More than a year after her devastating exit from Summer Bay, Jacqui Purvis has reignited hope among Home and Away fans by opening up about the possibility of returning to the long-running soap that transformed her career. In an emotional and candid reflection, the actress described her time on the show as “the best job I’ve ever had,” while making it clear that a comeback is something she would never completely rule out.

Purvis, who played the fiercely independent and deeply loved Felicity Newman on Home and Away, exited the series in August 2024 in one of the show’s most heartbreaking storylines in recent years. Felicity’s sudden death from a brain aneurysm shocked viewers, ending a character arc that had become central to the emotional fabric of Summer Bay. The loss rippled through the community on screen—and through the fandom off screen—leaving many convinced that Felicity’s story felt far from finished.

A death that still haunts Summer Bay

Felicity Newman was never a background character. She was outspoken, passionate, stubborn, and vulnerable in equal measure. Over the years, viewers watched her navigate love, trauma, and self-discovery, forging some of the show’s most powerful relationships along the way. Her marriage and later complicated relationship with Tane Parata gave Home and Away one of its most emotionally charged pairings, while her unbreakable bond with her twin brother, Cash Newman, grounded her character in family and loyalty.

When Felicity died, it wasn’t just the loss of a character—it was the loss of a future viewers had imagined for her. Scenes of Cash grappling with grief, guilt, and rage were among the most raw the soap has delivered in years, and the absence Felicity left behind continues to shape storylines long after her death.

That lingering impact is one of the reasons fans have never truly let go of the hope that Felicity could somehow return.

“Never say never”

Speaking openly about her time on the show, Jacqui Purvis made it clear that she holds Home and Away close to her heart. She described the role as a defining chapter in her life, both professionally and personally, and admitted she still misses the daily rhythm of filming and the people she worked alongside.

“I loved that job and I loved that character,” Purvis said warmly. “It truly was the best job I’ve ever had.”

Those words alone were enough to excite fans, but it was her refusal to close the door on a return that really set tongues wagging. With a smile, the actress echoed a familiar soap-world phrase: “Never say never.”

In a genre where characters routinely return from the dead, resurface after years away, or emerge as long-lost twins, those three words carry enormous weight.

Soap history says anything is possible

Home and Away has never shied away from bold storytelling twists. Over its decades on air, the show has employed fake deaths, surprise survivals, secret identities, and previously unknown family connections to resurrect characters audiences weren’t ready to say goodbye to. Felicity Newman’s death, while emotionally definitive on screen, doesn’t necessarily mean the end of her presence in the show’s universe.

Fans have already begun speculating about possible avenues for a return. Could Felicity have had a previously unknown twin? Was there something left unexplained about the circumstances of her death? Or could flashbacks, dream sequences, or visions allow her to continue influencing Cash and others in meaningful ways?

While Purvis herself hasn’t hinted at any specific storyline, her openness to returning has been enough to send theories spiralling across social media.

A character that still matters

Part of what makes the idea of Felicity’s return so compelling is how deeply rooted she remains in the show’s ongoing narrative. Cash Newman’s journey since her death has been defined by grief and unresolved love. Tane Parata’s life, too, bears the scars of losing her, with viewers still questioning whether he can ever fully move on.

Bringing Felicity back—even temporarily—would instantly raise the emotional stakes for multiple characters, offering opportunities for closure, reconciliation, or even a shocking new direction. Few characters leave behind that level of unfinished emotional business, which is why fans continue to believe the door isn’t truly closed.

“That was my uni”

Beyond the character herself, Purvis spoke movingly about how Home and Away shaped her as an actor. Without formal drama school training, she described her years on the soap as her real-world education.

“That was pretty much my uni,” she explained, crediting the relentless pace of production with sharpening her instincts, discipline, and confidence. The experience taught her how to work fast, hit emotional beats consistently, and grow under pressure—skills that continue to serve her well beyond Summer Bay.

It’s a sentiment echoed by many actors who have come through Australian soaps, where demanding schedules become the ultimate training ground.

A family that’s hard to leave

Purvis also revealed that she remains close to several former castmates, describing the Home and Away ensemble as a family that’s difficult to walk away from. The bonds formed on set, she said, didn’t disappear when the cameras stopped rolling.

That sense of connection is another reason fans believe a return could one day happen. Actors who maintain strong relationships behind the scenes often find their way back, whether for short guest arcs or dramatic long-term returns.

Life after Summer Bay

Since leaving Home and Away, Jacqui Purvis has wasted no time forging an exciting new path. She recently starred in her first professional stage play through her own company, Nick Nac Productions, marking a major creative milestone. Theatre, she’s said, has allowed her to explore different facets of performance in a more intimate and challenging environment.

Looking ahead, Purvis is set to appear in the film Fear Is the Rider in 2026 alongside heavyweights such as Ben Mendelsohn, Toby Wallace, and Eliza Scanlen—a project that signals her growing presence on the international stage.

She is also planning time in Los Angeles to pursue global opportunities, proving that her ambitions stretch far beyond the shores of Summer Bay.

In the immediate future, audiences can catch Purvis live on stage in Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at Melbourne’s Old Fitz Theatre from January 13 to February 1, as she continues to challenge herself creatively.

Why a return would matter

A potential return of Jacqui Purvis wouldn’t just be a nostalgic nod to the past. It would represent Home and Away embracing one of its most emotionally resonant characters and acknowledging the lasting impact Felicity Newman had on the show’s world.

Even a brief reappearance could offer powerful storytelling—whether through flashbacks that reframe the past or a dramatic twist that changes everything viewers thought they knew. In soap storytelling, emotional truth often matters more than realism, and Felicity’s unfinished story still resonates deeply.

Hope lives on

For now, there is no official confirmation of a return. Felicity Newman remains, on paper, gone. But Jacqui Purvis’s words have reignited hope in a fandom that never truly let go.

In the world of Home and Away, nothing is ever entirely final. Characters leave, lives change, but Summer Bay has a habit of welcoming its own back when the time is right.

And with Purvis herself saying she would never say never, fans will continue watching, waiting, and hoping—because sometimes, in soapland, the most shocking returns are the ones nobody dares to rule out.