Digital Spy Soap Awards in 2008 for her role in the soap.
Character creation
Promotion
Both Mitchell sisters were featured heavily in a BBC marketing campaign. Several promos aired on the BBC network in summer 2007. Using the slogan "The square, under new management", one promo depicted both sisters as party girls, dancing, serving tequila in The Queen Victoria public house (The Vic), shocking the older residents with their raunchy antics and squirting men with a soda syphon to the tune of "The Girls" by Calvin Harris.[5]
Two other trailers featured Ronnie and Roxy speeking individually. To the instrumental sound of "Little Green Bag" by George Baker (famously used in the Quentin Tarantino film Reservoir Dogs), each sister discussed their sibling, giving snippets of information on their personality and the dynamics of their relationship. Discussing Ronnie, Roxy said "My big sister Ronnie, she'd do anything to stop me getting hurt, including getting hurt herself. Boy she means business. We mean business. We're the Mitchell sisters after all... and you don't wanna find that out the hard way." Discussing Roxy, Ronnie said "Roxy will always be my kid sister. Fights, broken hearts, over the years we've had them all. She can be quite a handful, and she's definitely gonna stir things up around here. But remember, wherever Roxy Mitchell is... I'm right behind."
The promotion was received favourably by Leigh Holmwood, television journalist for The Guardian newspaper and MediaGuardian.co.uk. He commented, "now there's more to the long running BBC1 soap, apparently...Yes, it's the new sexed-up, soft focus, raunchy EastEnders trailer and it's hitting your TV screens now. In a bid to welcome the Mitchell sisters to Albert Square, the beeb have pulled out all the stops and come up with a very slick marketing campaign indeed." Referencing to the soap's reputation for being miserable and depressing, Holmwood said that the upbeat trailers were "about as un-EastEnders as you can get...Maybe the arrival of Roxy and Ronnie will herald a new golden age for the soap? Or maybe the BBC marketing department is just very good at putting a trailer together..."[5]
In addition to the trailers, the BBC also planned a "glitzy" EastEnders BBC Radio 1 competition to promote the arrival on the the Mitchell sisters, called "I love R&R" (Ronnie and Roxy).[6] It ran from the end of June 2007, and included online promotion and video via the website iloverandr.com. The prize consisted of VIP tickets to a special party, which was to be attended by EastEnders actors and Radio 1 DJ Dave Pearce.[6] Despite inviting the winners to attend, Radio 1 cancelled the event due to orders from BBC director general Mark Thompson, who called a halt to all BBC radio, TV and online competitions following a review of its programming, which uncovered scores of editorial breaches.[6][7] Radio 1 reportedly decided to cancel the promotion as a "precautionary measure", though it is unknown whether the competition breached the BBC ban. Winners were instead told that they would be getting a tour of the EastEnders set, and the website was closed down on 26 July 2007.[6]
Character development and reception
Both sisters have been described as glamorous, and have been compared to the Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie. Janus has noted that it is no coincidence that the sisters are named Ronnie and Roxy. She also describes the sisters as "co-dependent and dysfunctional", as well as "chilling, dark and absolutely in touch with what the other is doing".[8] Simons has described Roxy's insecurities, commenting: "whatever insecurities she's got, she has a shag".[9][10]
Discussing the storyline which saw Roxy sleep with Ronnie's boyfriend, Jack Branning, Simons has said: "This is by far the worst Roxy has ever felt in her entire life. The guilt is absolutely killing her. I really hope the viewers sympathise with her. What she's done to Ronnie is so out of order, but if she could take it back, she would."[11] Making it clear that what happened between Roxy and Jack was a one-off, she stated: "There's no lingering attraction between them [...] He makes Roxy's skin crawl."[11] Simons also considered the outcome were Ronnie to find out about the betrayal, speculating: "One thing the Mitchells are good at is sweeping things under the carpet. And these girls have been through so much together. Perhaps in time, Ronnie could find it in her heart to forgive Roxy..."[11] She mentioned the character's relationship with friend Christian Clarke, assessing that Roxy would be "really lost without him. He's her rock".[11]
Rita Simons won the 'Best Newcomer' award at the Digital Spy Soap Awards in 2008 for the part of Roxy.[12]
Storylines
Leaving her home in Ibiza, Roxy came to Walford with her sister, Ronnie, on 24 July 2007 for her cousin Phil's wedding; she decided to stay to help her aunt Peggy run her public house, The Queen Victoria.
