Jacqueline Anne Woodburne (born 5 February 1956)Neighbours: The Perfect Blend | Jackie Woodburne is a Northern Ireland–born Australian actress, known for her numerous roles in television soap operas. After graduating from the National Theatre School, Woodburne played Maggie Gordon in The Young Doctors. She appeared in Cop Shop as Gina Rossi, and then she was cast as inmate Julie "Chook" Egbert in Prisoner. Since 1994, Woodburne has played teacher Susan Kennedy in Neighbours.

In the 1980s, Woodburne appeared in multiple miniseries', including Outbreak of Love, Sara Dane, and 1915, which earned her a Logie Award nomination. By 1985, Woodburne had had a starring role in a major series on every network. Since 2014, Woodburne has starred as Dr Anastasia Black in the sci-fi comedy audio series Night Terrace.

Early life

Woodburne was born in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. Her father was a policeman in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. She has two older siblings: John and Stephen. At the age of three, she emigrated with her family to Australia. The family assumed that her father would be able to join the Australian police on arrival, but, owing to various rules and regulations, he was unable to do so. Woodburne grew up in Frankston, Victoria and attended Forest Hill Primary School, Monterey Secondary College, and Karingal High School.

Career Woodburne was 22 years old when she decided to become an actress and enrolled in the National Theatre Drama School in Melbourne. She met friend and future Neighbours castmate Janet Andrewartha there and graduated in 1980. Woodburne played Maggie Gordon in The Young Doctors. In 1981, she appeared in the serial drama The Patchwork Hero. She also played Josie in the ABC television miniseries Outbreak of Love, which was adapted from Martin Boyd's novel of the same name. Woodburne starred in the ABC Film 1915 as Dianne Bendetto, alongside Sigrid Thornton, Scott McGregor and Scott Burgess. Woodburne said the fighting is not the only focus of the miniseries, as it shows how the lives of the women were also affected by World War I. Woodburne received a nomination for the Logie Award for Best Support Actress in a Single Drama/Mini Series for her portrayal of Dianne.

Woodburne had a starring role in a major series on every network. Her nine-month stint as Maggie in Nine Network's The Young Doctors was followed by a role in the Network Ten miniseries Sara Dane, and Seven's Cop Shop as Gina Rossi. In 1983, she made the first of three appearances in A Country Practice. She also brief made an appearance in the very first episode of Sons and Daughters, playing the iconic Pat the Rat character Patricia Dunne in flashbacks. In 1985, she guested in an episode of comedy-drama The Fast Lane, which starred her close friend and former flatmate Debra Lawrance. This marked the first time they had worked together.

Woodburne is best known for two long-running soap opera roles. In 1985, Woodburne joined the cast of Prisoner as Julie "Chook" Egbert. Woodburne described Julie as a genius, but said she suppresses her genius so she can blend in. Julie is sent to prison for theft, after taking money to send her dying mother on a holiday. Woodburne was contracted for six months and saw Prisoner as a chance to boost her career. In 1990, she auditioned for the role of Pippa Fletcher in TV soap Home and Away, the producers looking for a recast after original portrayer Vanessa Downing left the series, but she lost out the role to friend Debra Lawrance. Her second long-running role is that of Susan Kennedy in Neighbours, whom she has played since 1994. Woodburne previously played the sister of Alan Fletcher's character in Cop Shop, before they were cast as husband and wife in Neighbours.

In 2005, she was nominated for the Best Female Performance in a Soap Opera award at the international Rose d'Or television festival, but was beaten by fellow British actress Lesley-Anne Down.

In 2014 she became the lead in Night Terrace, a narrative comedy audio series in which she told David Knox of TV Tonight that she plays "basically a female Doctor Who". The series was produced by Splendid Chaps Productions, with the first season released at the end of 2014. It won the Convenors' Award for Excellence in the 2014 Aurealis Awards. A second season was released in February 2016, also starring Woodburne. Both seasons have been licensed for broadcast, with the first commencing on BBC Radio 4 Extra on Sunday 21 April 2019 as part of The 7th Dimension programming block.

Woodburne appeared in a documentary special celebrating Neighbours 30th anniversary titled Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.

On 21 July 2025, it was announced that Woodburne would be a part of a new Australian/UK co-commissioned television series for 5 and Paramount titled Imposter.

Filmography + Acting roles Year Title Role Notes 1979 Skyways Marie Newman Episode: "Tahitian Roulette" 1980–1981 The Young Doctors Nurse Maggie Gordon Main cast 1980 Cop Shop Christie Green Episodes: "#1.273" and "#1.274" 1981 The Patchwork Hero Marie Main cast 1981 Outbreak of Love Josie Von Flugel Miniseries 1982 Sons and Daughters Young Patricia Dunne Recurring role 1982 Sara Dane Elizabeth Miniseries 1982 1915 Dianna Bendetto Miniseries 1983 A Country Practice Deborah Koonig Episodes: "A Woman's Place: Part 1 and 2" 1983 Cop Shop Gina Rossi Recurring role 1984 Carson's Law Fiona Hastings Recurring role 1984 A Country Practice Sarah Biggs Episodes: "Close to the Bone: Part 1 and 2" 1985 Special Squad Sharon Episode: "Mates" 1985 The Fast Lane Ruth Episode: "The Below Average Samaritan" 1985 The New Adventures of Blinky Bill Sue Episode: "Computer Capers" 1985–1986 Prisoner Julie "Chook" Egbert Main cast 1987 The Flying Doctors Elaine Dermody Episode: "Keeping Up Appearances" 1991 A Country Practice Kate Bartlett Episode: "Flying High: Part 1" 1992–1993 The Flood: Who Will Save Our Children? Lavonda (uncredited) Television film 1994 Law of the Land Meg Porter Episode: "Death Before Dying" 1994–2025 Neighbours Susan Kennedy Main cast 2003 Ain't Got No Jazz Prostitute Short film 2014 Neighbours vs Zombies Susan Kennedy Web series 2014–2016 Night Terrace Anastasia Black / The Queen Voice; radio drama 2015 Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite Self TV documentary 2016 Neighbours: Summer Stories Susan Kennedy Web series 2017 Neighbours vs Time Travel Susan Kennedy Web series 2025 ImposterHelen O'Riley TV mini series

References

External links

Jackie Woodburne as Susan Kinski Night Terrace website