In the wake of Lynne McGranger’s shock exit from Home Away after 33 years, news.com.au is having a look back at the biggest exits and superstars that have starred in the country’s biggest soaps before hitting. One of the biggest was Simon Baker. Before finding international fame, Baker had a guest role as James Hudson in Home and Away in 1993. Picture: Supplied

Baker went on to become one of Australia’s most successful exports, starring in The Devil Wears Prada, L.A. Confidential, and the critically acclaimed TV series The Mentalist, where he played the charming yet haunted Patrick Jane. Picture: Supplied

In 2011, ahead of the fourth season of The Mentalist, Baker negotiated a $30 million deal, meaning he was making a whopping $350,000 an episode, with the fee to increase each season, as well as a piece of the show’s back end. The Mentalist ran seven seasons and was sold into off-network syndication in November 2009. Picture: David Clark

Longtime Home and Away actress Lynne McGranger will leave the show later this year after almost 33 years on-air. Picture: Supplied

McGranger, who is the longest-serving female actor on the Seven soap, has been on screens since January 1993, playing Irene Roberts, a character who’s survived everything from alcoholism to breast cancer to a stint in prison and a plane crash. Picture: Supplied

“After almost 33 years in my dream role and working every day with people who I love, respect and whom I now consider family, it’s bittersweet to be closing the chapter on what has been the best and longest gig of my life,” McGranger, 72, said in a statement released by Seven. Picture: Supplied

McGranger will film her final scenes for the show at the end of March, but they won’t air until later in the year. Picture: Supplied

In 2004, Chris Hemsworth auditioned for the role of Robbie Hunter. He didn’t receive the part but was subsequently recalled for the part of Kim Hyde. He moved to Sydney to join the cast, appearing in 171 episodes of the series before leaving in July 2007. Picture: Supplied

After rising to prominence in Home and Away he began his film career in Hollywood. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Hemsworth starred as Thor in the 2011 film of the same name and reprised the role in several subsequent instalments, which established him among the world's highest-paid actors. Picture: Disney

Outside of Marvel he has starred in The Hunstman: Winter’s Way, Ghostbusters, Men in Black: International, and 12 Strong. Picture: Netflix

More recently his work includes Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Transformers One. Hemsworth is arguably the most successful actor to come out of Summer Bay. Picture: Supplied

Tammin Sursok joined Home and Away in 2000 as Dani Sutherland, a rebellious teen who quickly became a fan favourite. Source: Jason Edwards

She played the role for four years, earning a Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent in 2001. Picture: Supplied

After leaving the show in 2004, Sursok pursued a music career before transitioning to Hollywood. Picture: Perini Michael

She starred as Colleen Carlton in The Young and the Restless and later gained international recognition as Jenna Marshall in Pretty Little Liars. Picture: Supplied

Isabel Lucas was cast as Tasha Andrews in Home and Away in 2003, portraying the mysterious, jungle-raised teenager. Picture: Supplied

Her performance won her a Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent in 2004. She left the show in 2006 to pursue opportunities in Hollywood. Picture: Supplied

Lucas' international breakthrough came in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), and she later starred in Immortals, Red Dawn, and The Water Diviner. Picture: Supplied

She has also taken on activism work, using her platform to raise awareness for environmental and humanitarian causes. Picture: Getty

Sharni Vinson joined Home and Away in 2005 as Cassie Turner, a troubled yet resilient teenager who arrived in Summer Bay after experiencing a difficult childhood in foster care. Picture: Supplied

Cassie became known for her tumultuous relationships, particularly with Ric Dalby, and her emotional storyline involving an HIV diagnosis, which was groundbreaking for the show at the time. Picture: Supplied

Vinson remained on Home and Away until 2008 before setting her sights on Hollywood. She quickly gained recognition for her starring role in the cult horror film You're Next (2011). Picture: Lionsgate

She also appeared in Step Up 3D, showcasing her background as a trained dancer, and starred in the thriller Bait 3D. Picture: Supplied

Jodi Gordon played Martha MacKenzie on Home and Away from 2005 to 2010, portraying Alf Stewart’s troubled but beloved granddaughter. Picture: Liz Walsh

Her performance won her a Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent in 2006. Picture: Supplied

Following her departure, Gordon pursued other acting roles in Underbelly: Badness, Neighbours, and The Secret Daughter. She has also worked as a model and brand ambassador. Picture: Supplied

Pia Miller joined Home and Away as police officer Katarina Chapman in 2015 and quickly became a fan favourite. Picture: Supplied

