Home and Away’s Mia Morrissey hopes curves will inspire healthy body image
New Home and Away cast member Mia Morrissey hopes to challenge narrow beauty standards when she debuts on the popular soap, saying it’s important for viewers to see different shapes and sizes in swimwear.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Home and Away’s newest cast member, Mia Morrissey, hopes to challenge narrow beauty standards on the long-running TV soap.
The former The Voice contestant told Confidential she was comfortable wearing a swimsuit during filming and wants her confidence to inspire healthy body image in viewers.
“As far as being in a swimsuit or bikini goes, I am more than comfortable as I have been modelling for ages and doing quite a lot of swimwear and activewear work,” she said.
“But also, I grew up watching Home and Away and there was a time when the only people that you would see on screen were size six, toned and blonde and I’m [none of those things] — but by no means am I big.
“I just think Home and Away is a show that so many people watch … When I see a character that I can see myself in, it makes me feel OK to be myself. Hopefully if someone sees someone like me who is a curvy size 10, who is incredibly healthy and fit (but I have stretch marks) — if someone sees me in a bikini maybe they’ll feel OK about themselves.”
Morrissey, 23, will make her debut as backpacker Jade Lennox on the series on Tuesday night. She landed the role while working as an assistant in an office job earlier this year.
“I was actually at my job which I had started three days before and they called me and then I went into the hallway and sat on the floor and cried,” she said.
“I had to walk back inside (and quit) and they were so supportive and lovely about it. It feels so good, it has been a lifelong dream to be on Home and Away. I used to live on the Northern Beaches, around the corner from where they film and so when I was a kid my dad used to walk me down to see the set so now that I’m on the show it’s really cool.”
Morrissey is the daughter of talent agent, Mark Morrissey and publicist wife Lizzi Dayney Morrisey, and insists she got the job on her own merit without her parents help.
“I definitely did it all on my own. It helped in the sense that my parents were supportive of me — my parents and I have always been very firm about separating work and family life so my dad doesn’t represent me.”