Actress Laila Rouass has made a return to social media after news of her split from snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan became public. The 53-year-old Holby City star, who had been absent from Instagram since early September, shared a makeup-free selfie with her followers this morning, accompanied by the caption, “Back on the Insta.”
Laila, known for her roles in Footballers’ Wives and EastEnders, looked radiant in the photo, wearing a white top with her hair styled in soft waves. Fans quickly filled the comments with support, with one writing, “Wow, the queen is back,” and another adding, “Welcome back, beautiful.” TV presenter Jenni Falconer also joined in, posting three fire emojis.
The news of her social media return comes just a day after it was revealed that she and Ronnie O’Sullivan have ended their relationship after being together for over 12 years. The couple had previously separated in 2022 but later reconciled. However, sources close to the pair have now confirmed that they have gone their separate ways for good.
A Relationship in Different Directions
Friends of the couple have spoken out, revealing that Laila and Ronnie had been drifting apart for some time. The snooker legend has spent much of this year travelling for lucrative snooker competitions abroad, including in China and Saudi Arabia, while Laila has been focusing on her acting career in the UK.
A source close to the couple explained, “They’ve been going in different directions for a while now. There’s a lot of love between them, but they’ve accepted that it’s over.” Laila was notably not wearing her engagement ring during a recent appearance on This Morning, where she was promoting her role as Ayesha Siddhu in EastEnders.
The couple, who got engaged in 2013 after dating for a year, never married. Despite efforts to make their relationship work following their 2022 split, it appears that they were unable to overcome the challenges they faced. Ronnie, who has three children from previous relationships, had posted numerous pictures of the pair together following their reconciliation, but these public declarations of affection have since stopped.
A Busy Year for Ronnie
While Laila has been busy with her acting commitments, Ronnie O’Sullivan has had a demanding year on the professional snooker circuit. The seven-time world champion, who holds the record for the most 147 maximum breaks in the sport, has been travelling extensively, leaving little time for his personal life. Just this week, Ronnie suffered a surprise first-round exit from the English Open after a loss to China’s He Guoqiang, a match that saw him heavily criticised for playing left-handed.
Despite his professional success, Ronnie has often spoken about his mental health struggles and has frequently hinted at retirement from the sport. Friends of the couple have expressed hope that this recent split may not be permanent, recalling their previous reconciliation in 2022. “Ronnie and Laila make a lovely couple, and those who know them best hope this is just another blip,” said a close friend.
With both stars continuing to focus on their careers, only time will tell if this is the final chapter in their relationship.
