Lynne McGranger has divulged secrets from the set of the Australian TV favourite Home and Away in a new biography. She’s one of the most renowned faces in the world of soaps, having portrayed Irene Roberts for for 30 years on Home and Away.
After suffering an eating issue, harbouring a marijuana addiction, and experiencing a disastrous spell as a teacher, the soap veteran confessed how she felt like she’d ‘win the jackpot’ when she was cast in the temporary part of Irene Roberts back in 1993.
The soap star revealed she only wanted to continue in the position for three months when she spoke to broadcasters Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby from Australia, but producers kept calling her back.
McGranger had the presenters in stitches when she told how a case of food poisoning before to the audition had resulted in the character description for Irene being labelled as a ‘thin-waisted drinker.’
‘I still have to pinch myself,’ she added of her extended tenure in the job. It’s strange because it was always supposed to be a three-month job.
The producers expressed an interest in working with me for another six months. ‘Hell yes!’ I said.
‘It just kept occurring,’ she says. ‘It’s been such a fantastic trip, and I’m so grateful.’
She tried her hand at teaching before joining the show, but discovered she only likes children “if they’re in groups of one,” characterising her former classmates as “snotty and nasty.”
The Home and Away actress, 68, revealed to The Daily Telegraph last month that the book also focuses on her prior marijuana addiction and weight issue in the book.
The actress claims she had a significant habit of consuming marijuana and cigarettes before quitting in 2005, and that she even worked as Irene while intoxicated.
‘I’ve done stoned theatre, but not Home And Away.’ ‘I didn’t drink,’ she explained,’so that was my wine.’
Lynne, who has been playing Irene Roberts on the serial series for almost 28 years, admitted to growing the illicit plant in her backyard.
‘It’ll be really scandalous, and it wasn’t even close’ (of marijuana). I smoked a lot of marijuana. It was fantastic. ‘I’d smoke joints,’ she said.
Between the ages of 15 and 28, the actress confessed that she struggled with bulimia.
‘I had a type of bulimia where you binge and then take laxatives instead of vomiting,’ she explained.
‘At the time, it seemed like a decent idea.’ I now realise it was a sort of bulimia, although it had no term at the time.’
Acting Up: Me, Myself & Irene is a ‘warm, humorous, and personal peek into the life of one of Australia’s living TV icons,’ according to publishers Allen & Unwin.
‘One of Australia’s most well-known TV actresses lifts the lid on life – both on and off-screen – with comedy, honesty, and self-deprecating charm.’
Lynne will discuss everything from her childhood to her television career.
