Fans of Home and Away were left heartbroken when Felicity Newman’s story came to a sudden and tragic end in August 2024. Jacqui Purvis’ portrayal of the fierce yet deeply vulnerable character had struck a chord, especially through Felicity’s intense romance with Tane Parata. Her shocking on-screen death from a brain aneurysm devastated viewers and marked one of the soap’s most unforgettable exits. While audiences mourned Felicity, many were left wondering where Jacqui’s undeniable talent would take her next.

In the months following her departure from Summer Bay, Jacqui quietly explored new creative paths. After spending time in the United States developing her screen career and landing a role in the upcoming film Fear, she made a move few saw coming. Rather than focusing solely on film and television, Jacqui made the bold decision to return home to Australia and step onto the stage for her first professional theatre role—a dramatic shift that signals a new chapter in her career.

Behind the scenes, Jacqui has been laying the groundwork for something even bigger. She has launched her own production company, Knicknack Productions, with a clear mission: to challenge traditional storytelling and create more complex, female-driven narratives. Determined to reshape how women are represented on screen and stage, Jacqui says she wants to tell stories that embrace strength, grit, and emotional honesty—without smoothing over the messiness that makes characters feel real.

Her first major project under this new banner is the raw and confronting play Danny and the Deep Blue Sea by acclaimed writer John Patrick Shanley. Set to run at Melbourne’s Old Fitz Theatre from January 13 to February 1, 2026, the production is intense, intimate, and emotionally charged. The two-hander explores love, violence, vulnerability, and connection, with Jacqui starring opposite her real-life partner, JK Kazzi. The play’s brutal honesty and emotional risk were exactly what drew her in.

Jacqui has spoken openly about why the role of Roberta resonated so deeply. The character defies easy labels, laying bare her flaws, pain, and strength in equal measure. For Jacqui, that raw imperfection is the point. She believes audiences crave characters who feel human—messy, complicated, and unapologetically real—especially women who refuse to fit neatly into predefined boxes.

That philosophy traces back to her childhood. Growing up, Jacqui gravitated toward sports and action films but rarely saw women on screen who reflected her own energy and ambition. Joking that she once wanted to be “Matt Damon,” she explains that this lack of representation has fueled her drive to create the kinds of roles she longed for as a young viewer.

Preparing for the play pushed Jacqui far beyond her comfort zone. She and JK even traveled to New York to immerse themselves in the world of the Bronx, where the story is set. During the trip, they met Shanley himself, gaining rare insight into the deeply personal origins of the play. Visiting the neighborhoods that inspired the story added another layer of authenticity to their performances.

For Jacqui, the move from ensemble television to an exposed, two-person stage production is both terrifying and thrilling. Unlike Home and Away, where storylines and scenes are shared, this play offers no escape. For over an hour, she remains on stage, fully visible, carrying the emotional weight of the story alongside one other actor.

It’s a risk—but one Jacqui Purvis is more than ready to take.