Emily Symons, who plays Marilyn Chambers in the Australian serial, has opened out about why she wasn’t always on board with the narrative.
Symons originally appeared on Summer Bay in 1989 as the ditsy hairdresser, and even though she left the programme in 1992, she returned for numerous more appearances as the role.
Marilyn was one among the victims of the poison gas assault at Salt in a new subplot that began airing this year, producing behavioural changes that have made her abnormally nasty.
In a recent interview with Stuff, the actress said, “It was quite a shock when it was originally offered to me, and I had to be really pushed into it.”
“Obviously, I was ecstatic to get the chance to tell a new Marilyn narrative, but it was a difficult task given Marilyn’s messages of love, happiness, and nurturing. Now, all of a sudden, I’m expected to be mean to everyone.”
Since the attack, Marilyn has clashed with various characters including filing an official complaint against Dr Logan Bennett (Harley Bonner) and fighting with Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger) (Lynne McGranger). It was difficult for Symons to have the character shift so abruptly, he said.
“It starts out extremely amusing,” the actress said, “because she suddenly loses her filter and says things she would never ordinarily say.”
“The filmmakers had to hold my hand because I was like, ‘I can’t say that?’ and they said, ‘No, you have to say that because Marilyn isn’t herself,'” she continued.
“It was extremely difficult, similar to having a disagreement with a close friend. ‘I’m truly sorry,’ I kept saying. I’m truly sorry.’ It was forbidden for me to soften or amend it in any manner.”
Will Marilyn ever be the same happy-go-lucky girl she used to be?
