From beloved foster mum to award-winning actress—where is Pippa Ross now?

Would You Recognise Her Today?

It’s been 35 years since Debra Lawrance first graced Aussie TV screens as Home and Away’s much-loved foster mum, Pippa Ross. But in a recent photo shared to her Instagram, the soap legend looks completely transformed—and fans are stunned.

Wearing a navy tank top and her natural grey hair pulled back, Debra looks a far cry from her iconic Summer Bay days. Yet her signature warmth and calm presence are still unmistakable.

The photo sparked a wave of nostalgia among Home and Away devotees, many of whom remember her as the heart of the Ross household through the 1990s.

A Role That Defined an Era

Debra Lawrance took over the role of Pippa Ross in 1990 from original actress Vanessa Downing. For nearly a decade, she portrayed the nurturing, resilient foster mother who helped guide countless troubled teens through the ups and downs of Summer Bay.

Her run lasted until 1998, though she returned for special appearances—most recently in 2009.

For many, Debra is Pippa. Her quiet strength and gentle parenting style helped anchor the early years of Home and Away and made her one of the most beloved matriarchs in soap history.

Love On and Off Screen

Debra’s personal life is just as soap-worthy as her on-screen stories. She met her husband, actor Dennis Coard, when he was cast as Michael Ross—Pippa’s second husband on Home and Away.

The couple married in 1992 and share two children. Their real-life love story remains one of the show’s sweetest legacies.

A Career Beyond Summer Bay

While Home and Away catapulted Debra to household-name status, her talent has continued to shine in a variety of roles. After leaving Summer Bay, she scored a lead role in the critically acclaimed ABC comedy The Fast Lane and appeared in the 1988 film Evil Angels alongside Meryl Streep.

In more recent years, Debra won an AACTA Award and a Logie for her performance as Rose in Please Like Me—a role that showcased her comedic timing and dramatic depth.

She even crossed soap rival lines, briefly appearing in Neighbours in 2018 as Liz Conway, the estranged sister of Susan Kennedy.

A Star With Staying Power

Debra Lawrance is more than just a soap star—she’s an acting powerhouse. A graduate of NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) alongside the likes of Mel Gibson, she’s spent decades mastering her craft and evolving with the industry.

Now 66, she remains an icon of Australian television—and her candid online presence continues to connect her with fans across generations.