She was one of the first actresses to ever grace Ramsey Street and has since returned to cause drama on the soon-to-be-axed Aussie soap. Let’s take a look at her life since she quit the show 30-years-ago…
Just two years after the popular Australian soap opera Neighbours first aired in 1985, actress Lucinda Cowden joined the cast.
She first appeared on our screens as the outrageously funny Melanie Pearson, known for her crazy sense of humour and fun-loving antics.
When she announced her return to Ramsey Street this year after spending 30 years away from the drama, she delighted fans.
Lucinda was devastated to learn that the programme will end emotionally in August, just three years short of its 40th anniversary, after reprising her part as Melanie.
Lucinda has revealed to viewers why she left the soap opera in the first place and is now an ardent supporter of keeping the programme from being cancelled.
Let’s look at her experience on the soap, from typecast anxieties to her petition plight, as viewers watch what may be the final scenes ever of the show.
Petition to Save Job
After almost 40 years on the air, millions of fans all over the world were shocked to learn that the show would be cancelled after Channel 5 withdrew sponsorship for the soap opera.
Taboola is the sponsor.
Actress Lucinda joined the fury of the audience and launched her own campaign to keep her position on the well-known Australian soap opera back in February, describing the news as “devastating.”
The actress expressed her support to the “Channel 5 – Don’t Axe Neighbours” petition on change.org in an effort to keep the Australian soap alive and, by extension, keep her job.
“It’s my job… and I love it… and the idea of not being Mel anymore is devastating,” she commented.
The petition reads: “Neighbours is more than just a TV show – it is a source of comfort and entertainment for generations of fans who have watched it for decades – it is one of the most loved TV shows in the UK and brings lots of viewers from all backgrounds to Channel 5’s catalogue of channels.
“Even Adele is a fan. Channel 5 – we plead with you – please find a way to keep Neighbours on air.”
Quitting Soap
She initially appeared on film back in 1987, and she left her role on the soap opera in 1991.
Her final scenes saw her marrying Joe and leaving for their honeymoon in Europe, which resulted in both of their departures from the serial opera.
The actress spoke about her departure to Inside Soap and said, “I’d been in the series for two and a half years and it felt to me as though I’d got the best out of Melanie.”
Cowden went on to suggest that Joe and Melanie’s honeymoon would be the ideal way for them to leave the show since she did not want to return without her co-star and have to work on a plot that would have Melanie falling in love with a new character.
Plans to revive the show following a drop in ratings also occurred at the same time as their departure.
When Lucinda revealed last year that she will be joining the soap opera once more on a regular basis, viewers were overjoyed.
“When asked to return 30 years later, she said, “It felt like a gift from the heavens.
“It was so long ago, so I was quite flattered, buoyed, and thrilled by it.
“I haven’t seen ‘Neighbours’ in a very long time, so it was just so wonderful to know that people still thought of Melanie. It was such a lovely response.
Typecast Fears
Although she may be best remembered for her work on the well-known soap opera, the actress had expressed concerns about being stereotyped when playing a zany character on Ramsey Street. In that part, she frequently wore eccentric clothing and had a loud laugh.
Lucinda left the soap to tour Britain in a number of pantomimes because she wanted to establish a professional acting career as a versatile actress.
She starred in Aladdin at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury and toured Britain in Peter Pan.
She revealed to the London Evening Standard at the time: “I left Neighbours because I did not want to be typecast. I think I have a lot more to offer.”
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