Elly Conway (Jodi Anasta )
'I am thrilled to be working!' Former Home And Away star Jodi Anasta lands role in Neighbours after splitting from husband Braith amid plans to focus on career
She has previously expressed her desire to return to acting.
And it seems Jodi Anasta's dream has finally become a reality.
The 31-year-old former Home And Away star announced on Thursday she will join the cast of long-running Australian soap Neighbours just a few months after announcing her split NRL star Braith.
'I am thrilled to be working!': Former Home And Away star Jodi Anasta announced on Thursday that she will be joining the cast of long-running Australian soap, Neighbours'As an actor in Australia, I am thrilled to be working,' Jodi told The Daily Telegraph as she revealed her new role.
'The biggest hurdle for me right now is "will my brain fit all these scripts in and will I deliver?"'
It is believed that the popular actress has signed a three year contract with the popular TV drama.
Jodi will be a regular fixture on the Channel Ten show and will make her debut in July as English schoolteacher Elly Conway - the unpredictable niece of Susan and Karl Kennedy.
'She is a little bit wild and has an unconventional way of teaching so all these great layers of naughtiness but with a heart of gold,' she said of her character.
'She is a little bit wild': The 31-year-old will be a regular fixture on the Channel Ten show and will make her debut in July as English schoolteacher Elly Conway - the unpredictable niece of Susan and Karl Kennedy
Moving on: The announcement comes just a few months after announcing her split from husband retired NRL star Braith Anasta, who said he felt Jodi had put her career on hold for him
The mother-of-one also revealed she will split her time between Sydney and Melbourne in order to juggle the gig with taking care of her two-year-old daughter Aleeia, whom she shares with Braith.
'They pretty much pack a whole week of work into a few days for me,' she explained.
'They understand that Aleeia is my priority - I find it so incredible that they are allowing me to fulfill a dream but they're also letting me be the best mum I can,' she gushed excitedly.
'They understand that Aleeia is my priority': The mother-of-one also revealed she will split her time between Sydney and Melbourne in order to juggle the gig with taking care of her two-year-old daughter Aleeia
Jodi's new role comes six years after she quit Australian soap drama Home And Away.
Jodi found fame on the much-loved TV show in 2005 in the role of Martha MacKenzie, for which she won a Logie for Most Popular Actress in 2009.The popular media personality broke into film in 2010, playing the role of jockey Damien Oliver's partner Trish in the film based on Media Puzzle's win in the 2002 Melbourne Cup.
Back to her acting roots! Jodi's new role comes six years after she quit Australian soap drama Home And Away during which she played*Martha MacKenzie
Destined for stardom: Jodi found fame on the much-loved TV show for which she won a Logie for Most Popular Actress in 2009In an interview with The Fix, Jodi previously said she planned to remain in Australia to pursue her silver screen dreams rather than relocate to Hollywood.
The brunette beauty admitted her decision to stay in her home country was mostly due to her daughter.
'You can have a career in Australia,' she said. 'With Aleeia, I don't want to be away from her too much, so doing the LA thing is not something I'm actively pursuing.
'Staying in Australia is somewhat of a bold move, considering so many of her Home And Away contemporaries have found such success having relocated to Los Angeles.
Jodi started on the show in the same year Hollywood heartthrob and People's Choice winner Chris Hemsworth debuted, while Isla Fisher and Heath Ledger both found their starts in the late 90s.
'You can have a career in Australia': In an interview with The Fix , Jodi previously said she planned to remain in Australia to pursue her silver screen dreams rather than relocate to Hollywood
Jodi and Braith announced a 'trial separation' in December in a statement from the two saying they would continue to co-parent their little girl.
Following news of the split, the 34-year-old former Roosters captain said he felt Jodi had put her acting career on hold to have children.*'I think Jodi did sacrifice her career for me when we got married and I'm very grateful for that,' he told The Daily Telegraph in January.
'I wanted more kids and it wasn't for her at that time in her life.'I still want a big family, although there's nobody on the horizon at the moment,' the sportsman added.
The couple married in October, 2012, and welcomed Aleeia a year later.
'I wanted more kids and it wasn't for her at that time': Jodi and Braith announced a 'trial separation' in December, and following news of the split, Braith said he felt Jodi had put her acting career on hold for him.
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Jodi Anasta on Elly Conway's return: "A big tragedy will be unveiled"
The actress also promises that Elly will find romance very soon .....
She was once a rebellious teen causing havoc at the Kennedys', but when Neighbours reintroduces Elly Conway today (July 18) it won't be just her face that has changed.
Now played by former Home and Away star Jodi Anasta, Susan's niece Elly is all grown up and will arrive back in town to teach at Erinsborough High. Proving that old habits die hard, it will come as no surprise that trouble isn't far behind, but when Digital Spy caught up with Jodi recently, she promised a tragic curveball in Elly's story...
After a few months filming, do you feel as though you've settled into the new role?
