‘A real level up’: The confronting encounter that gave Lynne McGranger an insight about on-screen survival

, registeror subscribeto save articles for later.Save articles for laterAdd articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.Lynne McGranger – Home and Away stalwart, TV mum to countless kids and after-school babysitter to countless more – is ready to splash out. “I can’t believe I’m having champagne and oysters on The Sydney Morning Herald,” she says, absolutely tickled.We’re at the Deckhouse in Woolwich, on Sydney’s lower north shore. The Harbour Bridge is in view, the cafe is packed and McGranger, 72, who plays Irene Roberts, unfailingly calls everyone “Darling” (“You can just put it there, darling.” “Thanks darl.” “Can we get you anything, darl?”)We’re here because McGranger is leaving Summer Bay after 33 years. After Ray Meagher, who plays Alf “Flamin’ crows” Stewart, she is the second-longest serving actor on Home and Away, an achievement that’s as rare as long-running soaps themselves. Over those years, McGranger has been a woman’s magazine stalwart – “Last week they s...