Parker defends decision to join 'H&A'

Georgie Parker has defended her decision to accept a role in Home and Away.

The 46-year-old Australian actress, who won numerous Gold Logie awards, has signed a three-year contract to play Alf Stewart's estranged daughter Roo in the soap after five years away from television.

Parker told The Daily Telegraph: "The show does its genre really well. I am not an elite actor and I don't act for other actors or critics. It's a job I love to do and it's how I support my family. It's as simple as that.

"Yes, it's a soap, but it's been going for 23 years and I love the way it does soap extremely well.''

Parker, who is best known for playing nurse Terri Sullivan in All Saints, said that working with Ray Meagher on the show as his on-screen daughter has been "wonderful".

She said: "It's 20 years since we've seen Roo and I'm hoping the audience will see her from a fresh perspective. It's a fresh start for the both of us. She's back for money, but why she needs it and who it's for is the question."