Jackie Woodburne As Susan Kennedy
A highly respected maternal figure, Susan is a woman of honour and integrity. The long-suffering wife of Karl, she has weathered the storms of her marriage with the utmost grace. Susan is mother to Libby, Mal and Billy but has also been a surrogate mum of sorts to many other children over the years, notably Jarrod Rebecchi with whom she still shares a close relationship.
Susan is devoted to her family and friends and is fearless when it comes to protecting them. She is intelligent and enjoys the arts: literature, music, theatre and film. She derives deep satisfaction from helping others realize their potential. Susan’s high standards and self-discipline can make her seem self-righteous and although well meaning, she runs the risk of alienating those she preaches to. Susan is outwardly conservative, though when she’s comfortable, she can be very witty, often risqué. There is a sense in both her style and behaviour that she’s holding something of herself back. This could be because her desire to be a model citizen takes precedence. However virtue can lose its lustre as you grow older and begin to consider your own mortality.
Not all of Susan’s family relationships have been as straightforward. While in Africa with Brett Stark, Susan confessed that she had helped her own mother to die. She has also struggled with a troubled niece, Elly, and a devious nephew, Darcy. And of course there’s her ex husband Karl.
Karl had been honest about his potential for infidelity when he fell for a terminally ill patient shortly after the move to Ramsay Street but it was his kiss with sexy receptionist Sarah Beaumont that really jeopardised the Kennedy marriage. Susan found out months later from her son Billy. She slapped Karl and threw him out. After counselling they managed to resolve a lot of their issues but things were never quite the same.
Karl had been honest about his potential for infidelity when he fell for a terminally ill patient shortly after the move to Ramsay Street but it was his kiss with sexy receptionist Sarah Beaumont that really jeopardised the Kennedy marriage. Susan found out months later from her son Billy. She slapped Karl and threw him out. After counselling they managed to resolve a lot of their issues but things were never quite the same.
Slipping on some spilt milk and waking up with retrograde amnesia could have been the perfect opportunity to start again. Believing that it was 1972 and she was still 16, Susan remembered nothing of the last thirty years. However, the process of recapturing her memory meant that she had to process Karl’s betrayal all over again and this time she asked for a divorce. The tragedy of Drew’s death brought them back together and half-way through the renewal of their vows, Susan’s memory came flooding back.
Their relationship broke down again when Karl developed a drinking problem. During a trial separation, Karl started seeing Isabelle Hoyland who convinced him he was the father of her unborn baby. Susan and Izzy hated each other and Susan and Karl only just managed to keep their divorce amicable. It was Susan that later found out Izzy had lied about the paternity of her baby and forced her to come clean. Despite everything, Karl and Susan have always had a special place in each other’s hearts.
However Karl wasn’t the only one to move on after their divorce. Saucy Susan managed to tempt Father Tom Scully away from the priesthood and had an outrageous fling with Max Hoyland’s dad Bobby. She fell in love again when she met Alex Kinski, blissfully unaware that he was about to be diagnosed with cancer. They married quickly when Alex’s health deteriorated but he died shortly afterwards. She initially battled Alex’s estranged daughter Katya over custody of her new step-children but all three Kinski kids eventually moved in to No. 28. However, when Susan secretly rekindled her relationship with Karl, the harmony was shattered. Devoted to the memory of their late father, Rachel in particular reacted badly.
Susan was stunned and delighted when, on holiday in the UK, Karl proposed atop the London Eye. Little did she realise that there were two more surprises in store: a spontaneous ceremony on the Thames organised by romantic Karl… and the arrival of a heavily pregnant Izzy Hoyland. Although Izzy had assured Susan that Karl was not the father of her baby, Susan overheard Izzy discussing her intention to keep the secret to herself with her new partner Pete. Torn, Susan eventually told Karl the truth.
With her marriage finally back on track, Susan then faced her biggest challenge yet. Feeling unusually tired but desperate to get to an important meeting with Rachel, Susan fell asleep at the wheel of her car. Unbeknownst to her she hit Bridget Parker who was left unable to walk unaided. At the resultant hit and run trial Susan was determined to plead guilty, desperate to be punished for her mistake and to heal the rift between her family and their good friends the Parkers.
Thanks to Toadie she received a suspended sentence and avoided prison. However, there was more bad news when the source of Susan’s tiredness was revealed. Although doctors initially assumed she was simply menopausal, a series of blackouts, followed by numbness in her hands and a terrifying attack of blindness led them to diagnose her with Multiple Sclerosis.
Jackie Woodburne
Since joining Neighbours in 1994, Jackie Woodburne's character has changed her surname three times.
"I started as a Smith, then Kennedy, changed to Kinski, back to Kennedy and as Karl and Susan have separated again, watch this space," joked Jackie.
When Jackie was offered the role as the no-nonsense school teacher, Susan Smith in 1994, she never dreamed her residency would in sustain 18 years, making her the longest running female character on an Australian series.
"It certainly wasn't a title I aspired to have but it has happened because I absolutely love what I do. It's a great cast and I adore working with Alan Fletcher (plays Karl Kennedy), plus we've been blessed with terrific kids on the show."
Born in Norther Ireland and emigrating to Australia as a child, Jackie is a graduate of the National Theatre in Melbourne. During her celebrated career she has appeared in many televison series including Prisoner, Cop Shop, Sons and Daughters, Young Doctors, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors and Law of The Land to name a few.
Jackie lives in Melbourne and since her character was diagnosed with MS, has become an ambassador for the MS Society to help raise awareness of this debilitating disease.
"It's imperative that the MS storyline is handled as truthfully, ethically and sensitively as possible, and I hope we've been able to break down some barriers," said Jackie.
The coveted Inside Soap Awards in the UK have nominated Jackie for best daytime star for two years running.
When Jackie was offered the role as the no-nonsense school teacher, Susan Smith in 1994, she never dreamed her residency would in sustain 18 years, making her the longest running female character on an Australian series.
"It certainly wasn't a title I aspired to have but it has happened because I absolutely love what I do. It's a great cast and I adore working with Alan Fletcher (plays Karl Kennedy), plus we've been blessed with terrific kids on the show."
Born in Norther Ireland and emigrating to Australia as a child, Jackie is a graduate of the National Theatre in Melbourne. During her celebrated career she has appeared in many televison series including Prisoner, Cop Shop, Sons and Daughters, Young Doctors, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors and Law of The Land to name a few.
Jackie lives in Melbourne and since her character was diagnosed with MS, has become an ambassador for the MS Society to help raise awareness of this debilitating disease.
"It's imperative that the MS storyline is handled as truthfully, ethically and sensitively as possible, and I hope we've been able to break down some barriers," said Jackie.
The coveted Inside Soap Awards in the UK have nominated Jackie for best daytime star for two years running.