Anderson surprised by lesbian controversy

Home and Away star Esther Anderson has said that she's surprised by the reaction to the current lesbian plot involving her character, policewoman Charlie Buckton.

The controversial plot, which sees Charlie fall in love with Joey Collins (Kate Bell), has stirred up a wave of emotion and sparked fierce debate in Australia with newspapers and talkback radio inundated with comments and complaints.

"It's amazing that it's still such a taboo subject in this day and age because it's everywhere," Anderson told the Herald Sun. "The gay population is growing. To me there's no difference - love's love. The fact that your partner's the same sex is no different. The only difference is all that stigma society attaches to it.

"The storyline explores all those issues of discrimination and stigma but it also shows it's a beautiful love story like any other romance on the show."