They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
And that is certainly the case for EastEnders legend Rita Simons and her 16-year-old actress daughter Maiya Silveston.
On Saturday, Rita, 45, took to her Instagram account to cheer on her daughter as she appeared on CBBC’s Saturday Mash Up Live! to promote her new drama, Silverpoint.
Like mother, like daughter! On Saturday Rita took to her Instagram account to cheer on her daughter as she appeared on CBBC’s Saturday Mash Up Live! to promote her new drama, Silverpoint
The brunette plays Kaz in the 13 part drama which follows a story about four kids who go missing in the woods in 1997.
The show which is set in a wholesome adventure camp takes a sinister spin.
Kaz runs away from the base during the night which prompts the other three children to go after her, but they find something strange in the woods.
Maiya appeared on Saturday’s episode with co-stars Scarlett and Krish – posting a picture of them at the set in Glasgow which proud mum Rita reposted, telling her 492k followers to ‘tune in’.
Star: Maiya appeared on Saturday’s Mash Up Live! to promote her new drama, Silverpoint.
Rita had previously shared her excitement about her daughter’s role as last August the proud mum took to her social media writing:
‘So proud to finally be able to tell you all that one of my babies @maiya.sammy will be appearing in a new sci fi mystery #Silverpoint airing on @cbbc in 2022!
‘She’s been away in Northern Ireland filming for months and I can’t wait to have her back!!! So very proud of this one!
‘Huge thanks to @daisyanddukesagency and the lovely @soniaallam_casting #proudmama.’
Excited: Maiya appeared on Saturday’s episode with co-stars Scarlett and Krish – posting a picture of them at the set in Glasgow which proud mum Rita reposted, telling her 492k followers to ‘tune in’
It comes as last year Rita gushed about her daughter’s success in an appearance on Lorraine, although she kept coy on any significant details.
She said: ‘Maiya is currently away. I can’t say where and I can’t say what she’s doing.
‘But it’s gonna be in March it’s coming out and she’s doing a lead role in a drama, in a sci-fi.’
Happy: Rita had previously shared her excitement about her daughters role as last August as the proud mum took to her social media once again promoting Maiya
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The actress told Christine Lampard, who was standing in for Lorraine Kelly: ‘I’m very proud of her.
‘She’s been gone since the beginning of May and she’s not back until the end of September. I can’t say any more than that.
‘She’s only just 15, she’s had to do all the cleaning and cooking, washing for herself. I’m very proud of her.’
Rita shares twin daughters Maiya and Jaimee with her ex Theo, the couple were together for 12 years but parted ways in 2018 and divorced two years later in 2020.
Drama: Silverpoint is a major BBC show spanning 13 episodes
In an interview with The Sun earlier this year, the soap star revealed she considered ‘throwing herself down the stairs’ amid her battle with depression.
The TV personality admitted she had been was struggling to cope with the breakdown of her marriage to Theo and it ‘ate her up’ keeping the news quiet.
She told the publication: ‘It was all kind of lumped into one big mess and I was very ill a lot of the time. I lost a lot of weight. And I wasn’t telling people about the marriage because although my kids knew, I didn’t want them reading about it. That just ate me up, not being able to tell people what was really going on.’
Tough: Revealing her rock bottom moment, she recalled one night during a performance of The House On Cold Hill in 2019: ‘There were some stairs on the set that I came on stage on, quite high at the top.
Revealing her rock bottom moment, she recalled one night during a performance of The House On Cold Hill in 2019: ‘There were some stairs on the set that I came on stage on, quite high at the top.
‘And I thought I could just chuck myself down. I didn’t want to die. I just wanted to hurt myself enough to go to hospital and have someone look after me. That was scary.’
Rita – who played Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders from 2007 to 2017 – married hairdresser Theo in 2004, but they split 2018, with their divorce being finalised in 2020.
Rita said she used to challenge her anger at the gym where she took up boxing, insisting she doesn’t lose her temper today and that the time away from her marriage has ‘softened’ her.
Rita is still friends with Theo today but described their divorce process as ‘cold’ and ‘clinical’.
She has now found love with Ben Harlow who she toured with for a year Legally Blonde: The Musical in 2017, with the performer describing him as ‘the loveliest man on the planet’.
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
Soap icon: Rita starred as Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders from 2007 – 2019
Source: Daily Mail
