Mackenzie Booth of Home and Away has been fighting to keep her restaurant Salt afloat due to mounting debts in recent months, and Emily Weir has revealed a real-life connection to her character’s tale.
Since hearing that her insurance claim for last year’s gas attack had been denied, Mac has gotten increasingly desperate. After debt collectors knock at her house, she will soon turn to the realm of illicit underground poker games, hosting them at Salt.
Many others will be able to identify with Mac’s financial difficulties, like Emily, who told Stuff that she had also struggled with debt.
“Unlike Mac, I’ve never been at risk of losing everything but when I was in my early 20s I did have the debt collectors coming after me,” she recalled.
Before going to Europe, the actress received an Australian credit card, which caused her complications.
“I went through all my saved money but wanted to continue traveling so I started withdrawing cash on my Australian card in Europe,” Emily continued. “The interest on that is unbelievable but I was just so young and naive that I thought, ‘Oh, yeah, I’ll pay it back once I settle in.”
Emily’s mother in Australia soon informed her that debt collectors were calling the family home in search of her, prompting Emily to take steps to pay off her obligations.
“I had to really hustle and work three jobs and, luckily, I paid it off before it got too bad but I was in hot water for a little bit there,” she said.
Emily said that her character’s journey will have a big impact on Summer Bay when she spoke about it.
“The storyline is super exciting,” Emily said. “It’s got so many different levels dramatically and it really is something that eventually takes over the entire Bay.
“Everyone becomes affected by this illegal gambling storyline like it really spreads out and into a lot of other people’s storylines.”
Many viewers would be able to connect to Mac’s financial troubles, Emily noted, even if they don’t agree with her approach to solving them.
“Being in debt is such a dark, gloomy place to be because it really does infect every aspect of your life,” Emily said.
“It’s constantly in the back of your mind and it kind of makes you unwell. All your stress levels and anxiety go through the roof and, when you’re in that state, you make really bad decisions and start doing things that you wouldn’t normally do.”
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