It’s just like being back In the 80s’
Neighbours’ Plain Jane Superbrain, aka Annie Jones, returns to Erinsborough – 34 years after she started!
If you’re old enough to remember when Kylie Minogue was more famous for being a Ramsay Street resident than she was for her music, you’re old enough to remember Jane Harris, one of the old school Neighbours cast members.
Alongside the likes of Kylie, Jason Donovan and Hollywood superstar Guy Pearce, actress Annie Jones was a fixture on our screens back in the 80s as the kindly, nerdy Jane and became of a bit of an Erinsborough legend in the process. She left the soap in 1989 before returning for a couple of much-hyped guest stints in 2005 and 2018. Now, having been offered a permanent return to the soap, Annie will be back on our screens for the foreseeable. We caught up with the Aussie icon to find out more…
Annie, what brings you back to Ramsay Street full time?
It’s too good an opportunity to miss. I was very fortunate they brought me back permanently and I was delighted with that. I really enjoy working on the show – I get to hang out with my friends every day.
It really is a dream job.
What was it like getting back into the swing of the role?
Pretty much like riding a bike. I get the new script each week and I can hear Jane’s voice so clearly when I read it. I guess that’s testament to the great writing team. But it’s very easy for me. I seem to step right into it and she’s a quirky character, which is always super fun. It allows for a lot of comedic moments.
What’s it like working on Neighbours now compared to the 80s?
Not a lot has changed. We’re still in the same studios, but we have much nicer sets, mind. They’ve all been revamped, but the vibe is very much the same. You have to pinch yourself sometimes, as you might as well be back in the 80s. Although Stefan Dennis is the only one still here who I used to work with. We’re the same, just a bit older. Back in the day, we were the youngies and now we’re the oldies, so that’s a bit of a hoot.
It’s been 32 years since Scott and Charlene’s wedding was broadcast in the UK. What are your memories of those times?
It was such an exciting time. I was 19 when I started Neighbours. It wasn’t my very first job, but it was my first really full-on, long-term role. To work with your mates every day and be on this huge TV show was so much fun. Do you still keep in touch with Kylie,
Jason and Guy?
Every now and then we catch up, but they live all over the world these days, so it’s rare that we’re all in the same place at the same time. For the 35th anniversary, I came over to the UK with Stefan for some publicity and we managed to catch up with Guy and Jason, which was great fun. It was just like yesterday. Sometimes, no matter how many decades go by, you just pick up where you left off.
Neighbours is on weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm, Channel 5