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Rachel Friend
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Rachel Amanda Friend (born 8 January 1970) is an Australian actress and journalist.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Friend was born on 8 January 1970. She has an older brother and a younger sister.[1] She completed her HSC at Sacré Cœur School, in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, and deferred a commerce course at University of Melbourne.
Career
[edit]Friend began her screen career with roles in Zoo Family, Prime Time and The Bartons. She also starred in the 1986 family adventure film Frog Dreaming.[2]
Friend joined the cast of the soap opera Neighbours in 1988, when she was eighteen.[3] Friend chose to postpone her university degree to join the show as Bronwyn Davies.[3] Friend quit Neighbours in 1990.[4] That same year saw her win the Logie Award for Most Popular Actress.[5][6]
After leaving Neighbours, Friend starred as Annette in the telemovie Mission Top Secret, alongside Beth Buchanan.[7] Other roles include Golden Fiddles (1991), and a brief appearance in Round The Twist as a mermaid.
Friend then moved into TV journalism.[8] In 1991, she became a reporter for Midday with Ray Martin.[9] She was a reporter for A Current Affair for seven years, until her departure in 2001.[8] Friend co-hosted the Seven Network show Saturday Kitchen with her husband Stuart MacGill.[10]
In 2003, Friend established her own PR agency, Media Friendly.[11] In July 2007, she produced and presented the Seven Network parenting show, Mums and Bubs. In 2009, Friend began hosting a television show on the Seven Network called New Idea TV alongside Barbara Northwood, Tom Williams and a variety of other presenters. [citation needed]
 | This section needs to be updated. (December 2017) |
Personal life
[edit]In 1993, Friend married Australian actor-singer Craig McLachlan whom she had met on the set of Neighbours.[12] They divorced the following year.[12] McLachlan's hit song "Amanda" was about Friend, which is her middle name.
Friend married Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill in Melbourne in October 2000,[8] after meeting in 1999 when she interviewed him for A Current Affair.[13] They have two children together – a son born in 2003 and a daughter born in 2006. The pair separated and subsequently divorced in 2013.[11]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Zoo Family | Susie's friend | Episode: "The Good, The Bad and Martin" |
| 1986 | Frog Dreaming | Wendy | aka The Quest (US) and The Go Kids (UK) |
| Prime Time | |||
| 1988 | The Bartons | Miranda | Episode: "Bartons on the Beach" |
| 1988–1990 | Neighbours | Bronwyn Davies | Series regular |
| Round The Twist | Mermaid | ||
| 1991 | Golden Fiddles | Kitty Balfour | Miniseries |
| Midday | Reporter | ||
| 1992 | Mission Top Secret | Annette | TV movie / pilot |
| 1993 | London Tonight | Reporter | |
| 1996 | Wild Life | Presenter | Also writer |
| 1999 | A Current Affair | Reporter | |
| Saturday Kitchen | Co-host (with husband Stuart MacGill) | ||
| 2001 | A Current Affair | Reporter | Episode: "Vaccination: A Stab in the Dark?" |
| 2005 | Under the Grandstand | Guest | Episode: #1.4 |
| 2007 | Mums and Bubs | Presenter | Also producer |
| 2009 | New Idea TV | Host | |
| 2018 | The Go Kids: Looking Back on Frog Dreaming | Self | TV special (short) |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Logie Awards | Most Popular New Talent | Neighbours | Nominated | [14] |
| 1990 | Most Popular Actress | Won | [15] | ||
| 1992 | Most Popular Actress in a Telemovie or Miniseries | Golden Fiddles | Nominated | [16] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Meet the new breed heart-throbs". Sunday Mail TV Plus. 21 August 1988. p. 5.
- ^ Devlyn, Darren (2 July 1988). "A Friend & neighbor". TV Week. p. 25.
- ^ a b "Your New Neighbour". The Sun-Herald. Fairfax Media. 25 June 1988. p. 51. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
- ^ Idato, Michael (14 March 2005). "Role of honour". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
- ^ "1990 TV Week Logie Awards". TV Week. tvweek.ninemsn.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
- ^ Lewis, Rachel (9 October 2019). "The Cast of Neighbours: Where Are They Now?". Pens & Patron. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ Brown, David (5 May 1990). "Rachel goes rustic!". TV Week. pp. 4–5.
