Sharyn Hodgson


Sharyn Hodgson is a former Australian actress, best known for playing the role of original character of troubled teenager Carly Morris in the popular soap opera, Home and Away ; with subsequent guest appearances reprising the part until 2008.

Early life

Hodgson was born in Sydney, New South Wales and began a drama course with Phillip Street Drama School when she was 15. She spent four years studying there on Saturday mornings, which led to work with the Film and Television School appearing in films for students.

Career

After completing her Higher School Certificate, she auditioned for the Seven Network's fledgling soap opera, Home and Away in 1987. She was successfully cast and became one of the original characters to appear in the program, from the pilot episode which initially aired in January 1988. She played Carly Morris, the foster daughter of Pippa and Tom Fletcher, Carly had suffered severe child abuse from her biological father. During her time on the show, Hodgson's troubled character weathered rape, alcoholism, and an array of relationship and family problems, which were all chronicled with a tie-in novel, Sharyn also portrayed Carly's twin sister Samantha Morris. She eventually finds love with Army soldier Ben Lucini portrayed by in 1991, and leaves Summer Bay the same year to begin a family elsewhere.
Following this, Hodgson was one of several Home and Away castmembers to star in a stage musical about the soap, which toured the UK in 1991. Julian McMahon, Justine Clarke, Mouche Phillips and Adam Willits also starred.
Since her initial on-screen departure, Hodgson has made numerous brief returns to Home and Away to visit her foster family or attend important events in the bay. Hodgson was last seen on-screen as Carly in 2008. She returned briefly along with Adam Willits and Debra Lawrance for the departure of one of the soap's original character's, her foster sister Sally Fletcher

Other credits

Prior to Home and Away, she had a guest role on popular soap A Country Practice in 1987 and in between her returning stints in Home and Away, Hodgson has appeared in episodes of Blue Heelers, Police Rescue, Wildside and Big Sky playing Jodie Turner.

Personal life

Hodgson dropped out of the limelight to become a mother and now lives on the NSW south coast with her husband Bruce and three children. She now works as a natural therapist and childcare worker, having fostered children of her own.