Benita Collings 'WHY I HAD TO LEAVE TV'

Play School's favourite mum talks fame, fun and feeling fulfilled

- Jenny Brown

Infidelity, intrigue, blackmail, prostitution, miscarriage, amnesia and murder! Even actress Benita Collings struggles to remember the many melodramas of The Restless Years - and she starred in the iconic Aussie soap.

Benita played Clare Moran on the series, which premiered 45 years ago and rapidly became essential viewing.

"You look back and go, 'Gosh, yes," laughs Benita, now 81 and vibrant as ever, thanks to regular workouts and brisk daily walks.

"The show launched some extraordinary people whose careers just kept going and going.”

The Restless Years, which ran from 1977 to 1982, has an honour roll including Penny Cook, Tom Burlinson, Peter Phelps and the formidable June Salter, among others.

Producer Reg Grundy's wife Joy Chambers featured as demented villain Rita Merrick, wearing a black curly wig. And a very young Kerri-Anne Wright - later to become Kerri-Anne Kennerley - debuted as ugly duckling Melinda Burgess.

TRAINING GROUND

"It was a long time ago and to be honest, I actually don't recall very much about my character but I think she was very nice," confides Sydney-based Benita, smiling broadly. “It sounds silly, but it was so far back and the industry was very different then.