Sarah Monahan
Encyclopedia
Sarah Monahan is an Australian actress. Best known for her role as Jenny on Hey Dad..!
, she has also appeared in Sons and Daughters
and Home and Away
.
Monahan got her start in the industry from her fashion designer father. She was the in-house model for his children's clothing line, and later, went on to appear in over 100 television and print ads.
She auditioned for the role of Jenny in Hey Dad..! when she was six, even though the producers were looking for a younger actress: her small stature at the time, combined with her ability to read the script, helped her to impress the judges and win the role. After filming the pilot she spent a short time on the Australian soap opera Sons and Daughters, playing the role of Cassie Hunt in 24 episodes that first aired in early 1986. She returned to filming on Hey Dad..! that year, and stayed with the show for six years, departing in 1993 one year before the show concluded. She became the primary income earner for her family when her father died just before Hey Dad...! debuted.
Sarah Monahan returned to Australian television for a short time as Heather in another long running Australian soap opera, Home and Away
, in 1995; and once again alongside fellow Hey Dad..! actress, Simone Buchanan
in Pacific Drive
, performing in a non-speaking role. However, her career was to move in other directions, and she worked more behind the scenes, as well as working in a variety of jobs within the hospitality industry.
More recently, she founded ShrimpTank Productions, which works in social media and search engine optimisation, along with Going Down, a planned travel and diving web series.
In March 2010 she claimed in an interview with Woman's Day
magazine, and later on current affairs television program A Current Affair, that she was sexually abused on the set of Hey Dad...! sometime between 1987 to 1994, by Robert Hughes
, the actor who played her on-screen father. Hughes strongly denied the allegations and has engaged defamation lawyers. It was reported that detectives had begun interviewing former members of the cast and crew of Hey Dad..!, although police have declined to confirm a complaint has been received.
In March, 2011, Sarah Monahan, in an interview aired on A Current Affair, expressed her concerns that charges may not be laid against Hughes. As a result, she revealed that she intended to initiate legal actions against Hughes and television executives who, she claimed, were aware of Hughes' alleged actions and failed to take action.
After her allegations in the media, Braveheart
, a sexual assault advocacy group, asked Monahan to become an Ambassador. Monahan is currently living in the US with her American husband, Matt Morris, whom she met in Brisbane
, Australia.
Hey Dad..!
Hey Dad..! was an Australian sitcom produced by Gary Reilly Productions, originally airing from 1987 to 1994 on the Seven Network.-Synopsis:Architect Martin Kelly singlehandedly raises his children Simon, Debbie and Jenny...
, she has also appeared in Sons and Daughters
Sons and Daughters (Australian TV series)
Sons and Daughters was a Logie Award winning Australian soap opera created by Reg Watson and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation between 1981 and 1987. The first episode aired in December 1981, during the Christmas/New Year non-ratings period, and the official broadcast date of the final...
and Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
.
Monahan got her start in the industry from her fashion designer father. She was the in-house model for his children's clothing line, and later, went on to appear in over 100 television and print ads.
She auditioned for the role of Jenny in Hey Dad..! when she was six, even though the producers were looking for a younger actress: her small stature at the time, combined with her ability to read the script, helped her to impress the judges and win the role. After filming the pilot she spent a short time on the Australian soap opera Sons and Daughters, playing the role of Cassie Hunt in 24 episodes that first aired in early 1986. She returned to filming on Hey Dad..! that year, and stayed with the show for six years, departing in 1993 one year before the show concluded. She became the primary income earner for her family when her father died just before Hey Dad...! debuted.
Sarah Monahan returned to Australian television for a short time as Heather in another long running Australian soap opera, Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
, in 1995; and once again alongside fellow Hey Dad..! actress, Simone Buchanan
Simone Buchanan
Simone Louise Buchanan is an Australian actress best known for her television roles as Debbie Kelly in the situation comedy Hey Dad..! and Samantha Fitzgerald in the soap opera Neighbours....
in Pacific Drive
Pacific Drive
Pacific Drive is an Australian television series made by Village Roadshow in association with New World International for the Nine Network between 1996 and 1997....
, performing in a non-speaking role. However, her career was to move in other directions, and she worked more behind the scenes, as well as working in a variety of jobs within the hospitality industry.
More recently, she founded ShrimpTank Productions, which works in social media and search engine optimisation, along with Going Down, a planned travel and diving web series.
In March 2010 she claimed in an interview with Woman's Day
Woman's Day (Australian magazine)
Woman's Day is an Australian magazine published by ACP Magazines. It is the second largest magazine in Australia. The magazine recently underwent significant layoffs....
magazine, and later on current affairs television program A Current Affair, that she was sexually abused on the set of Hey Dad...! sometime between 1987 to 1994, by Robert Hughes
Robert Hughes (Australian actor)
Robert Lindsay Hughes is an Australian actor whose most significant roles include ABBA: The Movie and the television sitcom Hey Dad..!-Early career:...
, the actor who played her on-screen father. Hughes strongly denied the allegations and has engaged defamation lawyers. It was reported that detectives had begun interviewing former members of the cast and crew of Hey Dad..!, although police have declined to confirm a complaint has been received.
In March, 2011, Sarah Monahan, in an interview aired on A Current Affair, expressed her concerns that charges may not be laid against Hughes. As a result, she revealed that she intended to initiate legal actions against Hughes and television executives who, she claimed, were aware of Hughes' alleged actions and failed to take action.
After her allegations in the media, Braveheart
Braveheart
Braveheart is a 1995 epic historical drama war film directed by and starring Mel Gibson. The film was written for the screen and then novelized by Randall Wallace...
, a sexual assault advocacy group, asked Monahan to become an Ambassador. Monahan is currently living in the US with her American husband, Matt Morris, whom she met in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia.