shock comeback
Iconic soap star to reprise role in epic on-screen return – 38 years after her departure
The actress briefly played a whole new character in 2008
AN iconic soap star will reprise her role for the first time in 38 years in an epic on-screen return.
Ahead of Neighbours' 40th anniversary, show bosses have brought back familiar faces.
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Fans were recently left over the moon as Ian Smith returned to his role as Harold Bishop.
And now Neighbours have revealed Amanda Harris is making a shock Ramsay Street comeback.
Briony Behets will reprise her role as Jane Harris's mum as she sets her sights on reconnecting with her family.
The 73-year-old's on screen return is expected to air on Wednesday, April 23.
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First look snaps show Amanda settling into retirement community Eirini Rising.
Her daughter Jane can be seen, as well as Amanda's grandchildren Nicolette and Byron.
Amanda is the daughter of Mrs Mangel and made her Neighbours debut in 1987.
She starred in the role for just several episodes as a guest character.
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In 2008, Briony returned to Erinsborough to play a different character - Kate Newton.
Neighbours star Ian Smith says he's 'defying the odds' after terminal cancer diagnosis and being told he'd die this month
Meanwhile, Neighbours recently confirmed The Sun's exclusive story that the soap had been axed again.
The show was rebooted by Amazon Freevee but the service shut down last year and episodes were shifted to Prime Video.
Neighbours' final ever episode is expected to air in December of this year.
Neighbours stars who made it big
The long-running Aussie soap has launched the careers of some of Hollywood's biggest stars. Here are some of the Neighbours alums who went on to make it big after starring on the soap...
Kylie Minogue
- Before she hit the big time with her music career, Kylie shot to fame playing Charlene Mitchell on Neighbours. Shortly after her arrival, Kylie began an on and off-screen romance with co-star Jason Donovan, who played Scott Robinson, which gained the couple an army of adoring fans.
Jason Donovan
- After his stint as Scott, singer and actor Jason became an international popstar and had his pick acting of roles. He moved to the U.K., married, had children and has since starred in over a dozen West End show, most notably Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Alan Dale
- New Zealand born actor Alan was one of Neighbours 12 original cast members having made his debut as Jim Robinson on the soap's first episode on 18 March 1985. As the head of the Robinson clan, widower Jim lived at Number 26 Ramsay Street with his children Paul, Julie, Scott and Lucy, and was a real anchor in the community. He stayed with the show for eight years, before his character was killed off in dramatic scenes aired in 1993 but which still reverberate through the soap to this day.
Margot Robbie
- Way before she was Barbie or Harley Quinn, Margot was best known as Ramsay Street resident Donna Freedman. Her notable storylines included her marriage to Ringo Brown and becoming a young widow following his tragic death. After three years she bid farewell to the soap and Australia with a plan to make a name for herself in Hollywood which she did when she bagged the role of Naomi Lapaglia opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street.
Jesse Spencer
- Jesse rocked up on Ramsay street in 1994 with the rest of the Kennedy clan. He stayed for five years, literally growing up in front of the camera, but in 2000 felt it was time to spread his wings and head for Hollywood. It was certainly a smart move as he went on to bag leading roles in popular shows like House and Chicago Fire.
Russell Crowe
- New Zealand-native Russell had a brief arc on Neighbours, appearing in four episodes of the soap 1987 as Kenny Larkin, the former cellmate of Street resident Henry Ramsay. The role obviously got him noticed though because he quickly went on to become a fully-fledged Hollywood A-lister, winning the Best Actor Oscar for his standout performance as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator.