one pivotal role helped keep her grounded when the pressure could have easily become overwhelming. In a candid new reflection, Minogue has revealed that her time

on Home and Away played a crucial role in protecting her from what she describes as a potential “Britney moment”—a highly public breakdown fueled

by unexpressed rebellion and relentless scrutiny. Minogue’s journey into stardom began astonishingly early. At just 10 years old, she became a household name after joining the wildly popular variety program Young Talent Time. Her charisma, confidence, and undeniable talent quickly endeared her to audiences across Australia, launching a career that most children could scarcely imagine. Yet behind the scenes, such early exposure to fame can often come at a cost—something Minogue now acknowledges with remarkable honesty.

When she departed Young Talent Time in 1988, Minogue made a deliberate decision to pivot her career. Rather than leaning further into music or celebrity, she chose to explore acting, landing a role on Channel Seven’s Home and Away while she was still only 17 years old. Cast as Emma Jackson, a rebellious, outspoken teenager, Minogue joined the soap during a formative period in her own life—and, as she now believes, at exactly the right time.

Emma Jackson was far from a passive or polished character. She was fiery, confrontational, and unafraid to challenge authority—qualities that sharply contrasted with Minogue’s real-life demeanor. Speaking recently to News Corp ahead of her return to acting in Channel 10’s upcoming drama The Impostor, Minogue explained that the role gave her a safe, structured outlet for emotions she rarely expressed off-screen.

“I remember saying to a friend that acting allowed me to do things I’d never normally do,” Minogue recalled. Through Emma, she could argue, lash out, and push boundaries without those actions spilling into her real life. On-screen fights, heated dialogue, and emotional confrontations became a form of release—one that helped her process the pressures of growing up famous without self-destructing.

According to Minogue, once her time on Home and Away ended in 1990, something shifted internally. The urge to rebel faded, replaced by a sense of emotional balance. She believes that because she had already explored those feelings through her character, she didn’t feel the need to act them out publicly later on. It’s a perspective that sets her apart from many former child stars whose suppressed emotions eventually erupted under the glare of fame.

Minogue openly contrasted her experience with high-profile examples such as Britney Spears, whose struggles became painfully public. While expressing empathy rather than judgment, Minogue suggested that having an early emotional outlet may have spared her from a similar fate. “I never had that dramatic moment,” she said, implying that Home and Away allowed her to confront rebellion in a controlled, creative environment instead of through destructive behavior.

Her reflections come at a time when Minogue has been increasingly open about the toll of public criticism and comparison. In a recent appearance on Fern Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, she admitted that years of harsh commentary—particularly about her appearance—could have been emotionally devastating if she hadn’t developed strong resilience early on. Growing up under constant scrutiny forced her to build coping mechanisms that many adults struggle to develop even later in life.

Much of that criticism, Minogue revealed, stemmed from unfair comparisons to her older sister, global pop icon Kylie Minogue. The media often framed Dannii as the “other” Minogue, holding her to the same standards while ignoring the reality that the sisters have always had very different body types, personalities, and career paths. Looking back, Dannii described some of the commentary as “shockingly cruel,” especially considering how young she was at the time.

Despite those challenges, Minogue credits both her early acting work and her personal support system with helping her survive an era that was far less forgiving to young women in the spotlight. Today, she speaks with a sense of clarity and peace that reflects hard-earned perspective rather than bitterness. Fame, she suggests, doesn’t have to break people—but it does require outlets, boundaries, and self-awareness.

That sense of balance has only deepened with time. Minogue says her priorities have shifted dramatically over the years, particularly since becoming a mother. In a long-term relationship with music producer Adrian Newman, she welcomed her son Ethan in 2010—a moment she describes as life-changing. Motherhood, she explains, reshaped how she views success, ambition, and fulfillment.

Where once career momentum and public approval may have driven her choices, Minogue now selects projects based on personal meaning and creative satisfaction. That philosophy is guiding her long-awaited return to acting, more than three decades after she last appeared regularly on television. Her upcoming role in The Impostor, a four-part murder mystery set to air on Channel 10, marks a significant new chapter.

Premiering on Sunday, December 21, The Impostor stars Minogue alongside Kim Marsh and Jackie Woodburne. The project represents not just a comeback, but a full-circle moment—an opportunity for Minogue to reconnect with the craft that once helped anchor her during her most vulnerable years. Far from chasing nostalgia, she approaches the role with confidence born of experience.

As conversations around child stardom, mental health, and media responsibility continue to evolve, Minogue’s story stands out as a rare example of early fame navigated with self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Her reflections on Home and Away underscore the unexpected ways storytelling—and stepping into someone else’s skin—can become a form of protection.

For fans of Home and Away, Minogue’s comments also highlight the show’s lasting impact beyond the screen. What began as a soap opera role became, for one young star, a lifeline—a place to safely release pressure before it turned destructive. And decades later, Minogue is able to look back not with regret, but with gratitude.

In an industry littered with cautionary tales, Dannii Minogue’s journey offers a different narrative: one where early fame didn’t lead to collapse, but to resilience—and where a rebellious character in Summer Bay helped save a young woman from losing herself.