Ailsa Stewart/Nancye Hayes

[Gazza]

I watched an episode today with Ailsa played by Nancye Hayes I believe Judy Nunn was ill while they were filming and it got me thinking what peoples take on the recasting of Actors/Actresses? With the Ailsa one it was slightly confusing with it being Judy Nunn and then Nancye taking over the role with the 2 not even close to looking alike, I understand that Ailsa was needed for filming at the time and Judy was ill but it really was not believable. I remember them recasting Barbara Stewart as well then they cast Barbara Stevens again who was the first actress that played her with this one a numeber of years had past which was not as bad. The same with Pippa it took me a while to accept the new Pippa.

[Dan F]

There's 2 different types of recast that you mention which really aren't in the same league as each other. With Ailsa it was very much an emergency recast, with Judy being rushed into hospital to undergo surgery at a time when there was a huge storyline being filmed for Ailsa. Obviously it was very unfortunate timing but Judy's health had to come first - and with such short notice they could certainly have done a lot worse than Nancye Hayes for Ailsa.

Same goes for Tempany Deckert, Belinda Emmett and Cameron Welsh who had to be replaced temporarily when they became ill mid-storyline, it was a case of it being unavoidable.

As for the normal type of recast, well there's been and debates in various parts of the forum about the actors, especially in the early years discussions with Pippa in recent times.

[Blaxland 89]

Despite visually being nothing like Judy, I think she gave a great performance in making her Ailsa believable. I can see Judy playing it in the same way.

[Gazza]

Despite visually being nothing like Judy, I think she gave a great performance in making her Ailsa believable. I can see Judy playing it in the same way.

I guess at that late stage it would have been hard for them to find a replacement anyway let alone someone who looks similar to Judy.

[alexx]

I wish we'd seen Judy playing the role during that whole storyline, it would have been great. So it was unfortunate and I was distracted by the recast from time to time, but the storyline was strong enough for me to just accept it and I think the actress did a good job.

[beau_t]

For me, the storyline is synonymous with Nancy Hayes now, I have seen it that many times. I actually find it hard to imagine Judy Nunn in those scenes, although it would have been brilliant (especially the scenes where Ailsa visits her childhood home for the first time since she went to prison). It was such a great storyline.When she first found out Shauna was her daughter, Ailsa went offscreen for a few weeks to visit Brother Graham (excellent continuity). They really should have just kept Ailsa there until Judy was ready to return, put the story on hold. and hastily written a filler storyline in the meantime. It would have been hard work but I think it would have been so much better.

Nevertheless Nancy did a great job, and as I said above, she made the storyline her own and did a very believable job.

[j.laur5]

I think they should of cast Nancy as Ailsa after Judy Nunn quit!.

[Gazza]

For me, the storyline is synonymous with Nancy Hayes now, I have seen it that many times. I actually find it hard to imagine Judy Nunn in those scenes, although it would have been brilliant (especially the scenes where Ailsa visits her childhood home for the first time since she went to prison). It was such a great storyline.When she first found out Shauna was her daughter, Ailsa went offscreen for a few weeks to visit Brother Graham (excellent continuity). They really should have just kept Ailsa there until Judy was ready to return, put the story on hold. and hastily written a filler storyline in the meantime. It would have been hard work but I think it would have been so much better.

Nevertheless Nancy did a great job, and as I said above, she made the storyline her own and did a very believable job.

yes agree 100% I think this option would of been better although I don't know the ins and outs of how hard this would of been im assuming this wasn't possible with the casting of Nancy.

[Jezz]

I think they should of cast Nancy as Ailsa after Judy Nunn quit!.

I don't agree. Nancye did a good job as Ailsa but ultimately that role was only ever designed for Judy Nunn and no one else in my view. It wouldn't have worked in my view had Ailsa been recasted after 2000 instead of being killed off as it turned out.

[j.laur5]

But at least we still would have had Alisa!

Don't get me wrong I would have much prefered Judy Nunn to have stayed!.