She remained on the show until 2018 before leaving to pursue international opportunities. Picture: Supplied

Miller has since appeared in Dora and the Lost City of Gold and the TV series Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, building her profile in Hollywood. Picture: Kym Smith

Before his Hollywood success, Heath Ledger briefly appeared in Home and Away in 1997 as Scott Irwin. Though his role was short-lived, it was an early stepping stone in his career. Picture: Supplied

Ledger went on to become an Oscar-winning actor, known for 10 Things I Hate About You, Brokeback Mountain, and his legendary performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight. Picture: Supplied

His tragic passing in 2008 left an enduring legacy in the film industry. Picture: Supplied

Isla Fisher played Shannon Reed on Home and Away from 1994 to 1997, portraying a character who dealt with issues like anorexia and sexuality. Picture: Supplied

After leaving the show, Fisher transitioned to Hollywood and became a successful comedic actress with roles in Wedding Crashers, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Now You See Me, and The Great Gatsby. Picture: Lionel Hahn

Dannii Minogue played Emma Jackson from 1989 to 1990, a feisty and rebellious teen who frequently found herself in trouble. Picture: Supplied

Minogue left acting to focus on her music career, becoming a successful pop star. She later became a TV personality and talent judge on The X Factor UK and Australia’s Got Talent. Picture: Supplied

Guy Pearce had a small role as David Croft in Home and Away in the late 1980s before landing his breakthrough role as Mike Young in Neighbours. Picture: Supplied

He later became a Hollywood star, appearing in L.A. Confidential, Memento, The King’s Speech, and Iron Man 3. Picture: Instagram

Ryan Kwanten played the lovable but mischievous Vinnie Patterson from 1997 to 2002. His character was known for his humorous antics, but his story took a dark turn when Vinnie was sent to prison. Picture; Supplied

After leaving the show, Kwanten moved to Hollywood, landing the role of Jason Stackhouse in HBO’s True Blood. Picture: Andrew Tauber

He has since appeared in films like Dead Silence, The Oath, and 2067, proving his ability to transition from a teen heartthrob to a serious actor. Picture: Supplied

Naomi Watts had a brief role as Julie Gibson in Home and Away in the early 1990s. Picture: Supplied

She later became a global star, earning critical acclaim for performances in Mulholland Drive, The Ring, King Kong, and The Impossible, for which she received an Academy Award nomination. Picture: Getty

Melissa George played Angel Parrish from 1993 to 1996, one of the show's most beloved characters. Picture: Supplied

Angel’s romance with Shane Parrish (Dieter Brummer) was a major storyline, and their wedding remains one of the most iconic moments in Home and Away history. Picture: Supplied

After leaving, George moved to Hollywood and starred in Alias, Grey’s Anatomy, The Good Wife, and The Slap. Picture: Channel 7

Samara Weaving played Indigo "Indi" Walker from 2009 to 2013. Indi was the daughter of Sid Walker and found herself involved in complex relationships and family struggles. Picture: Supplied

After leaving the show, Weaving quickly rose to fame in Hollywood, starring in Ready or Not, Bill & Ted Face the Music, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Babylon. Picture: Twentieth Century Fox

Julian McMahon played Ben Lucini in Home and Away before making a name for himself in Hollywood. Picture: Supplied

He became widely known for his roles as Cole Turner in Charmed and Christian Troy in Nip/Tuck. He also played Doctor Doom in the Fantastic Four films. Picture: Supplied

Kate Ritchie played Sally Fletcher for 20 years, growing up on Home and Away from childhood into adulthood. Sally’s journey was one of the longest and most memorable in the show’s history. Picture: Supplied

After leaving in 2008, Ritchie transitioned into radio and television, becoming a beloved Australian media personality. Picture: Getty

Steve Peacocke became a household name as Darryl “Brax” Braxton, the leader of the infamous River Boys, when he joined Home and Away in 2011. Picture: Supplied

His portrayal of the tough-yet-loyal surf gang leader earned him a Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television in 2013. Brax was central to some of the show’s most gripping storylines, including his romance with Charlie Buckton and dramatic exit in 2016. Picture: Joe Castro

Following his departure, Peacocke made the transition to Hollywood, landing roles in major films such as Hercules alongside Dwayne Johnson and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot with Tina Fey. Picture: Supplied

He has also taken on roles in Australian dramas like Five Bedrooms and RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service, proving his versatility as an actor. Picture: Supplied

Bec Hewitt (formerly Bec Cartwright) played Hayley Smith Lawson from 1998 to 2005, a character who evolved from a free-spirited teen into a young woman caught in a dramatic love triangle between Noah Lawson and Scott Hunter. Picture: Supplied

