Name	Danniella Westbrook
Height
Naionality	British
Date of Birth	5 November 1973
Place of Birth	UK
Famous for

Westbrook Joined the Sylvia Young Theatre School at a young age. After appearing in several advertisements and a minor role in Grange Hill, she was put forward for the role of Sam Mitchell (the younger sister of Phil and Grant) in EastEnders. Her audition was successful and she made her first appearance on the hit soap in 1990. During her intitial stint on the show Westbrook became a regular on the London party circuit and was rarely out of the British tabloids. Press interest esculated due to her off-screen and turbulent relationship with Brian Harvey, who was a member of British boy-band East 17. Despite featuring in some prominent storylines, rumours of Daniella's recreational drug-taking and poor and tardy attendance on set, prompted the producers to ask her to leave the hit soap in 1993.[1] A week after her exit Westbrook landed the part of 'Dawn' in Frank Stubbs Promotes, she also played a part in Dave Stewart's directional film debut, Entertaining Mr. Simpson. The film was shown at various film festivals around the world, including Cannes.

In 1995, thinking that Westbrook had cleaned up her act, the producers at EastEnders asked her back to the soap a second time. However, Danniella was still regularly using drugs and in 1996 she was written out of the soap again.


Westbrook as Sam Mitchell in 1995.[2] Following her second departure, Danniella was involved in a near fatal car accident, which left her with severe facial injuries, including a dislocated eye. Danniella survived, and after corrective surgery, sustained no long-term or major disfigurement[3].

In 1999 the EastEnders producers decided to reintroduce the character of Sam Mitchell back into the show. Although they initially considered recasting the role to another actress and despite all her past problems, they decided to give Danniella another chance and she was asked back for a third time. During this time Daniella's excessive use of cocaine had completely eroded away her nasal septum. In order to hide this from the audience Danniella was only filmed in ways that would keep her septum hidden from view. In doing this Danniella was able to keep her damaged septum a secret from both the viewers and the press. However, Daniella's drug taking only worsened and in 2000 she was asked to leave EastEnders for a third and final time.[4] Since her departure the character of Sam Mitchell has been recast and was played by Kim Medcalf from 2002 - 2005.