When Jacqui Purvis made her heartbreaking exit from Home and Away in August 2024, few viewers were prepared for the emotional fallout. As Felicity Newman —

a character defined by fierce independence, raw vulnerability, and an unforgettable love story with Tane Parata — Purvis had become one of the soap’s most beloved modern stars.

Her sudden on-screen death, caused by a shock brain aneurysm, sent shockwaves through Summer Bay fandom and marked the end of one of the show’s most intense romances.

But while Felicity’s story came to a devastating close, Jacqui Purvis’ real-life journey was only just beginning — and now, the actor has stunned fans once again with a bold, career-defining new chapter that signals a dramatic shift in direction.

From Summer Bay heartbreak to global ambition

Following her Home and Away departure, Purvis deliberately stepped back from the spotlight. Rather than immediately jumping into another television role, she focused on sharpening her craft, traveling internationally, and reassessing the kind of stories she wanted to tell. A stint in the United States followed, where she continued to pursue screen opportunities and immerse herself in a more global creative environment.

During that period, Purvis was cast in an upcoming feature film titled Fear, marking her first major post-soap screen role. For many actors, this alone would have been the natural next step — but for Purvis, it wasn’t enough. Instead of chasing familiarity, she made a surprising decision that has redefined her artistic path.

A return to Australia — and to the stage

In a move that caught fans and industry insiders off guard, Purvis returned to Australia to make her professional theatre debut. Rather than waiting for the “perfect” role to land in her lap, she took matters into her own hands, founding her own production company, Knicknack Productions.

The goal? To “flip the script” on female storytelling.

Purvis has been open about her desire to create complex, unapologetically messy female characters — women who are flawed, gritty, emotional, and powerful all at once. Through Knicknack Productions, she aims to champion stories that refuse to soften or sanitize women’s experiences, particularly in genres traditionally dominated by male perspectives.

Her first major theatrical venture under the new banner is Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, a raw and confronting play written by acclaimed American playwright John Patrick Shanley.

A daring role that changes everything

Set to run at Melbourne’s iconic Old Fitz Theatre from January 13 to February 1, 2026, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea is a far cry from the sun-soaked drama of Summer Bay. The play is gritty, violent, emotionally intense, and deeply romantic — centering on two damaged souls who collide in a brutal yet tender exploration of love and human connection.

Purvis stars as Roberta, a fiercely complex woman whose emotional armor hides profound vulnerability. The role demands total exposure — physically, emotionally, and psychologically — and places Purvis on stage for the entirety of the one-hour-and-15-minute production.

“It’s kind of dangerous,” Purvis has said of the play. “It’s emotional. It’s kind of violent, but it’s also got romance. And at the base of it, it’s love. It’s about love and connection.”

For Purvis, the timing of the play feels particularly urgent. She believes modern life has distanced people from authentic human connection — and this story forces both performers and audiences to confront that discomfort head-on.

A real-life partnership on stage

Adding another intriguing layer to the production is the fact that Purvis’ co-star is her real-life partner, actor JK Kazzi. The pair share the stage for the entire performance, with no breaks, no scene changes to hide behind, and no supporting cast to diffuse the intensity.

“It’s literally just JK and I,” Purvis explained. “We never leave the stage. For that entire time, you’ve just got us. There’s no way out.”

The intimacy of the setup presents a stark contrast to Purvis’ years on Home and Away, where ensemble storytelling allowed characters to ebb and flow in and out of focus. This time, every emotion, every silence, and every moment rests squarely on her shoulders.

Creating space for messy women

Purvis chose Danny and the Deep Blue Sea in large part because of Roberta — a character who refuses to conform to traditional expectations of femininity.

“Everything’s put out on the table,” she explained. “All your dirt and grit and messiness. I love that about strong female characters. I don’t want to shy away from that because it’s part of who we are.”

That philosophy stems from her own upbringing. Growing up, Purvis gravitated toward sport and action films, yet rarely saw herself reflected on screen. She has joked that she wanted to be “Matt Damon,” not because of fame, but because male characters were allowed complexity, aggression, and contradiction in ways female characters often weren’t.

That absence shaped her creative mission — one she now carries into every project she chooses to develop.

Learning from a theatrical legend

To prepare for the role, Purvis and Kazzi traveled to New York, where the play is set, immersing themselves in the culture of the Bronx. In a surreal turn of events, John Patrick Shanley himself agreed to meet the pair for coffee.

Shanley — an artistic giant with Oscars, Pulitzers, Tony Awards, and Golden Globes to his name — offered personal insight into the origins of the play, the characters, and the emotional truth behind the story.

“It was surreal,” Purvis recalled. “Here’s this writer who’s shaped modern theatre, worked with Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Viola Davis — and he took the time to talk us through why he wrote it, where it came from.”

The meeting deepened Purvis’ connection to the material, transforming the play from a performance into a personal mission.

A fearless leap into the unknown

Transitioning from television to theatre is notoriously challenging — and Purvis knows it. Without the safety net of multiple takes, camera angles, or ensemble scenes, theatre demands absolute presence.

“That’s why I wanted to do it,” she admitted. “It scares me. It pushes me out of my comfort zone. And that’s exactly where I want to be.”

For fans who fell in love with Felicity Newman, this new chapter may feel worlds away from Home and Away. Yet in many ways, it feels like a natural evolution — one driven by the same emotional honesty and intensity that made her soap character unforgettable.

Jacqui Purvis may have left Summer Bay behind, but she’s stepping into something far bigger: a fearless, self-directed career built on passion, purpose, and stories that refuse to play it safe.