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Jodi Gordon
Gordon at the Sydney Black Tie For Breast Cancer Gala Ball
Born	Jodi Lee Gordon (1985-02-01) 1 February 1985 (age 39) Mackay, Queensland, Australia
Occupation(s)	Actress, model
Years active	1998–present
Spouse	Braith Anasta ​ ​(m. 2012; div. 2017)​
Children	1

Jodi Lee Gordon (previously Anasta; born 1 February 1985) is an Australian actress and model. From 2005 to 2010 she portrayed Martha MacKenzie in Home and Away. Gordon won the Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent in 2006. Gordon competed in the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars and made her debut feature film appearance in The Cup (2011). She has also appeared in Underbelly: Badness and Camp. From 2016 to 2023, Gordon played English teacher Elly Conway in Neighbours.

Early life

Gordon was born on 1 February 1985 in Mackay to Bronwyn and Ray. She has an older brother, Ben. Her father was born in New Zealand and is a New Zealander of Māori descent and her mother is Australian. From the age of 8, Gordon's family moved to various locations along the coast from Mackay, eventually settling in Sydney when she was 11. She played netball from the age of 12 to 16.

Career

Modelling

At the age of 13, Gordon won a modelling competition and gained a contract with Vivien's Modelling Agency. Her modelling led her to Japan, London and Milan, where she lived for five months. While modelling in London for two months she took the opportunity to travel through Europe recreationally.

Gordon has been the official celebrity ambassador and model for Australian lingerie brand Crystelle, Shoe label Tony Bianco, and swimwear label 2Chillies. In 2013, she was announced as the new brand ambassador for Myer. In March 2017, she became an ambassador for car manufacturer Mazda's new CX-5 SUV. That same year, Gordon stepped down from her duties with Myer. In 2020, Gordon became an ambassador for skincare brand Esmi Skin Minerals.

Acting

In 2004, while preparing to move to New York, Gordon successfully auditioned for the role of Martha MacKenzie in the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away. For her portrayal of Martha, Gordon won a Logie award for "Most Popular New Female Talent" in 2006. The 2009 Logie awards saw Gordon nominated for "Most Popular Actress".

Gordon was a contestant on the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars. She and her partner, Stefano Oliveri, were eliminated in the fifth week, on 12 October 2008. In January 2010, it was announced that Gordon would be leaving Home and Away after almost five years. She filmed her final scenes at the end of February and they aired in June of that year. Upon leaving Home and Away, Gordon took acting lessons and attended auditions for many television shows including Cops L.A.C..

In May 2010, Gordon won her first film role in The Cup. The film, which was released in 2011, is based on Media Puzzle's win in the 2002 Melbourne Cup. Gordon plays the role of Damien Oliver's partner, Trish. In November 2010, Gordon returned to Melbourne to film her next project, Any Questions for Ben?, a Working Dog production. A writer for the Herald Sun reported that Gordon turned down an offer to appear in a ten episode reality show series documenting the lives of the wives and girlfriends of Australian sportsmen.

In February 2011, the actress returned to television in Network Nine's telemovie Blood Brothers, based on the Gilham family murders. Elle Halliwell of The Sunday Telegraph reported Gordon had been cast in the upcoming series of Underbelly titled Underbelly: Badness in April 2012. Gordon portrayed Kylie Keogh. In April 2016, it was announced that Gordon had been cast in the role of school teacher Elly Conway in Neighbours. She initially signed a three-year contract and made her first appearance in July. Gordon departed the serial in January 2020 in order to move back to Sydney, but she agreed to reprise the role for the serial's then final episodes in 2022. After Neighbours was picked up by Amazon Freevee, Gordon confirmed that she would be reprising her role for a guest appearance, which was filmed in May 2023.

In October 2021, Gordon joined the season 6 cast of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia, which aired in May 2022. She was the third celebrity to be fired by Alan Sugar.

Personal life

On 4 March 2007, Gordon's boyfriend of two years, Chris Burkhardt, died from acute myeloid leukemia at the age of 23. In mid 2008, a storyline was introduced into Home and Away, in which Gordon's character was diagnosed with breast cancer. Gordon drew on her experience of Burkhardt's battle with leukaemia to take on the storyline.

In June 2009, Gordon was discovered by police cowering in a bedroom of a flat with Mark James Judge, an alleged biker gang member, during an armed response to an alleged attempted break in. No action was taken against Gordon or Judge for making a false report. It was further alleged by some media outlets that Gordon had disclosed to police that cocaine had been consumed on the day of the incident. Gordon later apologised for the distress the incident caused. In September 2009, Gordon made her first major public appearance since the incident at a parade for Crystelle lingerie. Following the incident, Gordon broke up with her partner, media heir Ryan Stokes.

Gordon sold her Potts Point apartment in January 2012 for $625,000 and she then moved to Clovelly.

Gordon became engaged to Sydney Roosters captain Braith Anasta in July 2011 and the couple married on 14 October 2012. On 25 August 2013, it was announced that Gordon and Anasta were expecting their first child together. Gordon gave birth to their daughter on 1 March 2014. Gordon and Anasta announced their separation on 11 December 2015, and their divorce was finalised in 2017. Gordon decided to keep her married surname, so it would be the same as her daughter's. In March 2020, she confirmed that she had reverted to her maiden name.

