Debra Lawrance reveals big I’m A Celeb fear: ‘Will this destroy my career?’

Logie-winning Aussie TV legend Debra Lawrance has revealed her biggest fear about her latest unusual career move.

Australian acting veteran Debra Lawrance is one of the genuine surprise packages on this season of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here, winning new fans with her calm presence and earthy advice around camp.

But, as the former Home And Away and Please Like Me star told news.com.au the day before entering the jungle, she was nervous that appearing on the show might ruin her career.

While Lawrance is a longtime fan of the reality show – “It’s just really good entertainment” – she took a pause when the offer to be a contestant was made earlier this year.

“I didn’t have a work excuse. I’d just finished a play and a TV series and done a movie, and then there was this gap because I’m doing a play with Melbourne Theatre Company in August and I thought, “Oh, I’ll have a rest,” she said.

Lawrance played Pippa for 937 episodes of Home And Away.

Her newest role is as an I’m A Celeb contestant.

When the offer came through, “[I] rang well-placed friends in high places saying, ‘Is this going to destroy my career, my credibility?’”

Thos friends allayed her fears and convinced Lawrance to stick to the philosophy she said has served her well so far in a career that’s traversed everything from stage to soaps to films: Say yes to just about everything.

“I’ve been on the planet too long not to do everything that’s offered,” she said.

“Since leaving drama school, I’ve said yes … I’m just trying to think if I’ve said no to anything? I don’t think I have.

Viewers have praised Deb (centre) for her wise and honest presence around camp.

It’s a philosophy Lawrance said she’d passed on to many young actors she’d mentored over the years.

“I’ve actually got roles because I did one scene for somebody. For young actors, just do everything because you’re learning how to be on a set, you’re learning the technicalities. Just do everything!”

Lawrance needn’t have worried I’m A Celeb might damage her career – after less than a week on screens, she’s already emerging as one of this season’s best-loved contestants. Viewers applauded when she calmly mediated a fiery argument between Dicko and MAFS star Dom. And they wept along with her as she opened up about having experienced four miscarriages.

Can we just queen Debra Queen of the Jungle right now??#ImACelebrityAU

— Susan (@NovaStar77) April 4, 2023

Honestly, Debra Lawrence is more ‘TV royalty’ to me than KAK. #ImACelebrityAU

— Anouska (@AnouskaHaaket) April 3, 2023

I love Deb, she’s such a lovely presence #ImACelebrityAU

— noraelove (@noraelove) April 4, 2023

Deb is the best camp mate - team deb forever #ImACelebrityAU

— kayla🏳️‍🌈🇦🇺 (@blangeroaks) April 4, 2023

Deb speaking the truth. Once again, I love Deb. #ImACelebrityAU

— Deb stan (@aalwaystiredd) April 4, 2023

I loved Deb when she was Pippa and I’m starting to realise Pippa was actually Deb. What a lovely woman. #ImACelebrityAU

— seth 🌈 (@sethdarby) April 4, 2023

Despite her initial fears that roughing it in the jungle with a bunch of reality stars might ruin her credibility, Lawrance said she “feels very strongly” that shows like I’m A Celeb are just as worthy as the more highbrow acting work for which she wins awards.

“Not everybody can go to the opera. Not everybody can even get out to see a movie. The TV in the corner of the lounge room is often a real escape for people who have had a hard day at work or [are] a bit sad or whatever,” she said.

Foreshadowing the role she would soon play in camp, Lawrance told news.com.au she was looking forward to bringing a bit of her hard-won wisdom about life to some of her younger fellow contestants.

“I’ve been on the planet long enough to be reasonably wise about a whole lot of stuff, and there’s not a lot of baggage that I carry around. I’m pretty pragmatic about everything.”

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! airs 7.30pm Sunday to Thursdays on Ten

Nick Bond travelled to South Africa as a guest of Ten