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Vanessa Downing (born 5 May 1958) also known as Vanessa Ryan, is an Australian actress and singer, voice artist and lawyer. Downing was appearing with singing group The Madrigals, an acapella group who were performing at the Sydney Opera House, when she was given the role of matriarch foster mother Pippa Fletcher in Home and Away. [1]
Vanessa Downing is known for her roles on Home and Away, Bullpitt! and other TV shows. She also studied law and performed in theatre and voice over work.
- January 1, 1
- Vanessa Downing
- Actress, Additional Crew
Aug 4, 2023 · Vanessa Downing is best known for playing matriarch Pippa Fletcher on Home and Away in the 1980s - but she's since left show showbiz behind and retrained as a lawyer.
See Vanessa Downing and Roger Oakley, six years before they teamed up as Summer Bay's dynamic foster parent duo, on a 1982 episode of 'Sons and Daughters'.
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- cherrypizza
- Overview
- Pre Home And Away career
- Home And Away 1988-1990
- After Home And Away
Vanessa Downing (born 5 May, 1958) is an Australian character actress, singer and lawyer. She is best known for being the first actress to play Pippa Fletcher on Home and Away. She made her debut on the pilot episode in January 1988 and continued in the role until mid-1990. Her final appearance was in Episode 585, which was broadcast on 20th July 1...
As a teenager Vanessa joined the Australian Theatre for Young People. Later on she attended the University of Sydney and graduated with a Master's Degree in English Literature.
A singer as well as an actor, she joined the Sydney Philharmonic Choir at one stage. When she was told she had landed the role of Pippa Fletcher in Home and Away, she singing in a six piece a cappella group called The Madrigals at The Sydney Opera House.
In early 1987, Vanessa auditioned for the part of Pippa Fletcher but wasn't offered the role. Instead it went to the late Carol Willesse. When Carol realised early on that the show's schedule would entail very long days, she quit. Vanessa was offered the role instead and was on set within days.
Vanessa decided to quit her role as Pippa in mid-1990, not all that long after the departure of her on-screen husband Tom (played by Roger Oakley). Instead of writing Pippa out, as had happened with Tom, the producers decided to recast the character. Famously, Debra Lawrance, who looked and sounded nothing like Vanessa took over the role. According to Debra she was on the set at the same time as Vanessa when they were filming Carly and Ben's wedding. Vanessa appeared in the filmed scenes for that wedding. When the cast posed for the wedding photos outside the church, Debra stepped into the group.
Vanessa continued to act since leaving Home and Away. She has worked extensively in theatre, though she has continued to appear on TV. She had guest roles in Water Rats, All Saints, Big Sky, G.P., A Country Practice, Bullpitt!, Funeral Going, Double Skulls, Melba and Packed to the Rafters.
She also studied law, becoming a part-time lawyer in 2006. She specialised in immigration law for many years and worked for a law firm in Sydney (link is from archive.org, not their current website) .
Jan 20, 2018 · Having played Pippa Fletcher for two years, Vanessa Downing abruptly quit Home and Away in 1990.
Philippa "Pippa" Ross (also Fletcher) is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away. Actress Vanessa Downing originated the role and made her debut during the pilot episode broadcast on 17 January 1988. Downing quit the role in 1990, and Debra Lawrance was then cast.
