Hello neighbour! Former Neighbours star Elaine Smith - who played beloved Daphne - is pictured heading to work 30 years after her stripper character met a tragic end

She rose to fame as an original cast member of long-running soap Neighbours. 

And after playing stripper Daphne Rose Clarke on Ramsay Street in the 1980s, Elaine Smith has a very different life from her days in the spotlight.

The 54-year-old was spotted in Sydney last Monday outside of a public school and is now a school teacher - who has ditched the spiky short hair that was her signature hairstyle on the soap.   

Back to everyday life: After playing stripper Daphne Rose Clarke on Neighbours in the 1980s, Elaine Smith has a very different life from her days in the spotlight, seen last Monday

Back to everyday life: After playing stripper Daphne Rose Clarke on Neighbours in the 1980s, Elaine Smith has a very different life from her days in the spotlight, seen last Monday

Elaine looked casual in baggy white trousers which she teamed with a dark printed blouse. 

The blonde accessorised with black sandals and carried two bags, and wore glasses and a slick of red lipstick.

She appeared in high spirits and smiled walking outside the school in Sydney's inner west.

Familiar face: She rose to fame as an original cast member of long-running soap (Pictured on the show with co-star Paul Keane)

Familiar face: She rose to fame as an original cast member of long-running soap (Pictured on the show with co-star Paul Keane)

Elaine is now a school teacher, who has ditched the spikey short hair that was her signature hairstyle on the soap
Elaine is now a school teacher, who has ditched the spikey short hair that was her signature hairstyle on the soap

Mixing it up: Elaine is now a school teacher, who has ditched the spikey short hair that was her signature hairstyle on the soap

Putting Neighbours behind her: She appeared in high spirits and smiled walking outside the school she works at in Sydney's inner west

Putting Neighbours behind her: She appeared in high spirits and smiled walking outside the school she works at in Sydney's inner west

Beloved character! Elaine made her Neighbours debut in 1985 before her character captivated fans with her raunchy past

Beloved character! Elaine made her Neighbours debut in 1985 before her character captivated fans with her raunchy past

Elaine made her Neighbours debut in 1985, before her character captivated fans with her raunchy past. 

Daphne ran the coffee shop and soon fell in love with Des Clarke, who was played by Paul Keane.

Daphne and Des had a baby together, a son, much to the thrill of fans. 

Elaine also appeared on the show alongside the likes of Guy Pearce, who played Mike Young. 

How we know her: At one time, Daphne ran the coffee shop and soon fell in love with Des Clarke, who was played by Paul Keane

How we know her: At one time, Daphne ran the coffee shop and soon fell in love with Des Clarke, who was played by Paul Keane

Elaine also appeared on the show alongside the likes of Guy Pearce, who played Mike Young
Elaine also appeared on the show alongside the likes of Guy Pearce, who played Mike Young

In good company: Elaine also appeared on the show alongside the likes of Guy Pearce, who played Mike Young

Tragic end: She stayed on the show for four years before being killed off in a dramatic car crash and died in the arms of her TV husband Des in 1988

Tragic end: She stayed on the show for four years before being killed off in a dramatic car crash and died in the arms of her TV husband Des in 1988

She stayed on the soap for four years before being killed off in a dramatic car crash and died in the arms of her TV husband Des in 1988.

After appearing on Neighbours, Elaine went on to guest star in other TV roles in The Flying Doctors and Home And Away, but always struggled with the idea of fame.

She said: 'I found all the attention pretty overwhelming because I'm quite a private person and people would shout "stripper" at me in the street!'

Elaine now teaches at a school in Sydney's inner-west, where she lives with her husband writer Jonathon Biggins and twin daughters Charlotte and Imogen, 17. 

Paul meanwhile left the show in 1990 and quit acting, taking up a job in the pub.

Shunning the limelight: After appearing on Neighbours, Elaine went on to guest star in other TV roles in The Flying Doctors and Home And Away but always struggled with the idea of fame

Shunning the limelight: After appearing on Neighbours, Elaine went on to guest star in other TV roles in The Flying Doctors and Home And Away but always struggled with the idea of fame

 

 

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