- ^ a b c Holder, Peter; Casamento, Jo (7 February 2001). "Sydney Confidential". The Daily Telegraph. p. 28. Retrieved 15 September 2025 – via Gale.
- ^ Cooney, Jenny (27 April 1991). "Rachel faces up to life on the road... It's a jungle out there!". TV Week. p. 2.
- ^ Schwartz, Larry (6 December 2007). "Wined, dined, bowled over by MacGill". The Age. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b Domjen, Briana (30 August 2014). "MacGill and Friend pull up stumps". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b Sharp, Annette (15 October 2000). "The Diary". The Sun-Herald. Fairfax Media. p. 26. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
- ^ "Rachel Friend confirms a split from former cricketer Stuart MacGill". 31 August 2014.
- ^ "Logies '89 Nominations". TV Week. 18 March 1989. p. 13.
- ^ Oliver, Robin (10 March 1990). "Five top Logie awards go to two soap operas". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Logies '92 Nominations". TV Week. 7 March 1992. p. 12.
External links
[edit]Rachel Friend
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Background
Early life
Rachel Friend was born on 8 January 1970 in Australia.[10] She grew up in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.[11] Friend later attended Sacré Cœur School in Melbourne, completing her Victorian Certificate of Education there before pursuing other opportunities.[11]Education
Friend completed her Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) at Sacré Cœur School in Melbourne's eastern suburbs in 1988, where she focused primarily on her studies.[11] Following her secondary education, she was accepted into a commerce degree program at the University of Melbourne but chose to defer enrollment in 1989 to pursue acting opportunities. As she explained in a contemporary interview, "I decided I would take this year off to get as much acting work as possible... Up until this year I had been concentrating on the schoolwork so it’s good to have a break."[11]Career
Acting
Rachel Friend made her professional acting debut in 1985, appearing as Susie's friend in an episode of the Australian children's television series Zoo Family.[12] In 1986, she secured her first lead role as Wendy in the family adventure film Frog Dreaming (released internationally as The Quest), where she starred alongside Henry Thomas in a story about a boy investigating mysterious animal deaths in the Australian outback.[13] Friend's breakthrough came in 1988 when, at age 18, she joined the cast of the long-running soap opera Neighbours as Bronwyn Davies, a vivacious country girl who moves to Erinsborough to work as a nanny.[5] Over her two-year tenure (1988–1990), Bronwyn's character arc evolved from a naive newcomer navigating brief romances—initially with Mike Young— to a more mature relationship with Henry Ramsay, culminating in their engagement and eventual relocation to New Zealand for his job opportunity, marking her departure in episode 1144.[5] This role significantly boosted her fame, establishing her as a prominent figure in Australian television and earning her the 1990 Logie Award for Most Popular Actress.[14] Following Neighbours, Friend took on other notable roles, including Kitty Balfour in the 1991 TV miniseries Golden Fiddles, an adaptation of the novel by Mary Jane Elkner set during the Great Depression.[15] By the early 1990s, Friend began transitioning away from acting toward a career in journalism, appearing in limited on-screen roles thereafter.[16]Journalism and media
Following her acting career, Rachel Friend transitioned into broadcast journalism, leveraging her on-screen experience to secure reporting roles on major Australian current affairs programs. In 1991, she joined the Nine Network as a reporter on Midday with Ray Martin, contributing segments to the daytime talk and news format show.[17] Friend's most prominent journalistic role came in 1994 when she became a reporter for the Nine Network's A Current Affair, a position she held for seven years until 2001. During this tenure, she covered a range of investigative and human interest stories, including a 2000 profile on emerging actor Heath Ledger, highlighting his breakthrough roles in films like 10 Things I Hate About You and The Patriot, which positioned him as Hollywood's next major talent. Other notable reports included analyses of Australian property market trends in the late 1990s and interviews with public figures, such as cricketer Stuart MacGill in 1999. Her work on the program emphasized accessible storytelling on social and entertainment topics, establishing her as a familiar face in Australian television news.[18][19][20][8] In the early 2000s, Friend expanded into light entertainment hosting on the Seven Network, co-hosting the food and lifestyle series Saturday Kitchen alongside her then-husband, cricketer Stuart MacGill. The program, which aired on Saturday afternoons, featured cooking demonstrations and casual culinary tips, drawing strong ratings for the network. This role marked her growing involvement in lifestyle programming, blending her journalistic background with on-air presenting.