Belinda Emmett will forever remain one of Australia’s brightest young stars.
The talented actress, with her iconic head of blonde curls, was a crowd favourite on Home & Away between 1996 and 1999.
But her legacy went much further than that.
At age 24, Belinda was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The news sent shockwaves not only through her Home & Away family, but also her thousands-strong fan base.
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She left the show soon after to focus on her health, undergoing radiotherapy and surgery to remove a malignant tumour.
In 2001, further tests revealed Belinda’s cancer had spread to her bones.
Speaking to The Australian Women’s Weekly in 2002, Belinda said it “wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when. The little bastards were going to get me”.
After a long, incredibly hard-fought battle, Belinda passed away in November 2006, 18 months after marrying her long-time love, Rove McManus.
The tragedy was felt far and wide. Former co-star Lynne McGranger opened up about Belinda in 2019 during an appearance on The All New Monty, explaining: “It was so sad. We all know somebody.”
While her time on earth was cut short, her legacy on Home and Away lives on.
We took a look back at some of her best moments on the famous Australian soap.
Belinda emmett
The ever-intriguing character of Rebecca Fisher dipped in and out of the show in its earlier years. Arriving fresh faced in Summer Bay in 1989, Rebecca (played by Jane Hall at the time) came to see her father Donald Fisher during the school holidays.
The stint didn’t last long, but in 1994, Rebecca came back (this time played by Danielle Carter), where a brief romance with school teacher Luke turned sour and she left The Bay once again.
But finally, in 1996, Belinda Emmett joined the beach-side locale as the third actress to play the transient character. This time, she was here to stay.
Rebecca nash home and away
Rebecca’s turbulent relationship with her dad went through its ups and downs. One of the more dramatic moments occurred when he decided he would marry Marilyn Chambers, much to Rebecca’s distaste. After a confrontation with the bride-to-be, who was still played by Emily Symons all those years ago, Rebecca made peace with it all.
Belinda home and away
Of course, that wasn’t Rebecca’s only drama to ensue. From a stalking storyline where fellow Summer Bay local Chloe Richards developed an unhealthy obsession with her, to several tried and failed relationships, she was put through her paces, but always came out stronger.
Belinda Emmett Home and Away
Rebecca eventually fell for her good friend Travis Nash. In 1997, the pair married, thus making Rebecca Fisher officially Mrs. Nash.
Rebecca travis home and away
Unlike many other Summer Bay couples before them, Rebecca and Travis actually lasted the distance, and after a brief ownership of Summer Bay Caravan Park, the pair decided to sail from Summer Bay and settle in Canada. After they departed the show, dad Donald revealed they had a son while there.
1999
At the prime of her television career while playing Rebecca, actress Belinda was diagnosed with breast cancer. She ultimately decided to step back from her role to focus on her health.
Belinda rove
In 1999, Belinda and Rove met while attending a Fox Studios opening. There was an instant connection, and the pair quickly went public with their relationship.
2001
They were Australia’s darlings – spotted at multiple events attended by the country’s A-listers.
rove belinda emmett wedding
Belinda’s cancer tragically returned in 2001, though her and Rove remained stronger than ever. They married in a beautiful ceremony in May 2005.
2006
In November 2006, Belinda tragically lost her life to the illness that had plagued her so tragically young. It was a devastating shock to her fans and fellows in the Australian entertainment industry. Her parents later said in an interview with New Idea: “She did more in her 32 years than most people do in 90.”
