Simone Buchanan

Buchanan's siblings Miles Buchanan and Beth Buchanan are also actors.[1] All three appeared in the children's television show Secret Valley.[1]

Buchanan has appeared in several films, including playing a rape victim in Shame, and as Laura Harris – and eventually Anna Dodwell – in the Australian drama series Pacific Drive.

In 2008, Buchanan played Samantha Fitzgerald, the bipolar-suffering estranged wife of Dan Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker), in the long-running soap opera Neighbours. Originally appearing for three months, from March to June, the character's introduction was considered a success, leading to her return for a second three-month stint from November to February 2009. The character appeared for a four-week guest role in late 2010, to coincide with the 6,000th episode celebrations.[2]

Buchanan returned to the Neighbours set in 2018 as a director, after the series producer Jason Herbison asked her to do her director's attachment with the show.[1] Buchanan also appears in the 2018 horror film Boar, alongside John Jarratt, Ernie Dingo, Steve Bisley and Roger Ward.[1]

Buchanan has been married to Brett Smith since 2008.[3] She has a son, Tane (born 1998), from a previous relationship.[4] In August 2009, it was announced that Buchanan was expecting her second child, due in early 2010. The pregnancy was achieved with IVF treatment.[5] Buchanan gave birth to a son, Rémy, via caesarean section.[4]

In March 2010, Buchanan supported Sarah Monahan, a co-star on the Hey Dad..! television show, over allegations that fellow star Robert Hughes had engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour on the set of the show.[6] Buchanan claimed she had approached the show's producer about the alleged assaults but that he instructed her to keep quiet.[7] She testified at Hughes' 2014 trial that she only heard allegations about his inappropriate behaviour and never saw it for herself.[8]

• Simone Buchanan at IMDb