[21][22] By the mid-2000s, Friend's career evolved toward media production and specialized hosting. In July 2007, she produced and presented Mums and Bubs, a Seven Network parenting show aimed at new parents navigating challenges like childcare and family dynamics through expert advice and guest segments. The series addressed practical topics in early parenthood, reflecting Friend's shift from frontline reporting to creating content focused on everyday life issues.[23] This progression culminated in 2009 when Friend hosted New Idea TV on the Seven Network, a lifestyle program covering cooking, beauty, fashion, and home tips in collaboration with the New Idea magazine. Co-presented with contributors like Tom Williams and Fast Ed, the afternoon show debuted on June 1, 2009, and emphasized accessible advice drawn from magazine features, further showcasing her move from investigative journalism to behind-the-scenes production and multifaceted media roles.[24][25]Public relations and consulting
In 2003, Rachel Friend founded Media Friendly, a public relations and communications firm focused on media training, corporate advisory services, and strategic communications. The agency provided tailored support for businesses and executives seeking to enhance their media presence and public engagement skills. Friend served as its director, leveraging her professional background to build the firm into a successful venture in the Australian market.[16] As a communications consultant and corporate trainer, Friend offered expertise in public speaking, crisis management, and media relations through Media Friendly. Her services emphasized practical training for high-profile clients, helping them navigate media interactions effectively. This role built directly on her prior media experience, establishing her as a key figure in non-broadcast communications advisory work.[7][26] In 2016, Friend actively supported the Voluntary Euthanasia Party's federal Senate campaign by joining advocacy efforts to promote voluntary euthanasia legislation in Australia. Her involvement highlighted her commitment to public advocacy through communications channels.[27]Filmography
Film
Friend made her feature film debut in Frog Dreaming (also released as The Quest in some markets), a 1986 Australian family adventure directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith.[13] She portrayed Wendy, the resourceful best friend and unspoken romantic interest of the young protagonist Cody (played by Henry Thomas), an American orphan living in rural Australia who investigates eerie noises and disappearances tied to local Aboriginal myths about a bunyip creature.[13] In the story, Wendy aids Cody in his perilous explorations, including a diving expedition into a mysterious pond where he becomes trapped, and their joint venture into the forbidden Devil's Knob national park, blending elements of mystery, folklore, and coming-of-age adventure.[13]Television
Friend began her television acting career with a guest role as Susie's friend in the Australian children's series Zoo Family in 1985.[12] She appeared as an actress in the TV series Prime Time in 1986.[3] She achieved greater recognition for her portrayal of Bronwyn Davies, a strong-willed country girl and sister to Sharon Davies, in the long-running soap opera Neighbours, appearing in 208 episodes from episode 764 on 7 July 1988 to 1990. Her performance as Bronwyn, who navigated family dynamics and relationships in the fictional suburb of Erinsborough, earned her the Logie Award for Most Popular Actress in 1990, though this acting breakthrough notably enhanced her subsequent opportunities in television presenting.[4][5] Friend appeared as Miranda in the TV series The Bartons, in the episode "Bartons on the Beach" in 1988.[28] Friend also appeared as Kitty Balfour in the ABC TV miniseries Golden Fiddles in 1991, depicting a family during the Great Depression.[15]Awards and nominations
Wins
In 1990, Rachel Friend won the Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress at the TV Week Logie Awards, recognizing her portrayal of Bronwyn Davies in the soap opera Neighbours.[29]This accolade, one of Australia's most prestigious television honors akin to the Emmy Awards, highlighted Friend's popularity during her tenure on the long-running series from 1988 to 1990, where her character became a fan favorite for its relatable depiction of a country girl navigating city life.[30]
The win underscored the cultural impact of Neighbours in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with Friend's performance contributing to the show's dominance in the Most Popular Drama category that year.[14]