REBECCA GILLING ‘It was incredible fun!'

Return To Eden catapulted the actress to stardom – and she loved every moment

- Claire Isaac

It was the perfect drama for the ’80s with a plot as over the top and preposterous as the outfits and hairstyles. And star Rebecca Gilling loved every moment of it!

“Dynasty Down Under was what people called it,” laughs Rebecca when asked about Return To Eden, the Aussie hit drama rumoured to have cost $1 million per episode.

“At the time, it was incredible fun. Hard work, obviously, but so much money was spent on it. No expense spared on location in fantastic places,” she says.

The 1983 miniseries – and the 22-part series that followed in 1986 – was an over-the-top celebration of ’80s glam, filmed in incredible locations, from Sydney to the Great Barrier Reef, and was filled with an A-list cast, including Rebecca, James Reyne, Wendy Hughes, Peta Toppano and James Smillie.

SWEET REVENGE

Rebecca played rich heiress Stephanie Harper, who is badly scarred after being pushed into crocodile-infested waters by her money-seeking new husband. She then comes back as supermodel Tara Welles to seek her revenge before revealing her true identity and marrying her plastic surgeon!