Sometimes the real stories behind our favourite soap stars are even more powerful than what we see on screen. That’s exactly the case with Home and Away’s Jessica Redmayne, who has opened up about something deeply personal that shaped her life in a big way.
Looking Back at Her Mum’s Journey
Jessica, who plays Harper in Summer Bay, lost her mum Christine to early-onset dementia two years ago. She said it’s the “elephant in the room” that nobody wants to talk about, but she believes it needs to be spoken about openly, just like any other illness. Lynne explained that too often people shove it under the carpet because there’s no cure, but that doesn’t help anyone. She said that if we stop being afraid of dementia and start doing what we can, like eating well and looking after our brains, we can make a difference.
Jessica admitted she feels it’s more important to spread awareness about dementia than to focus on her acting career. In her words, being in the industry is a blessing because it gives her the chance to reach people her age who might actually listen. She also said she often thinks about how speaking out feels like her destiny, and she takes that role seriously. For her, this cause has become bigger than her own ambitions.
A Family Struggle Few Saw
Jessica remembered that her mum first started showing signs when she was just 19. The family suspected what was going on, having seen her grandmother go through something similar. But it still took about five years before they finally had an official diagnosis. She said that only once it was written down on paper did the family really face the truth and start preparing for what lay ahead.
That’s when things got even harder. Jessica said she and her dad, Paul, were basically left on their own to figure out how to help. She even enrolled in an online university course to learn what dementia actually does to the brain. Lynne admitted she saw her mum’s memory fade and her personality change, but she didn’t really understand it until then. It was only after years of searching and speaking to others that they finally found help through Dementia Australia.
Why Home and Away Star Will Never Stay Silent
Even with all the heartbreak, Jessica said she never regretted a single moment she spent with her mum. She explained that people shouldn’t think life ends at diagnosis. Because, in many cases, loved ones can still live a full and meaningful life for years. She encouraged families to keep engaging with their loved ones. She said that even when someone can’t say your name, they’re still there and deserve every bit of love.
Jessica admitted that in the toughest days, when her mum couldn’t even make eye contact, those moments still mattered to them both. She said it takes courage, but it’s worth every second. Her advice is not to let fear or denial steal the time you still have. She also shared that Lynne McGranger, who plays Irene, had approached her more than a year ago with the storyline idea of Irene leaving Home and Away after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for all the latest Home and Away updates and soap news.