Home and Away’s Emily Symons, 50, celebrates her son Henry’s fifth birthday

She’s best known for playing longtime Summer Bay resident Marilyn Chambers on Home and Away.

But it seems motherhood is Emily Symons’ favourite role of all.

On Sunday, the 50-year-old actress celebrated her son Henry’s fifth birthday with a party at home and an elaborate cake inspired by R2-D2 of Star Wars fame.

In a photo shared to Instagram on Monday, mother and son posed with the cake and several Star Wars balloons, included shaped like the number five.

‘Happy fifth birthday to my beautiful boy!’ Emily wrote underneath the image.

‘Such a lovely day yesterday celebrating with our loved ones. Amazed by this magnificent cake made by our lovely @lauren_e_hamilton,’ she added.

Emily’s co-stars were quick wish her son a happy birthday in the comments section.

‘Happy birthday, Hennie. What a beautiful big boy you are,’ wrote Lynne McGranger, while Sam Frost added: ‘Aww Happy birthday, Henry!’ 

Emily shares Henry with her ex-husband Paul Jackson, whom she split from in 2016.

The couple had struggled to conceive a child using IVF, a process Emily later described as ‘soul destroying’ in an interview with New Idea.

But they persevered and welcomed Henry in 2015, only to split the following year.

Paul’s representative confirmed the break-up at the time, stating: ‘They remain proud parents of Henry.’