EastEnders icon confirms break up from snooker legend after 13 years in unhappy submit

Laila Rouass confirmed that after 13 years of romantic bliss with snooker icon Ronnie O’Sullivan, the pair have decided to call it quits on their steadfast relationship

An EastEnders icon has announced she is splitting from her snooker legend partner.

Laila Rouass confirmed in a devastating post on her social media that she would be splitting from her boyfriend Ronnie O’Sullivan. The pair – who had been due to tie the knot together, had been dating for 13 years – and had even moved in together.

Snooker icon Ronnie, who has been struggling in his career in recent months, had been loved up with his actress girlfriend ever since they first got together in 2011. However, in a post released on her social media, Footballer’s Wives star Laila said that she was now feeling “hurt, pain and anger” as a result of the split.

Taking to her Instagram profile, actress Laila said: “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.”

In the post, she added that she was not “trying to get back” to a former version of herself, but instead is trying to get herself to “discover” her true self. She went on to say: “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.”

As she rounded off the post, she turned her attention to those who were going through similar situations, telling them they will “feel so much better, stronger and sexier”, like how she does. “Life has a funny way of throwing in a plot twist here and there,” she joked. “I’ve even met an Arab Viking…like…how did that happen?”

It is believed that Ronnie and Laila had split up in September, with an insider close to the couple telling The Sun that the pair had been drifting apart. The source added that both of them still loved each other but their respective careers were taking over and was pushing them apart.

“Despite the love they share, they’ve acknowledged their paths are diverging and have accepted that it’s over,” the source chimed. “They’ve tried so hard but they just can’t make it work.”

Laila and Ronnie’s relationship was particularly strong, with the couple slowly going from strength to strength after they first started dating in 2011. Ronnie had proposed to his girlfriend during their relationship, but the couple did have their ups and downs.

At points, the couple had an on-off dynamic as they wrestled with their love and their respective career paths, with Laila’s acting career taking off alongside Ronnie’s dominance in snooker. Now, Laila – who plays Ayesha Siddhu in the BBC soap – is taking on her newest acting projects solo.

For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up for one of our newsletters here.