In August 2007, Roxy's philandering fiancé Damian (a rich investor and Ibiza club owner) traced her to Walford. Despite relishing the expensive gifts Damian gave her, Roxy decided to end the relationship by pretending she was pregnant with Ian Beale's baby. However, in October, she slept with Damain again to get money for Scarlet Nightclub, which she and Ronnie planned to buy and rename R&R. When Damain realised she was playing games, he became angry, so Ronnie framed him for sexually assaulting her. In fear, Damain gave the sisters the money they wanted, and fled; Roxy bought herself a Suzuki Escudo and a Boxer puppy called Albert. Another offer was placed on the club, so Ronnie went into a secret partnership with Jack Branning to secure its purchase, without telling Roxy. Roxy was furious when she discovered the truth. She and Ronnie fought, berating each other for past actions. More problems arose between the sisters when Roxy visited her father Archie, who Ronnie hated, as he had forced her to give her baby away when she was 14. Simultaneously, Ronnie became romantically involved with Jack, much to Roxy's chagrin. When Roxy saw Jack having sexual intercourse with his ex-wife, she informed Ronnie who dumped Jack, though several months later their on/off romance was reignited.
After a brief fling with Jase Dyer, which ended when he showed more interest in Dawn Swann, Roxy became involved with Sean Slater, who defended her against a drug dealer on her 30th birthday in March 2008. Sean used Roxy for sex on and off for several weeks, but when Ronnie discovered that Sean was dealing drugs, she punched him, believing that he had been dealing to Roxy. It transpired that Roxy was a former cocaine-addict. Angered by her sister's distrust, Roxy retaliated by having sex with Ronnie's boyfriend Jack. Both regretted it, but neither had the courage to tell Ronnie the truth. Shortly after, Roxy was horrified to discover she was pregnant; she had no way of knowing who the father was. Believing Sean was the only candidate, Ronnie berated Roxy for falling pregnant, adamant that she would be a dreadful mother. Roxy, meanwhile, accused Ronnie of treating her like her baby because she had her own child taken from her. After a major argument, Roxy contemplated abortion, but when Ronnie eventually pledged support, she changed her mind. Roxy decided to move back to Ibiza so neither Sean or Jack would discover her pregnancy; however, when both men were involved in a brawl, Roxy was knocked over, and Ronnie blurted out the truth. Both men believed they were the father, until Roxy deceived Jack, telling him the baby was Sean's. Sean tried to persuade Roxy to include him in the baby's upbringing, promising that he would give up his criminal and violent behaviour. Despite agreeing to this, Roxy and Ronnie made plans to flee Walford in secret. Sean found out from Stacey. Stacey, Peggy, Sean, Ronnie and Roxy all talked in the vic. Peggy said Sean needed help and he wouldn't make a decent father, sparking him to be enraged. Ronnie and Roxy then left for Ibiza on 30 May 2008.
However on 3 July, Ronnie returned to Walford looking for Roxy. It transpired that they had had an argument in Ibiza that resulted in Roxy storming off and not coming back. Ronnie asked for Peggy's help in finding her. Originally, Peggy hadn't heard a word from Roxy but she later phoned and Peggy took down an address. Peggy and Ronnie then turned up in Dorset on 7 July, Ronnie's birthday, in order to track down Roxy and to Ronnie's horror she discovered that Roxy was living with their father Archie. Ronnie tried to force her sister to come back to Walford with her, but Roxy revealed that she was going to raise the baby in Dorset with her father. She also revealed that her reason for this was so that she could get away from Ronnie, who was suffocating her with her constant fussing and over-protectiveness towards her. After a fight, Roxy then proceeded to storm off and was later comforted by an angry Sean, who had bullied Billy of Roxy's whereabouts who eventually found her on the carousel drinking vodka. When the pair confronted each other, they both confessed that they both love each other and are now reunited, much to Archie's annoyance as he didn't want her to raise a baby with a bully. The sisters then found out that Amy, Ronnie's daughter had died in a bathroom accident but it's still to be revealed whether Amy is dead or not. After since she moved in with Sean at the Slaters', Ronnie had been missing her in the Vic but she acted as if she was cool with it but in secret she cried her eyes out and this is what made her become an alcoholic.Roxy briefly moved back into the Vic after Ronnie planted drugs on Sean, making Roxy think that he was a drug addict and she moved back into the Vic. She has now moved back in with Sean and they are planning to have a secret wedding.
References
- ^ a b c "The Mitchell Sisters", The Daily Mirror. URL last accessed 2007-05-11.
- ^ "Samantha Janus lands 'EastEnders' role", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2007-05-11.
- ^ "Girls alout hit Albert Square". The Sun. 2007-04-17. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Ultimate Pat Fight". The Mirror. 2007-04-17. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "Can Roxy and Ronnie save EastEnders?". The Guardian. 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d "BBC scraps EastEnders contest". The Guardian. 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "BBC halts phone-in contests". The Guardian. 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Meet the Mitchells: Ronnie and Roxy join cousin Phil on EastEnders". Daily Mail. 12 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Simons, Rita (2008-01-18). (Interview). Interviewed by Jonathan Ross.
{{cite interview}}: Missing or empty|title=(help); Unknown parameter|program=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|subjectlink=ignored (|subject-link=suggested) (help) - ^ "Mitchell Sisters". The People. 2008-01-20. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d Woodward, Kate (22 April 2008), "Roxy's guilty secret!", Inside Soap, England, pp. 4–5
{{citation}}: Check date values in:|publication-date=(help) - ^ "Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008: Rita Simons". Digital Spy. 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)