Simone Buchanan Biography

Simone Louise Buchanan (born 11 March 1968), is an Australian actress of film and television, she is best known for her television roles as Debbie Kelly in the situation comedy Hey Dad..! and Samantha Fitzgerald in the soap opera Neighbours.

Early life

Buchanan is the daughter of musician Tony Buchanan and teacher Jo Buchanan. The second of three children, she attended Avalon Primary School. Her older brother Miles and younger sister Beth are also actors - Beth is well known for her roles in Neighbours and Blue Heelers, and has also appeared in ; Miles was in A Country Practice, Sons and Daughters and Young Ramsay.

Career

Buchanan was born in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville in 1968. She has appeared in several films, including playing a rape victim in Shame and as Laura Harris - and eventually Anna Dodwell - in the Australian drama series Pacific Drive.

In 2008, Buchanan played Samantha Fitzgerald, the bipolar-suffering estranged wife of Dan Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker), in the long-running soap opera Neighbours. Originally appearing for three months, from March to June, the character's introduction was considered a success, leading to her return for a second three-month stint from November to February 2009. The character appeared for a four-week guest role in late 2010, to coincide with the 6,000th episode celebrations.

Personal life

Buchanan has been married to Brett Smith since 2008. She has a son, Tane (born 1998), from a previous relationship. In August 2009, it was announced that Buchanan was expecting her second child, due in early 2010. The pregnancy was achieved with IVF treatment. Buchanan gave birth to a son, Rmy, via caesarean section.

In March 2010, Buchanan supported Sarah Monahan, a co-star on the Hey Dad..! television show, over allegations that fellow star Robert Hughes had engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour on the set of the show. Buchanan claimed she had approached the show's producer about the alleged assaults but that he instructed her to keep quiet. She testified at Hughes' 2014 trial that she only heard allegations about his inappropriate behaviour and never saw it for herself.

Filmography

Television and film roles
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1978	A Good Thing Going	Cathy Harris
1979	My Brilliant Career	Mary Anne
1980	Secret Valley	Simone
1981	Run Rebecca, Run	Rebecca
	Doctors & Nurses	Jane Gilmour
1982	Runaway Island	Jemma McLeod
	The Mystery at Castle House	Sharon Barnes
1984	A Country Practice	Sharon Barnes	(#4.69), (#4.70)
	The Man from the High Country	Debbie Lomax
	Run Chrissie Run!	Cathy
1985	Sons and Daughters	Donna Jackson	Unknown Episodes
	The Flying Doctors	Lucy Daniels	Original mini-series pilot
1986	Platypus Cove	Jenny Nelson
1987	Hey Dad!	Debbie Kelly	All Episodes (1987-1990)
	Shame	Lizzie Curtis
1991	A Country Practice	Sara Kennedy
1991	Push	Sara Kennedy	(#11.61), (#11.62)
1993	G.P.	Mickey Davis	(#5.28)
1995	Pacific Drive	Laura Harris
1998	All Saints	Mitchie Bell	(#1.22)
1999	Water Rats	Jenny Spiro	(#4.6)
2000, 2003	Blue Heelers	Nurse Angie Cohen	(#7.35), (#10.8)
2005	Forced Entry	Julie
2006	McLeod's Daughters	Amy Tanaka	(#6.13)
2008-2010	Neighbours	Samantha Fitzgerald	Recurring guest