Vanessa Downing was one of the original Home and Away cast members, after she was spotted while performing with acapella group The Madrigals at the iconic Sydney Opera House.

Vanessa was given the role of the Matriarch foster mother Pippa Fletcher, beating out more experienced actresses for the part, and stayed on the show for two years between 1988 and 1990 – becoming one of countless Aussie stars to appear on the show.

She had already been working as an actress and singer since 1977 and had appeared in a series of theatre productions, including King Lear and Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? before breaking into television.

Between her departure from Home and Away in 1990 and 2006, Vanessa continued to work in TV and theatre.

She had roles in series including sitcom Packed To The Rafters, medical drama All Saints and soap opera A Country Practice.

During that time, she was also studying to become a lawyer on the side and eventually qualifying and began practising in 2006.

She worked for Craddock Murray Neumann Law Firm in Sydney, having stayed on at the firm after first gaining experience with them as a student.

According to their website, she specialised in immigration law and specifically helped international refugees with their applications for visas to remain in Australia.

It also says that she worked “closely with experienced community interpreters” to help her argue her cases effectively in front of the Department of Immigration.

It notes that Vanessa also ensured she had a “sound knowledge of the political situations of the countries from which our clients have originated.”

The page goes on to explain that, while Vanessa is a dedicated and fully qualified lawyer, she had every intention of continuing with her acting career alongside her legal work.

Although she’s decreased the number of projects she takes on, Vanessa does still occasionally appear on screen.

In 2020, she appeared in one episode of Australian sketch comedy programme Black Comedy and in 2019 had a bit part in Mr. Inbetween, an American crime drama.

Additionally, Vanessa sometimes pops up on reality television.

In 2006, she appeared with several other former Home and Away stars in an episode of Where Are They Now? and in 2022 joined host Ray Meagher for an episode of This Is Your Life.

This Is Your Life surprises celebrity guests with a look back at their lives and career, while their friends, family and former colleagues appear and participate in the audience.

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