Annie Jones - things you didn't know about the Neighbours star
From famous friends to award-winning performances, there is plenty to learn about Annie Jones...
Annie Jones arrived on Ramsay Street as Neighbours favourite Jane Harris in 1986, winning fans' hearts across the globe.
Jane was the geeky friend of Charlie Mitchell, played by Kylie Minogue, and even won herself the infamous nickname 'Plain Jane Superbrain' with her bookish ways.
Annie's character went through legendary makeover on screen as she tried to win over Mike Young, who was played by Guy Pearce - a scene that went down in Neighbours history.
Fast forward three decades and Jane's once again become a Ramsay Street favourite, this time bringing her estranged daughter, Nicolette Stone, with her.
Most fans of the actress will know that:
- She has guest starred in countless TV dramas.
- Annie made a brief return to Neighbours in 2005 for the soap's 20th anniversary.
- She has three older sisters.
But what else do we know about Annie Jones? Here are several things you probably don't know...
Annie Jones first auditioned to play Charlene Mitchell
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While it is hard to imagine anyone else by Kylie Minogue playing Charlene Mitchell, Annie Jones actually auditioned for the same role when she was 19. While she might have been pipped to the post by Kylie, Annie went on to land the role of Jane and the pair became great friends both on and off screen.
More: Things you didn't know about Neighbours start Ryan Moloney
Annie Jones put her career on hold for a very special reason
When Annie left neighbours, she was excited to try new things as her career continued to rocket, But sadly things had to be put on hold so that she could become her mother's carer. Annie told us: "I had been a career for my mother for 15 years, she had Alzheimer's, and so because of that I couldn't commit myself to a long-running series and could only do guest roles here and there. I was really craving something with some longevity and what better place than Neighbours?"
She made some of her best friends on Neighbours
As well as staying in touch with good friend Stefan Dennis, who plays Neighbours legend Paul Robinson, Annie has also stayed in touch with some of her other Neighbours co-stars. "Fiona Corke, who played Paul's wife Gail Robinson, and I are very firm friends, and that's a friendship that has remained after we met on Neighbours. We were thick as thieves then and still are! Kylie is so busy and spends a lot of her time in the UK, so we don't catch up very often, but I'm in touch with Guy. Every now and then we touch base and see how one another are getting on."
Her name isn't a actually Annie Jones
Like a lot of actresses, Annie changed her name when she launched her acting career. Her name is actually Annika Jancso.
She hasn't always been an actress
Before finding fame on Neighbours, Annie started her career as a model. She also starred in Australian TV show The Henderson Kids before playing Ramsay Street's Jane Harris.
More: Things you didn't know about Home and Away legend Ray Meagher
She has a famous husband
Annie has been married to Neighbours director Paul Moloney since 1989. The pair met while Annie was starring in The Henderson Kids, which Paul was directing at the time.
She has won two Logie awards
Annie has bagged herself not one, but two, of the most coveted awards in the Australian TV industry. The first time Annie won a Logie was the Most Popular Actress in 1989 for her role of Jane Harris in Neighbours. The actress then went on to win a second Logie in 1991 her role in Australian drama Jackaroo.
She's a Neighbours fan
While Annie might have had nearly three decades away from Neighbours before she returned in 2018, she still managed to keep up with the comings and goings of Ramsay Street. She told us: "I tune in, not every night, but I keep tabs on what is going on and who is up to what... I've always enjoyed it. It's like a nice warm cup of tea to come home to at the end of a long day!"
Annie Jones' Fact File
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the actress....
How old is she?
Annie Jones' age is 53. She was born on 13 January 1967.
Is she in a relationship?
Annie Jones is married to Neighbours director Paul Moloney.
Where was she born?
Annie Jones was born in Adelaide, South Australia.
Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5
We work hard to ensure that all information is correct. Facts that change over time, such as age, will be correct, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of the last article update.
Main picture credit: Channel 5
Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia.
After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off.
She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz!
As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.