Emily Symons
“I would love it if Marlon and co visited Summer Bay!”
HOME AND AWAY | Channel 5 BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY
It’s time to see Marilyn stand on her own two feet again, and rediscover who she is,” enthuses Home and Away star Emily Symons, as we chat to her about the breakdown of her character’s marriage to John. “It would be nice to see her in a different environment. Marilyn was very loyal to John, and always went along with all his mad projects, but now she needs to find her old self again. This will be a period of recovery and reflection for her.” Having finally admitted that her marriage is over, and moved out of the home she shared with John, Marilyn finds herself looking for a new place to live this week. But as Emily tells us, as long as Marilyn has her friends around her, she’ll be fine…
How do you feel about the end of Marilyn’s marriage to John, Emily?
It’s very sad. And it’s really hard to play, because their marriage came from such a joyous place in the beginning; they had a lovely friendship, then they formed a lovely relationship. But there’s been a lot of trauma in their lives over the past few years, and it’s just ended up at a very sad, lonely ending. Marilyn’s been pretending she can soldier on forever, but it’s not until John tells her to move out that she can finally leave.
Where does she go?
Roo and Mr Stewart say, “Come and stay with us!” But Marilyn is proud, and doesn’t want to impose on her friends – she doesn’t want anyone to worry about her. She’s lost, and doesn’t know what the rest of her journey will look like. I don’t think she’s thought about what the next step would be, which is making a new life for herself as a middle-age woman. It’s daunting for her.
What advice would you give to Marilyn about rebuilding her life?
What she needs right now is to be with her friends, rediscover her interests, and find her inner happiness. It’s lovely for her to be spending more time with Roo, and the Marilyn-roo friendship has given space for some really lovely, funny scenes. It’s great when Home
I don’t think Marilyn thought about the next step
and Away shows really strong female friendships.
We get the sense from your Instagram posts that you and Georgie (Parker, aka Roo) are the best of friends in real life too…
We are! She’s such a joy, a true friend, and a lovely person. We spend all day on set crying with laughter.
Do you see Alf, Martha and Roo as Marilyn’s family now?
I do – and Ryder. Marilyn kind of takes him under her wing, she loves mothering people and nurturing them. So she’s enjoying being a part of that family. It’s lovely for her to have found a place, and not be an old spinster living in a hotel!
What’s it been like for you moving back into Summer Bay house?
Oh, I love it! It was like, “Everybody, I’m home!” It was great – we all have really happy days, and we all make each other coffees, and look after each other all day.
You’ve been in Home and Away on and off since 1989 – what is it about the show that you love so much?
My Home and Away family means everything to me – this show has been a great friend to me over three decades, and I’m very lucky to still be here. In fact, I’m really proud to work here!