Belinda Emmett
Belinda Emmett was born on 12 April 1974 in Umina Beach, New South Wales, Australia. As a teenager, she worked for local radio station Coast Rock FM before landing her first major acting role as "Tracy Russell" in the popular sitcom Hey Dad..! (1987). She became a household name two years later when she joined the cast of popular drama series Home and Away (1988) as "Rebecca Fisher". In early 1998, at the age of twenty-three, Belinda was diagnosed with breast cancer. She took time off from Home and Away (1988) to undergo chemotherapy treatments and, twelve months later, she was deemed to be in remission. In late 1999, Belinda met comedian Rove McManus at the opening of Sydney's Fox Studios. The pair began dating and were married five years later. Rove proudly called Belinda his "greatest reward". In 2000, Belinda began working on the popular drama series All Saints (1998) as "Jodie Horner". However, one year later, she was diagnosed with secondary bone cancer after experiencing severe back pain, which she was told would eventually claim her life. On 29 January 2005, Belinda married her long-time love, Rove McManus, at Mary Immaculate Church in Sydney. Belinda Emmett passed away on 11 November 2006 surrounded by her family and friends. She was fare-welled at a funeral held at the same church she was married in less than two years earlier. Belinda was a much-loved actress who will be remembered for her courageous fight against cancer and her charity work, which helped raise awareness of the importance of early detection of breast cancer.