The return of Plain Jane Superbrain...
Moving real-life story behind star’s 31-year absence from Neighbours
Annie Jones was one of the young Aussie heartthrobs who made Neighbours such a huge hit in the 80s.
Her character, nicknamed Plain Jane Superbrain, was a transformed from a swotty schoolgirl in oversized specs into a blonde bombshell and heartbreaker by a makeover.
And when fan favourite Annie decided to quit the soap, like Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce, many were convinced she too would become a global star.
Sadly, fate dealt her a very different hand. Five years after she left Neighbours, Annie’s mother Elizabeth was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and the star dedicate her life to caring for her.
For the next two decades she stayed close to her ailing mum in Melbourne and turned down lucrative jobs that could have shot her to the same levels of fame as the others.
After Elizabeth passed away in 2016, Annie was able to take on acting roles that were more than just quick guest appearances or voiceovers.
In recent years Annie, 52, has made guest appearances in Neighbours. She married old flame Des Clarke, played by Paul Keane, in March as part of the soap’s 35th anniversary celebrations that saw five weddings in a week.
Now, after appearing occasionally since 2018, she is back in Erinsborough permanently and will be on our screens next month.
With her is grown-up daughter Nicolette, Charlotte Chimes, who has a fraught relationship with her due to her reaction to her coming out in her teens – but there is no sign of Des.
Annie says she has no regrets for putting her family first after leaving Neighbours in 1989. She made brief appearances in shows like The Flying Doctors, and did a one-year stint on Aussie sitcom Newlyweds.
She says: “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.”
Elizabeth and Annie’s dad Steven lived in South Australia at the time but moved closer when her mum started to get sick.
Annie says: “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. It’s made me a different actress too, empathy is the number one most important thing for any actor.
“Anyone who has had anything to do with Alzheimers or dementia will know what it’s like.
“It’s heartbreaking, seeing someone disappear before your eyes.”
Annie met her husband Paul Moloney, in 1985 while working on a show called The Henderson Kids, on which he was one of the directors. They married in 1989.
She says was thrilled to be asked back to Neighbours and was surprised to see so many of the old crew members still working on it.
She has fond memories of coming to the UK with 13 other cast members to take part in a 1988 Royal Variety Performance, the first time they realised just how huge the show was over here. In 1990, an episode pulled in 21 million viewers.
“We were pretty much mobbed,” she says. “It was really crazy, we hadn’t expected that.”
Annie says she still keeps in touch with Kylie, Jason and Guy, and doesn’t rule out a nostalgic reunion of Neighbour’s most loved gang of mates.
She says: “Every now and then we cross paths. They all live abroad these days and they’re very busy, but I know they would love to come back because they feel very strongly about the show.
“They possibly would come back if they had the time, you never know.”
■ Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5