WILL THEY LEAVE THE BAY?
Since Brody launched into an extramarital affair many months back with newcomer Simone, their talented portrayers, Jackson Heywood and Emily Eskell, have found themselves bringing to life one of the most talked-about storylines in the history of Home and Away. And with Brody now divorcing Ziggy (Sophie Dillman), his wife of just one year, he and Simone have decided they want nothing more than to start life afresh away from Summer Bay. But will the young couple follow through
with their plan to leave the small seaside town forever?
As Jackson tells us, no-one could blame Brody and Simone for wanting to escape the scandal that continues to engulf them in the Bay.
“It’s been so hard for Simone, in particular, because she doesn’t have any connections in the Bay and so it’s easy for people to hate her. She doesn’t have any support, apart from Brody,” says the star. “But no-one appears to be on either of their sides, not even Brody’s brother Justin (James Stewart).
“I think they do both need to start a new life somewhere else.”
Agrees Emily: “The Bay is undeniably a beautiful place to be and a great community to live among. But I think that, at the moment, it’s all just too much for Simone. It’s become so toxic for her to be in the Bay that she can’t see any way for her other than to get out. If Brody doesn’t want to follow her straight away and needs to do long-distance for now, then she would totally understand that, too. It has been so intense.”
While we’ll have to wait to see exactly what unfolds for the controversial characters, one thing is certain – when the cameras stop rolling their
“NO-ONE APPEARS TO BE ON EITHER OF THEIR SIDES, NOT EVEN BRODY’S BROTHER JUSTIN”
actors will always feel grateful for their time on the internationally loved weeknight series.
“It is the most welcoming environment to step into,” says Emily, who graduated from NIDA in 2013 and has also performed extensively on the theatre stage.
“The cast and the crew are just amazing – walking into the makeup room every morning and being greeted by cuddles and beautiful people around you, asking genuinely how you are.
“You also feel you are living your character, because it’s not a play where you say the same lines every night. Every week you check your scripts, and you’re moving with that and discovering new things.
“There may be times when your character might make decisions that you don’t agree with, but that’s part of playing a role. Most of all, I love television and film and always have done, so this is such a great training ground for me. And I’m really passionate about telling Australian stories.”
As for Jackson, who joined the hit series three years ago, he is just as thankful.
“This show gives you so much time on set to get really comfortable with your craft, as well as working with other actors and a bunch of different directors,” he says.
“It gives you so many great tools to go on with – plus you form friendships with some people who you know will stay in your life forever, and that’s wonderful.
“The show also legitimises you heavily as an actor, which is really lovely, and puts you in the game. It’s hugely life-changing.”
Meanwhile, the big question remains: will we soon be saying our final farewells to Brody and Simone?
“Anything can happen in the Bay,” says Emily with a smile.
Stay tuned!