Jodi Anasta has announced she is quitting Neighbours after three years on the long-running TV soap.
WATCH: Jodi Anasta opens up about juggling motherhood and Neighbours
The actress sparked concern last year when she was forced to take time off work because of “exhaustion”. However, according to Jodi, her decision to depart from Neighbours has nothing to do with last year’s health crisis.
“It is completely unrelated,” Anasta told Confidential. “At the moment I am feeling happier, healthier and better than ever and just excited about change, a fresh new opportunity or discovering something else.”
She has been splitting her time between Sydney and Melbourne for the three years she has appeared as Elly on Channel 10’s Neighbours as she and ex-partner, Braith Anasta, share custody of their young daughter, Aleeia.
However, Jodi is now looking forward to once again being based in Sydney.
“It’ll be a huge change for me,” she continued.
“Ramsay Street and Neighbours has really become my world, my life and my family. While it is sad to say goodbye, it is also a really exciting time for me and the future. I will have so much more time with my beautiful daughter.
“I’ll get to do more school drop offs, all that kind of stuff, and just get back into auditioning again. I like being busy but just being back in Sydney and having that stability is a wonderful thing.”
“Also with my character Elly, she has done absolutely everything, I have had so much fun playing her.”
“She is the most complex, crazy, charismatic character in the world and I’ve gotten to a point with her where I just don’t know where to go with her storyline.
Jodi is currently learning to become a DJ and spent a stint in LA several years ago trying to crack Hollywood. Despite declaring that she’s not planning to give Tinseltown another go, she is open to whatever life throws at her.
“It is not at the forefront of my mind,” she said. “I definitely want to stay in Australia. I have always said as an actor, you go where the work is, and I think I have shown myself that being based in Melbourne (with Neighbours).”
Last June, Jodi sparked concern after taking three weeks off from filming Neighbours.
“Jodi is taking some time out to rest, we look forward to having her back out on set soon,” said a Channel Ten spokesperson at the time.
Jodi’s manager Sean Anderson also confirmed the news: “She’s just having a rest. She’s exhausted so she’s taking three weeks off.”
“She’s living between two cities, she’s also a single mum and there are challenges that come with it.”
Speaking to 9Honey, Jodi confessed that she’d been “trying to push through”, and explained that the commute between her home in Sydney and the Melbourne set had left her “exhausted”.
“I was trying to push through, but everything builds and then you realise how exhausted you are and crumble a little bit,” she told the publication.
“I am in Melbourne four days a week and in Sydney three days every week, and it’s usually 12-hour days on set, so really huge days,” she explained.
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