EastEnders star confirms split from sportsman boyfriend after 13 years in shock decision
EastEnders star Laila Rouass has split from her snooker star boyfriend Ronnie O'Sullivan, confirming the break-up with an emotional Instagram post. The couple, who were planned to marry at one point, dated for 13 years and shared a home together.
Laila, 53, opened up about their split in an Instagram post, revealing that while she felt "hurt, pain and anger", she now feels "so much better, stronger and sexier". She wrote: "Break ups can strip you down to your essence. I got through mine by using pain as fuel to take control because no matter what, we will lose parts of ourselves in relationships. It's normal, don't beat yourself up."
She added that she's conscious of not "trying to get back to what" she was and wants to "discover" who she really is. "I've gone through various emotions...hurt, pain, anger but what I've realised about anger is that it's bottomless. It can go on and on and once you're in that black hole...it's very hard to drag yourself back out.
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"Anyone going through a break up....I want to tell you that you will come out the other side. I have and I feel so much better, stronger and sexier. Life has a funny way of throwing in a plot twist here and there. I've ever met an Arab Viking...like...how did that happen?"
She continued: "Just roll with the punches because life is so much richer, so much fuller when you drop the anger, the resentment and the regret. I'm looking back at my last relationship with a smile and wave, because time moves on and I don't like to play catch up." OK! has reached out to Laila and Ronnie's representatives for comment.
The couple were rumoured to have split back in September, with a source telling The Sun at the time: "They have been going in different directions." They added: "Laila's focus has reportedly been on her acting career. Despite the love they share, they've acknowledged their paths are diverging and have accepted that it's over. They've tried so hard but they just can't make it work."
Laila - who is best known for playing Amber Gates in Footballers' Wives and most recently, Ayesha Siddhu in EastEnders - began dating snooker champion Ronnie in 2011. Ronnie later proposed - however, the couple have been on-and-off over the years.
Laila and Ronnie briefly broke up in 2022, but soon rekindled their romance. "She's great. I love her. She's great company and I love being around her," he said at the time.
