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“A bit of comedy, a bit of drama, a bit of kitchen sink.”

With 22 years in one show, Jackie Woodburne is entirely relaxed with working in soap, and all it has given her.

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Jackie Woodburne is entirely relaxed with where Neighbours sits in the pantheon of TV drama.

With her on screen husband ‘Karl Kennedy’ (Alan Fletcher), ‘Susan Kennedy’ has been a rock in Ramsay Street for over two decades. But equally it has given much to her, professionally speaking.

“‘Fletch’ and I have been here 22 years which is obviously not going to suit everybody. But it suits me and my personality. I like to go to work everyday, I don’t do so well doing nothing. Although as I get older I’m adapting to that a little better!” she tells TV Tonight.

“I love that every week we get a new batch of scripts and each day you’re doing a bit of comedy, a bit of drama, a bit of kitchen sink, and keep-the-ball-up-in-the-air soap. I just like acting.”

And with a cast of more than 20, the soap baton is handed around many times. Over a 12 month period all of the actors on the show get their moment to shine.

“When you’ve got the A-story you’ll have about 6 weeks of pretty intense (work) with lots of scenes, all day, every day. And then you become a bit more in the background as you go into a B or C story, more valuably supporting someone else’s storyline,” she says.

“Everyone gets a turn.”

“Neighbours… has the safety net of the family.”

While Colette Mann’s ‘Sheila’ may be the most senior female resident, none can deny that fan favourite Susan Kennedy is Erinsborough’s very own matriarch. Yet according to Woodburne Neighbours works best when the generations are lesson-learning between one another, especially in the Kennedy household.

“I’m constantly saying we need kids in the house! I think the Kennedy house works really well when it’s busy, noisy and full of kids. That dynamic is endless fun for us to play but I think it’s interesting to watch too,” she explains.

“The teenage stories don’t really change, it doesn’t really matter which generation it is. It’s the same stuff. Who loves who? Who’s upset who? And the parents are there to ‘catch’ the kids. The kids go out and make all their discoveries, all their mistakes, all their adventures knowing they’ve got this ‘safety-net’ of mum and dad -or now, nanna & granddad- who will be there to save them if things get too difficult or dangerous.

“That’s what good about Neighbours, it has the safety net of the family.

“It’s about people looking after each other and caring for each other. As soon as we stray away from that we get a bit lost.”

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“Sometimes you can lose the essence of the characters because you’re just requiring them to advance the plot”

Such core values stays true to the lyrics of the show’s very own theme. But like any show that has three decades under its belt, occasionally it has detoured off course.

“There’s plot, plot, plot but sometimes you can lose the essence of the characters because you’re just requiring them to advance the plot, and not necessarily in a truthful voice. Occasionally that happens as it would in any show that is so plot-driven,” Woodburne continues.

“But the writers are so great at catching that and pulling back to advance the plot in an authentic voice for the characters. Otherwise nobody is going to believe it.

“We’ve had plane crashings, kidnappings, hostage situations but as long as you keep the characters authentic you can take them anywhere. That’s the benchmark of good writing in any show.

“It’s a soap, not a documentary. It’s heightened-reality and things happen that don’t happen in Nunawading. Although if you read the paper crazy thing are happening in the suburbs all the time!

“But it’s a delicate balance between Drama and tipping over into ‘they’ve-gone-too-far-that’s-ridiculous!’”

“On shows like this those anchors are important.”

As with any soap, actors can often outlast the writers and producers steering the ship. Their insight into the character can be invaluable and Woodburne is one of the show’s long-running ‘custodians.’

“Sure, ‘Fletch’ and I and Ryan (Moloney), Tom (Oliver), Stefan (Dennis) have been around a long time. On shows like this those anchors are important. It makes it easier for other characters to come in an attach, because it gives them an immediate connection,” she suggests.

“If someone comes in as a relative they’ve immediately got a backstory, which is helpful.”

Yet despite such longevity -and plenty of praise from fans for her acting chops- Woodburne is a quiet achiever in the industry. In recent years she was nominated for a Rose D’Or Award in Europe, but it seems there are  few acting nominations to be won from soap closer to home.

“It’s not something I think about. Forget about awards, I feel very lucky to have this job that I love, that I get to do every day. So lucky,” she smiles.

“I feel like I have a lot left in me. I hope so.”

Neighbours airs 6:30pm weeknights on ELEVEN.

5 Responses

  1. Great interview, David! 🙂
    I’ve watched from the beginning. I love Jackie & Alan, Ryan, Tom, Stefan. They are the glue that holds the show together!

  2. Jackie and Alan have to be one of the greatest on-screen couples Aussie TV has ever produced. They have such great chemistry and you can tell they’re having a ball together, especially when they get to do comedic scenes. They may not have won any awards, but I hope they know how respected and valued they are amongst dedicated Neighbours fans.

  3. Thanks for this interview, Jackie is a great actress and I think under acknowledged also. I’d still like her to be nominated for a Gold Logie rather than than someone who has been on H&A for 18 months. Even her and Alan could be joint Hall of Fame award winners?

  4. Great interview David! well done, Jackie is one under-rated performer on Aussies screens.

    I do wish the Producers bring back Kym Valentine to play Libby Kennedy. The show at the minute is screaming for her return now that the Kennedys, her son Ben and now Steph are ion screen.

    Bring back Libby! 🙂

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