SAMANTHA Womack was given a rapturous applause by theatre-goers last night following her brave cancer battle.
The former EastEnders actress revealed back in August she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
She looked incredible on Wednesday – her 50th birthday – playing the devilish White Witch on stage in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
The star oozed presence in a beautiful cloak and leather ensemble, as a loud applause rung around the West End’s Gillian Lynne Theatre.
Ahead of her performance and return to Narnia, Sam, who recently completed chemotherapy, said: “I’m back at work at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.
“It’s been a rough couple of months but I am blessed to be back.”
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Samantha, best known for playing Ronnie Mitchell on EastEnders, was praised yesterday by Rita Simmons who marked her huge birthday milestone.
Emotional Rita, who played Sam’s sister Roxy in the BBC One soap, shared a photo of the pair.
She said: “Happy birthday to the other half of me. @samzjanus love you and so proud of you #PrincessWarrior”
A swarm of celebs penned messages for Sam beneath the sweet post.
Their on-screen EastEnders mum Glynis Barber said: “My babies are all grown up. Happy birthday darling @samzjanus”
I’m A Celeb star Vicky Pattison said: “Awww this (love heart) Happy birthday Sam.”
Samantha made her EastEnders debut on on July 24, 2007, slipping into the skin of Ronnie Mitchell, a cousin of Walford tough man Phil, Grant and Sam.
Both sisters drowned, with Ronnie dying after becoming entangled in her own wedding dress.
Since then, Samantha has gone on to focus on many other projects including a production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – but has said she is not against returning to the Square.
She announced her cancer diagnosis while paying tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John in August, and has since undergone surgery.
Sharing a picture of herself with the actress, who passed away at the age of 73, Samantha wrote: “This was the most magical of evenings.
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“Olivia and Chloe had come to see Grease in London and we had dinner together afterwards. I was so excited and in awe, she was my childhood.”
Sam added: “I now start my own battle with this disease and am left feeling deeply moved. #OliviaNewtonJohn.”
Tickets for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which runs until January at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, Drury Lane, can be purchased here.
