Neighbours’ icon Annie Jones is back as ‘Plain Jane Superbrain’ after putting her career on hold for 20 years to care for her mother who had Alzheimer’s
- Annie starred as ‘Plain Jane Superbrain’ Harris on Neighbours back in between 1986 and 1989, often referred to as the ‘glory years of the soap’
- She starred alongside Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce and just like them, left the show to pursue an international career
- Sadly, Annie’s mother was dignosed with Alzheimer’s so she gave up her career to look after her
- She said: ‘I don’t regret it. It’s probably made me a better person in many ways’
She rose to fame playing Jane ‘Plain Jane Superbrain’ Harris on Neighbours back in between 1986 and 1989, often called the glory years of the soap.
And actress Annie Jones, 52, is back as iconic 80s character Jane after putting her career on hold for two decades to care for her sick mother who had Alzheimer’s.
Annie’s character, Jane was a schoolgirl who was given a makeover and turned into an iconic figure on the soap, starring alongside Kylie and Jason and Guy Pearce.
The 80s called: Neighbours’ icon Annie Jones (right) is back as Jane after putting her career on hold for 20 years to care for her sick mother (pictured with co-star Guy Pearce in the 80s)
Love: Annie, now aged 52, left the show to pursue an international singing career. But five years later, her mother Elizabeth was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
She left the show to pursue an international career like her co-stars but gave it all up to care for her mother, who sadly died in 2016.
She told The Mirror: ‘I left just after Kylie and Jason, it was my decision. I just wanted to do other things, join other shows and do other jobs. A great number of actors had gone on to do amazing things after Neighbours.
‘I don’t regret it. It’s probably made me a better person in many ways. I think you learn from the stuff that life throws at you, that’s what it’s all about, life experiences.
Blast from the past! Annie, who famously played ‘Plain Jane Superbrain’, is moving back into Ramsay Street with onscreen daughter Nicolette Stone, played by Charlotte Chimes (left)
‘Anyone who has had anything to do with Alzheimer’s or dementia will know what it’s like. It’s heartbreaking, seeing someone disappear before your eyes.’
In the show, Jane famously left Erinsborough to care for Mrs Mangel, her grandmother, played by Vivean Gray.
Annie spoke about her return to the show in a press release. She said: ‘Jane is returning to her old neighbourhood and bringing with her an insight into what her life away from Ramsay Street has been like for the past 30 years.
‘Audiences will learn more about her family life, as fans are introduced to her daughter for the first time.’
She added: ‘Jane’s absorbed a bit of Mrs Mangel along the way. Jane always has her grandmother’s voice in her head, she’s always got that disapproving things in her head.’
A step back in time: Annie pictured with co-star Craig McLachlan, who played Kylie Minogue’s onscreen brother Henry in the soap (pictured in 1988)
What a time! Annie, (pictured with Kylie in the 80s) appeared in the soap in what has often been called ‘the glory years’
Charlotte Chimes is set to play Annie’s onscreen daughter Nicolette Stone on the long-running soap, and it turns out it’s a dream come true for her.
She said: ‘I’m not going to lie, I have Margot Robbie on my vision board three times,’ Charlotte said in the press release.
‘But, little did I know I that I’d also end up on Australia’s most iconic series following in her footsteps’.
All change: Jane’s character started life as a bookish schoolgirl but soon had a trendy makeover
Annie famously returned to the soap for the show’s 35th anniversary and married 80s character Des Clarke, played by Paul Keane.
In real life, she has been married to husband Paul Moloney, since 1989.
They met while working on a show called The Henderson Kids, on which he was one of the directors. They married in 1989.
Neighbours airs weeknights at 6:30pm on 10 Peach
Catching up: Annie appeared on Loose Women back in December 2018