Neighbours actress Lucinda Cowden axed after 37 years and admits ‘I can’t do anything about it’

Lucinda Cowden has reportedly been axed from Neighbours after 37 years on the Australian soap. The actress, 59, is best known for playing Melanie Pearson in the soap but has now filmed her final scenes. 

Speaking to the hosts of YouTube show ‘NeighBens’ Lucinda Cowden revealed: “I’m unemployed! I’m off, it’s true. I’m sorry. "I can’t do anything about it, it wasn’t my decision. Mel’s off in her truck and doesn’t have any plans to return, immediately.”

She added: "So I rang Ryan [Maloney] to say, 'Sorry babe, I'm off' and got the shock of my life when he said, 'Me too! ' You know, you could've blown me over with a feather. It kind of made a little bit of sense for me rather than if it was just me.”

Lucinda Cowden made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 30 July 1987. The character left in 1991 but returned in 2005. She made a brief return to reprise her role for the Neighbours' 20th anniversary celebrations and then eventually returned as a regular in 2021.  

Over the years, the soap character Melanie Pearson has been married to Ramsay Street legends Joe Mangel (Mark Little) and Jarrod Rebecchi ‘Toadie’ (Ryan Maloney). The actor Ryan also revealed he was leaving the soap after 29 years on the show in September 2024. 

Neighbours is available to watch on Amazon Freevee. 

Natalie Dixon is NationalWorld’s Lifestyle reporter. If you liked this article and want to read more about celebrities, fashion, beauty and lifestyle you can follow Natalie Dixon on X here. 

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