"Yes I do. I am absolutely loving it. We've just come back this week after a two-week break and before that I had been there nine weeks. Coming back this week, I have noticed a huge shift in my personality, I am having a lot more fun, the lines are going in a lot easier and I am retaining all that information. It's so much better."
Have all the cast made you feel welcome?
"So welcome. They are the most beautiful bunch of people – all the cast, crew, production. I can already feel like they are going to be like my left leg. I worked with Kip and Andrew Morley when I was in Home and Away. I had also met Rebeckah before at a big reunion thing we both went to so there is a little bit of a crossover there."
Are there any major differences between Neighbours and Home and Away?
"It's hard to say. Obviously one is in Sydney on the beach and one is in Melbourne in the suburbs. It is also a different character, different storylines and all of that. I would say that, generally, that there is the same family feel about both. But Neighbours is very relaxed and I noticed that. When we are on set, the cast and crew are really relaxed. It's a very fun environment too. Everyone makes the days exciting and entertaining. We are always cracking up and we have a good time on set. I think that's really important."
Is it daunting taking on a part that was previously played by somebody else? Or do you feel there has been a long enough gap for you to make the role your own?
"I feel like there has been a long enough gap to be honest. I was aware that she was on it 15 years ago but I think given that time time period, and the fact that she was very young when she was on the show, there is time to grow and change. It meant I could play around with the character a little bit. I didn't watch it when she was on it before but I had a little bit of information on her."
What has brought Elly back to Erinsborough? Is it just the job or is there more to it?
"Elly runs with the fact that it's just a job. She's very much 'Susan called me, I'm here for the job'. But other things are revealed over time. She's had a break-up, she's got a broken heart and there are a couple of other things that have happened that are revealed throughout the next few episodes. I think when we reveal that it will show you a bit more about Elly and who she is. It shows you more about her in depth as opposed to this confident front that she puts on. I think it is nice that viewers will be able to get to know Elly for who she really is."
Elly was a rebellious teenager before, but what can we expect from now?
"She has grown up and she's had some wild years. She's had fun, she's travelled, she has lived overseas with her mum, she's been around and she's had a few jobs. She has really lived her life and now she is at a point where she is really figuring out her next phase. But she's fun, feisty and quite unpredictable in her mannerisms and the way she teaches as well, which is an interesting contrast to the way Susan is because she is very by the book, strict and predictable. I think it's great seeing that chemistry between Susan and Elly where there are very different but they get on so well."
What is her relationship like with Susan?
"They have such a beautiful relationship. It's great. Elly brings out the spicy side in Susan! They have a little bit of fun together and her and Susan have this mother/daughter relationship. Elly really confides in Susan."
What has it been like working so closely with Jackie Woodburne?
"Jackie is just so incredible to work with. She makes me feel so relaxed. As an actress, I feel like she gets the best out of me because of the way she is. She really cares about the characters, the storylines and it is nice working with someone when they have that outlook."
Do you think fans will like her? Or will she be a bit of a villain?
"It depends. If you watch Neighbours a lot and you are quick to judge, then what you will see is a not very likeable girl. She is flirting with the wrong people and finding herself in these situations that are very misleading, But if you tough it out, get to know her, give her a chance – you will see that there is a very special girl behind that."
We know that she's going to clash with Piper. Could that cause problems for her further down the line?
"Yeah, but again, that is a situation where she didn't know what was going on. Piper walks in at the wrong time and ends up throwing a jug of sangria over Elly and it extends from there. Then there was also the whole undressing thing in the Waterhole, which was very daunting to do in your second week might I add! I was like, 'What? I've got to take my top off?'. But this is what I mean by hanging in there. She is so much more than what she is showing people in that first episode. It's a fun journey."
We've also heard Mark Brennan will catch her eye. Can you tell us anymore about that?
"My first scene on Neighbours this week is Elly meeting Mark Brennan. It is a hilarious scene and I think that will tell everyone – whatever they are thinking, that will explain a few things. I actually spoke to Scott about it and he said that you see another side of Mark Brennan in that scene too. It will be interesting to see that friendship play out. She wants to have fun. She enjoys flirting and she enjoys stirring up trouble too sometimes. She will get on really well with the Brennan brothers and they all have a great relationship with her. She is one of the boys with them."
Will she find romance then?
"She flirts with Mark. She will find romance very quickly, but whether or not that is with Mark is another question. I will keep everyone guessing though."
Will she make any friends? Or will the women see her as a threat?
"Yes, she will make friends. I think that is what I am talking about with people getting to know her in Erinsborough. It is a place where people talk and people whisper, but once she has been around for a while then she becomes accepted a bit more. People get to know her and she makes some really good friends."
Can you give us any more hints on what is coming up for her?
"There will be quite a big tragedy which is unveiled. It is linked to Elly's past and that will happen quite quickly. That is a huge storyline, but I don't know how more I can say about it. It will give you more insight into her as well."
Digital Spy
