Who says life after attaining stardom always fades out? This Home and Away ultra-legend proved everyone wrong with her out-of-the-blue spooky return! Yep, we’re talking about Judy Nunn, who was part of one of the most magical moments on the Australian soap. Want to know more about it? Read on!
Home and Away: All About Judy’s Shocking H&A Return
The Home and Away icon first arrived in the Bay in 1988 as Alisa Stewart, Alf’s loving wife. She soon became the heart of the diner scene, but fate had other plans. The character suffered a heart attack and died in Alf’s arms in 2000. It was one of the biggest blows, and almost the whole nation mourned her passing.
However, Judy wasn’t done haunting our hearts just yet. In 2003, the character made a comeback, but not in flesh and bones. She reappeared as a ghost when poor Alf was battling a brain tumor. If that’s not an epic twist, then what is? But hey, the 80-year-old actress wasn’t reduced to a ghost roaming aimlessly.
Alisa finally packed her bags and left Summer Bay for good. Furthermore, she had an ultimate glow-up after saying goodbye to scripts for stories of her own. That’s right, Judy chose writing page-turners over acting in soaps. She has established herself as a bestselling novelist. But the wildest part?
Judy Ditches Screen Time for Writing
The H&A alum started writing her first drafts while filming the show. “It sounds gorgeous, doesn’t it?” Judy told The Morning Show when asked how she handled everything simultaneously. Additionally, Nunn explained that group scenes like weddings or funerals were the best time for her to write.
After all, she was basically an extra. “Sitting around, I found that very boring, so that’s when I’d write a book,” she added. So iconic! Meanwhile, her first children’s book, The Riddle of the Trumpalar, came out in 1981. It was because she even made it big in the TV industry. Then, she transitioned into adult fiction with The Glitter Game in 1991.
Since then, she has written 19 bestselling books. On TV, Judy also starred in Sons and Daughters, Prisoner, and A Country Practice. However, she’ll forever be remembered as Ailsa Stewart—the heart of the Bay. Nobody can forget her iconic journey that lasted for 1,313 episodes.
Now, she’s still going strong and moving people with her writing. Don’t forget to check out Soap Opera Daily for exclusive tea on Home and Away celebs. What’s your favorite Judy Nunn moment on the soap?
