Lynne McGranger, best known for playing Irene Roberts on Home and Away, has debuted a new look for 2026, swapping her iconic red locks for a platinum grey hairstyle. The actress shared a photo on social media, captioning it with a heartfelt New Year message.
McGranger wrote: 'Wishing all my lovely friends a wonderful 2026! Wow! What a year! So many highlights, so many lovely humans along the way. So many pinch-me moments, so much joy and love in my life. Forever grateful, never taking a single moment for granted.' She added: 'May 2026 bring you all peace and joy and wisdom and love and just a smidge of excitement and adventure!! With endless love and thanks.'
Fans responded positively, with one commenting: 'Love the hair – wow – you look stunning (as always) xx.' The change comes after McGranger's departure from the long-running Australian soap, following a 32-year stint. Her character Irene left Summer Bay after an Alzheimer's diagnosis, choosing to travel the world.
Reflecting on her exit in a 2025 interview, McGranger said: 'It's kind of been in my head for a few years, where I thought, “I've still got my health, my fitness”, and I would like to branch out again and do some more theatre, maybe a bit of radio, a bit of stand up comedy.' She joked: 'You either leave voluntarily or leave in a box by the time you're my age.'
McGranger's time on the show included storylines such as battling breast cancer and relapsing into alcoholism, and she worked with Hollywood stars like Margot Robbie and Chris Hemsworth, who began their careers on the soap.
