In a career spanning more than three decades on Australian television, few moments have taken Lynne McGranger by surprise. Yet the beloved star of

Home and Away admits she was utterly “shocked” to learn she had secured her very first Gold Logie nomination for 2025. Overwhelmed. Overjoyed. Bewildered. Excited. “Lovely.”

The 72-year-old actress could barely settle on one word to describe the whirlwind of emotions that followed the announcement that she is in the running for

the coveted Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television. After nearly 33 years portraying the fiercely loyal, sharp-tongued yet big-hearted Irene Roberts, McGranger is finally being recognised at the highest level of Australian TV — and just months after bidding farewell to Summer Bay.

“It feels surreal,” she confessed in interviews following the nominations reveal. “If I’d known this was going to happen, I might have left the show years ago!” she joked, her trademark humour firmly intact. “Honestly, though, I already feel like I’ve gone out on a career high. Just being nominated for both Silver and Gold is extraordinary.”

A Career-Defining Moment

McGranger is nominated alongside a powerhouse lineup of Australian television personalities, including Hamish Blake, Sonia Kruger, Ally Langdon, Julia Morris, Lisa Millar, and Poh Ling Yeow.

It is a field dominated by formidable female talent — something McGranger says makes the nomination even more meaningful.

“It really says something about women in our industry,” she reflected. “Women of a certain age are no longer invisible. That’s powerful. That’s important.”

For decades, McGranger has been a constant presence in Australian households. As Irene Roberts, she tackled some of the soap’s most hard-hitting storylines — addiction, domestic abuse, illness, grief — all while delivering moments of humour and warmth that anchored the show’s emotional core. Her departure in March marked the end of an era, closing one of the longest-running chapters in Australian soap history.

Now, just months later, she finds herself standing at the brink of what could be the crowning achievement of her career.

Leaving on a High

McGranger’s exit from Home and Away was as emotional for fans as it was for the actress herself. Having joined the series in the early 1990s, she became the longest-serving female cast member in the show’s history — a record that cements her status as a television icon.

“Leaving the Bay was one of my proudest achievements,” she said. “I didn’t want to overstay. I wanted to walk away feeling grateful, fulfilled, and proud of what we created.”

Her final scenes were met with an outpouring of love from viewers, many of whom grew up watching Irene navigate heartbreak, redemption and resilience. Social media lit up with tributes, with fans describing her departure as “the end of an era” and “the soul of Summer Bay walking away.”

The timing of her Gold Logie nomination feels almost poetic — a recognition not just of her enduring popularity, but of the indelible mark she has left on Australian television.

A Promise If She Wins

Should McGranger take home the Gold Logie at the 65th TV Week Logie Awards at The Star in Sydney on August 3, she already has a celebratory plan in mind.

While she laughed that she couldn’t match some of the more outrageous celebrity pledges of years past, she has promised to carry the trophy everywhere for an entire year.

“I’ll show complete strangers in the street,” she teased. “I’ll walk up and say, ‘Got a little something to show you!’ I’ll drive people mad with it.”

True to form, she insists she would never be speechless — even in victory. “Who am I kidding? I’m never speechless.”

Life After the Bay

Despite stepping away from the relentless filming schedule of a daily soap, McGranger says she has been busier than ever. In fact, she admits she may be working harder now than during her time in Summer Bay.

“When you’re focused on one thing for so long, you let other opportunities slide,” she explained. “Now, suddenly, everything is happening at once.”

She is currently rehearsing for the touring theatre production The Grandparents Club, marking something of a full-circle moment in her career. McGranger began her journey in community theatre before transitioning to television stardom, and returning to the stage feels both nostalgic and invigorating.

“I think I should have been a rock star,” she laughed. “I love touring. I love the frantic pace. It keeps me young at heart.”

Though her schedule means she will miss some long-standing commitments — including a hoped-for appearance at Perth’s Telethon — she remains philosophical. “That’s what happens when you’re not on Home and Away anymore,” she quipped.

More Than Just a Nomination

For McGranger, the Gold Logie nod represents more than personal achievement. It stands as recognition of decades of consistent, heartfelt storytelling — and of the audience loyalty that has sustained her career.

Attending the Logies has been part of her professional rhythm since 1994, missing only a handful of ceremonies over the years. Yet this year feels different. This year, she is not just attending — she is a frontrunner.

“I couldn’t have dreamt of anything better,” she said. “It’s extraordinary.”

Her co-stars and former colleagues have rallied behind her, with many expressing that the nomination is long overdue. Industry insiders say the buzz surrounding her candidacy is strong, particularly given the emotional resonance of her recent exit from Home and Away.

An Icon Still Rising

At 72, McGranger radiates the energy of someone at the beginning of a new chapter rather than the end of one. She speaks openly about embracing opportunity, about saying yes to life while she can.

“While you’re still above ground,” she said with a grin, “you’ve got to embrace what’s happening.”

Whether she takes home the Gold Logie or not, one thing is undeniable: Lynne McGranger has already secured her place in Australian television history. Her portrayal of Irene Roberts shaped generations of viewers, proving that strength, humour and compassion never go out of style.

And now, as the Logies approach, fans across the country are preparing to rally behind the woman who brought heart and grit to Summer Bay for more than three decades.

From overwhelmed to overjoyed, from farewell to front-runner — Lynne McGranger’s journey to her first Gold Logie nomination is not just a career milestone.

It’s a celebration of legacy.