Hewitt won a Logie Award for Most Popular Actress in 2005, shortly before leaving the show to focus on her music career and personal life. Picture: Tim Carrafa

That same year, she married Australian tennis champion Lleyton Hewitt, and the couple has since raised a family. Though she has stepped back from acting, she remains a beloved figure in Australian entertainment. Picture: Tony Gough

Dieter Brummer played Shane Parrish from 1992 to 1996, one-half of Home and Away's most iconic love stories alongside Melissa George’s Angel Parrish. Picture: Supplied

Tragically, Shane’s character was killed off in 1996 due to septicaemia, marking one of the show’s most heartbreaking exits. Picture: Supplied

Brummer won two Logie Awards for Most Popular Actor before leaving Home and Away. He later appeared in Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, Neighbours, and Winners & Losers. Picture: Supplied

In later years, he pursued a career in high-rise window cleaning before his tragic passing in 2021, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Australian television. Picture: Supplied

Sam Frost transitioned from reality TV to acting when she joined Home and Away as Jasmine Delaney in 2017. Picture: Supplied

Originally known for winning The Bachelor Australia and later leading The Bachelorette, Frost quickly established herself as a capable actress, with Jasmine becoming a key figure in Summer Bay. Picture: Supplied

Frost announced her departure from the show, citing personal reasons. Since leaving, she has focused on advocacy for mental health awareness and starting a family. Picture: Supplied

Rhys Wakefield played Lucas Holden from 2005 to 2008, portraying a sensitive and artistic teenager struggling with his parent’s separation and the pressures of high school life. Picture: Supplied

After leaving Home and Away, Wakefield transitioned to Hollywood and starred in The Purge, True Detective, and the critically acclaimed indie film Blow the Man Down. Picture: Supplied

His career has expanded to directing and screenwriting, with his work behind the camera earning praise in the industry. Picture: Supplied

Luke Mitchell played Romeo Smith from 2009 to 2013, a charming and ambitious surfer who won over Indi Walker’s heart. Picture: Channel 7

Romeo’s story took a tragic turn when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, leading to an emotional farewell from Summer Bay. Picture: Stellar Magazine

Mitchell left the show to pursue a career in the U.S. and quickly found success, starring in The Tomorrow People, Blindspot, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and more recently, Big Sky. Picture: Jonathon Searle

Esther Anderson joined Home and Away in 2008 as Charlie Buckton, a dedicated police officer whose personal and professional lives often clashed. Her romance with Brax was one of the most gripping storylines in the show’s history. Picture: Channel 7

Charlie’s tragic death in 2012 was one of the most shocking exits in Home and Away, leaving fans devastated. Picture: Channel 7

Anderson later pursued an international career, appearing in Siberia, NCIS: Los Angeles, and various independent projects. She has also worked as a presenter and model. Picture: Jason Edwards

Norman Coburn played school principal Donald “Flathead” Fisher from Home and Away’s inception in 1988 until 2003, making him one of the longest-serving actors on the show. Picture: Supplied

Coburn remained a beloved figure in Australian television even after his departure, occasionally returning for guest appearances until 2007. Picture: Supplied

His contribution to Home and Away was recognised when he was included in the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving actor in an Australian soap opera. Picture: Supplied

Brenton Thwaites had a brief but memorable role in Home and Away in 2011 as Stu Henderson, a member of the River Boys. Picture: Supplied

His time in Summer Bay was short-lived, as his character was ultimately killed off in a dramatic storyline involving domestic violence and revenge. His time in Summer Bay coincided with his role in Slide. Picture: Supplied

Despite his short stint on the show, Thwaites quickly made a name for himself in Hollywood. He landed the lead role in Blue Lagoon: The Awakening before starring in major films such as Oculus, The Giver, and Gods of Egypt. His breakthrough came when he was cast as Henry Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). Picture: Supplied

Since 2018, Thwaites has starred as Dick Grayson/Nightwing in the hit DC series Titans. Picture: Supplied

Lincoln Lewis joined Home and Away in 2007 as Geoff Campbell, a kind-hearted and deeply religious farm boy who moved to Summer Bay with his sister Annie. Picture: Channel 7

Lewis played Geoff for three years before leaving the show in 2010 to pursue new opportunities. Shortly after, he won a Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent. Picture: Supplied

He went on to appear in Australian films such as Tomorrow, When the War Began and Bait 3D and had guest roles in TV shows like House Husbands and Underbelly: Razor. Picture: Supplied