Jackie Gillies has been ‘shine, shine, shining’ on our screens for more than six years, becoming a much-loved star on Real Housewives of Melbourne. As the show returns, however, it’s time for Jackie to share another side of herself with fans.
In an emotional new scene from RHOMelbourne, Jackie has opened up about her experience with miscarriage and her journey to becoming a mother.
WATCH: Jackie Gillies opens up on Real Housewives of Melbourne
Jackie and her husband, Silverchair drummer Ben Gillies, have been trying for a family for some time and the series, filmed several months ago, will follow Jackie’s fertility journey.
Of course, fans know that the star has just welcomed twins over the weekend after their lengthy IVF journey. Sharing the news with her Instagram followers on Sunday, Jackie posted a photo of her twin babies in hospital.
“They’re here,” Jackie announced. “OMG they are so cute. My heart is full.”
While Ben posted the same photo with a simple caption, revealing he was “besotted.”
The arrival of their twins came exactly one week after the premiere of Real Housewives, where Jackie was seen discussing her experience of having previously miscarried.
“I keep thinking about the memories, going in to the scan and hearing the heartbeat and then… the next time you go in it’s not there any more. You think, is there something wrong with me? Can I not bear a child?” Jackie tells her loved ones.
Continuing on in one of the RHOMelbourne interview scenes, Jackie admitted it’s been one of the most difficult things she’s ever gone through.
“Any woman who has gone through a miscarriage knows it’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever experience. I remember I was crying in my room for two days,” she told the cameras, before asking to change the subject.
Though she says it was daunting to return to filming while pregnant, Jackie tells WHO she wanted to share her journey with fans. Even the tough parts.
“When I was first asked by producers to come back for a fifth season, I said no at first because I was going through IVF at the time and I wasn’t in the right headspace to do it. I wouldn’t have been an asset to the show,” she says.
“But then, when we got the green light to film after COVID-related delays, I said to myself, ‘You know what, Jacks? There are not enough women who speak out publicly about the realities of IVF. You’ve got to do it,'” she says.
“Because I’d said on camera also that I would have twins one day, I wanted to share my journey with the fans now that it was finally happening for me. But it wasn’t easy filming this show in the early stages of the pregnancy.”
The 41-year-old star says it was “a bit of a s–t show” trying to keep the news a secret when filming began.
“I couldn’t keep my head off my pillow, I had terrible sciatica and I was really trying to hide the pregnancy because I didn’t want to tell anyone about it before I’d reached the 12-week point.”
As for what inspired her to honestly share her journey with viewers, Jackie says it’s simply in her nature.
“My honesty comes from where and how I grew up. I’m from Newie [Newcastle], mate! I’ve always kept it real and been myself on this show and now that I’m going through this pregnancy, I don’t know how not to be real about my journey,” she says.
“When Foxtel execs say to me, ‘Jacks, you’re a fan-favourite on this show,’ I think that’s because of my relatability and how transparent I am.”
The Real Housewives of Melbourne airs Sundays, 8.30pm, on FOXTEL.
WATCH: The RHOMelbourne Season Five Taglines
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