A very different Summer Bay: Emily Symons reveals Home and Away’s makeup artists are wearing masks as filming resumes after COVID-19 shut down production for nine weeks
She’s been playing Marilyn Chambers on Home and Away for more than 30 years.
So it’s only fitting that Emily Symons was one of the first actors back on set after the COVID-19 pandemic forced production to shut down nine weeks ago.
The 50-year-old shared a photo to Instagram on Monday of herself returning to work.
A very different Summer Bay! Emily Symons (left) shares a photo from her first day back on the Home and Away set after COVID-19 shut down production for nine weeks… with makeup artist Sheldon Wade (right) wearing a surgical mask
‘First day back after nine weeks! So happy to see my Home and Away family again especially you @sheldonfx,’ she captioned the photo.
Emily looked stunning in the picture, having just been transformed into Marilyn with her signature bouffant hairdo and glamorous makeup.
She posed alongside makeup artist Sheldon Wade, who was wearing a surgical mask, a new measure which has been implemented in the face of the health crisis.
Home And Away resumed filming on Monday from the Seven Network studios at Eveleigh, Sydney.
Back to work! Filming resumed on Monday after a nine week break. Episodes were still able to air as the program is filmed months in advance
According to a story in The Daily Telegraph last month, the long-running soap will set in place strict measures to ensure the safety of their cast and crew.
They include temperature checks and scripts being rewritten to work in social distancing.
A Channel Seven spokesperson told the paper: ‘A range of measures will be in place to minimise risk for the cast and crew, to be overseen by dedicated safety officers.
A Channel Seven spokesperson told the paper: ‘A range of measures will be in place to minimise risk for the cast and crew, to be overseen by dedicated safety officers.’ Pictured: Ray Meagher who plays Alf Stewart on the soap
‘The measures include temperature check on arrival, increased hygiene practices and rigorous cleaning schedules.’
Actors will be able to socially distance on set thanks to some clever rewrites, the spokesperson continued.
‘Scripts will also be reworked to reduce closer contact, in constant consultation with the cast and crew to ensure the health and safety of all,’ the statement said.
‘Scripts will also be reworked to reduce closer contact, in constant consultation with the cast and crew to ensure the health and safety of all’: The network also revealed scripts were rewritten to allow for social distancing (Pictured with Lynne McGranger prior to the shutdown)
Outside shoots have also been canned for now, with filming at Sydney’s Palm Beach on hold.
Production was shut down in March over coronavirus fears, with Channel Seven saying that the health and wellbeing of the cast and crew was a priority, and filming would be halted.
‘Seven Studios advised today that it would halt filming of Home and Away immediately,’ a Seven spokesperson said in a statement to TV Tonight.
‘It confirmed that no cast or crew had tested positive for COVID-19, but that the decision was made due to the increasing logistical hurdles related to the COVID-19 situation,’ a Channel Seven spokesperson said.
Episodes are shot several months in advance so the soap was able to continue airing during the break.
Staying inside: Outside shoots have also been canned for now, with filming at Sydney’s Palm Beach on hold (pictured) and scenes being reworked to be filmed inside at the Seven Studios in Eveleigh