Irene Roberts

Irene Roberts
Lynne McGranger as Irene Roberts (2011)
Home and Away character
Portrayed by	Jacqui Phillips (1991–92) Lynne McGranger (1993–)
Duration	1991–
First appearance	29 October 1991
Introduced by	Des Monaghan
Book appearances	Home and Away: A Place in the Bay
Spin-off appearances	Home and Away: An Eye for an Eye (2015) Home and Away: Revenge (2016) Home and Away: All or Nothing (2017)
Classification	Present; regular
Profile
Occupation	Diner co-owner Waitress Foster parent School secretary
Home	Beach House
Sisters Wendy McFarlane Husband Murdoch Roberts (until 1995) Sons Mick Jennings Nathan Roberts Damian Roberts Daughters Finlay Roberts Grandsons Paul Roberts Mark Roberts Granddaughters Luc Patterson Nephews Nelson McFarlane

Irene Roberts is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Lynne McGranger. She was previously played by actress Jacqui Phillips from 1991 until 1992 when McGranger took over the role on 12 January 1993. Irene was originally a recurring character, but on 7 October 1993 McGranger was promoted to the regular cast. McGranger is now the longest-serving female cast member on the show, and has currently played the role of Irene for over 23 years with the character appearing in all seasons of the show since her introduction.

Actress Jacqui Phillips was cast the role in 1991, Irene was later recast with Lynne McGranger taking over the role. McGranger was part of the guest cast when she joined because Irene was a recurring character, on 7 October 1993 she was promoted to the regular cast. McGranger is now one of the longest serving cast members in the serial. Speaking of her duration whilst interview by TV Tonight, McGranger stated: "Being very pragmatic, I love my job. You couldn’t be doing this for 18 years if you didn’t love it. You would go stark raving nuts, because it is intense."

The serial's official website describes Irene as: "your classic Aussie battler. Down to earth and with a wry sense of humour, she's always good for a yarn and a laugh. It doesn't matter who you are, young or old, Irene's door is always open to you." Irene is seen as a caring woman who constantly takes in children to foster, of this they say: "Helping kids in need has given her a second chance at being a mum, and the opportunity to make up for all the mistakes she made with her own kids."

There were plans to write the character out of Home and Away in early 2002, however when new Script Producer Coral Drouyn arrived, she was horrified and decided to give the character strong storylines and ground her.

Lynne McGranger, who portrays Roberts, said of her role, "Having to play that 'losing your mind' stuff was really a stretch for something like Home And Away, and for someone like Irene, who's very comfortably swanning around Summer Bay for 13 or 14 years, making people cups of tea and solving their problems...Sometimes you get a little too comfortable and that really jolted me out of my comfort zone. It was exhausting but exhilarating."

Irene arrives in Summer Bay as the alcoholic mother of three children, Nathan, Damian and Fin, being fostered by Pippa Ross. Having hit rock bottom after an unhappy marriage, she had started drinking heavily as a coping mechanism, and it was soon revealed that she had used violence towards Damian and Nathan on occasions while under the influence. Although Damian and Fin try to maintain a relationship with her following her arrival, her drunken antics prove too much, and after falling down the stairs after a binge, she falsely accuses Damian and Fin of pushing her and then threatens to harm Pippa if she does not release Damian from her care. This proves to be the final straw for Damian and Fin; unable to cope with her behaviour any longer, the two, backed by Pippa and her husband Michael, tell Irene to leave the Bay and go home and get her life back together.