Simone Buchanan

Simone Louise Buchanan (born 11 March 1968), is an Australian actress of film and television, she is best known for her television roles as Debbie Kelly in the situation comedy Hey Dad..! and Samantha Fitzgerald in the soap opera Neighbours.

Buchanan is the daughter of musician Tony Buchanan and teacher Jo Buchanan. The second of three children, she attended Avalon Primary School. Her older brother Miles and younger sister Beth are also actors – Beth is well known for her roles in Neighbours and Blue Heelers, and Miles was in A Country Practice, Sons and Daughters, The Sullivans and The Secret Valley (all of which were either notable Australian ensemble or children's TV series of the era).

Buchanan was born in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville in 1968. She has appeared in several films, including playing a rape victim in Shame and as Laura Harris – and eventually Anna Dodwell – in the Australian drama series Pacific Drive.

In 2008, Buchanan played Samantha Fitzgerald, the bipolar-suffering estranged wife of Dan Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker), in the long-running soap opera Neighbours. Originally appearing for three months, from March to June, the character's introduction was considered a success, leading to her return for a second three-month stint from November to February 2009. The character appeared for a four-week guest role in late 2010, to coincide with the 6,000th episode celebrations.

Buchanan has been married to Brett Smith since 2008. She has a son, Tane (born 1998), from a previous relationship. In August 2009, it was announced that Buchanan was expecting her second child, due in early 2010. The pregnancy was achieved with IVF treatment. Buchanan gave birth to a son, Rémy, via caesarean section.

In March 2010, Buchanan supported Sarah Monahan, a co-star on the Hey Dad..! television show, over allegations that fellow star Robert Hughes had engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour on the set of the show. Buchanan claimed she had approached the show's producer about the alleged assaults but that he instructed her to keep quiet. She testified at Hughes' 2014 trial that she only heard allegations about his inappropriate behaviour and never saw it for herself.