Janet Andrewartha, known for her role as Lyn Scully in “Neighbours,” has passed away at the age of 72. The actress joined the long-running Australian soap in 1999 as the Scully family matriarch. She left the show in 2006 but returned multiple times, with her last appearance in Erinsborough in 2019.
The official “Neighbours” Instagram account paid tribute to her, stating, “Everyone at Neighbours is deeply saddened by the passing of Janet Andrewartha. Beloved by viewers for her role as Ramsay Street’s Lyn Scully, Janet will be remembered for her wide body of work, which includes her memorable turn as Reb Keane in ‘Prisoner.'”
Jackie Woodburne, who played Susan Kennedy on the soap, described Andrewartha as “one of the finest actors of her generation and an extraordinary woman. Passionate, political, curious, delightfully eccentric, generous and fun. To me, she was a steadfast friend for over 45 years. I will miss her every day.”
Stefan Dennis, known for his role as businessman Paul Robinson on “Neighbours,” expressed his sorrow, saying, “So very upset to lose the lovely Janet. She truly was an exceptional actress who was a pleasure to work with and to be around. We will all miss you, dear girl.”
Janet Andrewartha was also known for her roles in other Australian hits such as “A Country Practice” and “Blue Heelers.” She had a successful theatrical career, starring in productions like “Othello,” “Jerusalem,” and “All My Sons.”
“Neighbours” was canceled in 2022 but revived the following year. The show originally launched in 1985 and ran until 2022 when UK broadcaster Channel 5 dropped it from its schedules. After 37 years and more than 9,000 episodes, the producers announced they had “no option but to rest the show.” However, four months after the finale, Amazon announced it had picked up the show for its streaming service Freevee, and it was relaunched in September 2023.
During its golden era in the 1980s and 1990s, “Neighbours” developed a cult following, particularly among students, as it was screened on BBC One twice a day. Among the stars who appeared on “Neighbours” early in their careers are Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Natalie Imbruglia, and Holly Vallance.