On 23 April 2022, Emily Cosenza of news.com.au reported that Gordon had entered a rehab clinic in Sydney. Gordon and her former partner, Sebastian Blackler obtained AVOs against one another in Windsor Local Court the previous week, following a "physical altercation" that occurred at the beginning of the month. Gordon and Blackler were banned from communicating with each other for two years. In June, Gordon confirmed that she had had a years-long dependence on alcohol and was in "a really dark place" before she sought help and entered rehab for 30 days. As of May 2023, Gordon is attending university full-time and studying counselling and communication skills.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

1. Longhetti, Chloe-Lee (28 August 2014). "Model mum Jodi Anasta delights her fans with playful pics of her and baby Aleeia". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
2. ^ "H&A Meet The Cast – Jodi Gordon". Channel Seven. 2005. Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
3. "Bay Girls Interview". Baygirls. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
4. "Jodi Gordon sizzles for lingerie label Crystelle". The Daily Telegraph. News Limited. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
5. "Behind the Scenes of the winter 2010 Campaign shoot". Tony Bianco. Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
6. "Jodi Anasta has landed the role as a new face of Myer". The Daily Telegraph. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
7. Byrne, Fiona (26 March 2017). "Jodi's mum on private life". Herald Sun. Retrieved 20 May 2024 – via Gale.
8. Vrajlal, Alicia (15 December 2017). "Jodi Anasta leaves Myer after five years". Yahoo7 Be. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
9. ^ Brennan, Bella (13 November 2020). "Exclusive: "She's very entertaining!" Jodi Gordon reveals the sweet way her daughter Aleeia is taking after her". Now to Love. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
10. "Home and Away – Jodi Gordon". RTÉ Television. RTÉ. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
11. Knox, David (30 March 2009). "Logie Awards 2009: Nominees". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
12. Neil, Alicia (17 October 2008). "Dancing with the Stars Farewells Jodi Gordon". Who. Yahoo!7. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
13. Byrne, Fiona (28 January 2010). "Jodi Gordon quits Home and Away". Herald Sun. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
14. Kilkelly, Daniel (23 February 2010). "Jodi Gordon films final 'H&A' scenes". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
15. ^ "Big screen big break for Gordon". News.com. News Limited. 27 May 2010. Archived from the original on 29 May 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
16. Dennehy, Luke (21 November 2010). "Whispers: Hugh Returns to Oz for Oprah". Herald Sun. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
17. "Sporting Chance for WAGS on Reality TV". Herald Sun. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
18. "Blood Brothers: The Telemovie goes into production for Nine". Throng. 11 February 2011. Archived from the original on 15 April 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
19. Halliwell, Elle (15 April 2012). "Bad is so good for Jodi Gordon as she signs up for the next Underbelly series". The Sunday Telegraph. News Limited. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
20. "Who's who in Badness". TV Week (32): 21. 11–17 August 2012.
21. Moran, Jonathon (28 April 2016). "Jodi Anasta signs on for Neighbours six years after quitting Home and Away". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
22. Seddon, Dan (7 May 2022). "Neighbours officially announces 23 returnees for final ever episodes". Digital Spy. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
23. ^ Epstein, Jackie (25 May 2023). "Jodi Gordon, April Rose Pengilly return to Ramsay Street". Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
24. Knox, David (17 October 2021). "More cast for Celebrity Apprentice". TV Tonight. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
25. Douglas, Nicole (24 May 2022). "Exclusive: Jodi Gordon shocked over 'brutal' Celebrity Apprentice firing — and says Lord Sugar made the wrong decision". 9Now. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
26. Clune, Richard; Moran, Jonathon (11 March 2007). "Jodi Gordon loses soulmate". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
27. "Jodi Gordon shares heartbreak in Home and Away". News.com.au. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
28. Ramachandran, Arjun (5 June 2009). "False report: Home and Away star Jodi Gordon off hook". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
29. Lawrence, Kara; Barrett, David (5 June 2009). "Jodi Gordon's bizarre police raid". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
30. "Gordon sorry for wild night with 'bikie'". Ninemsn. 6 June 2009. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
31. Field, Katherine (15 September 2009). "Jodi Gordon uses Crystelle lingerie parade to find her way, rebuild career after drugs, bikie scandal". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
32. Reines, Ros (20 December 2009). "Jodi Gordon and Braith Anasta ocean romance". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
33. "Jodi Gordon has put Potts Point hideout on the market through McGrath real estate". news.com.au. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
34. Davies, Rebecca (8 August 2011). "'Home and Away's Jodi Gordon confirms engagement". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
35. Christie, Joel; Harris, Amy (12 October 2012). "The wedding party starts for Braith Anasta and Jodi Gordon". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
36. Casamento, Jo (25 August 2013). "Mum's the word for Jodi and Braith Anasta". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
37. "Jodi and Braith Anasta welcome a baby daughter into the world". The Daily Telegraph. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
38. Halliwell, Elle (11 December 2015). "Jodi and Braith Anasta separate after three years of marriage". news.com.au. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
39. Chambers, Jessica (30 March 2017). "Braith Anasta shares what ex-wife Jodi Gordon did with her engagement ring on live radio". Mamamia. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
40. Baker, Jordan (5 March 2016). "Jodi Anasta on her marriage breakdown and why she's keeping Braith's surname". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
41. Domjen, Briana (15 March 2020). "Jodi splits from Anasta name". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 February 2024 – via Gale.
42. ^ Cosenza, Emily (23 April 2022). "Home And Away star Jodi Gordon checks into rehab after court hearing". news.com.au. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
43. ^ "Actress Jodi Gordon reveals what led to her 30-day rehab stint". news.com.au. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2023.

External links

• Jodi Gordon at IMDb

• 1985 births
• Actresses from Queensland
• Australian people of Māori descent
• Australian soap opera actresses
• Living people
• Logie Award winners
• People from Mackay, Queensland