From rising to fame on McLeod's Daughters to wanting to escape fame: Inside Rachael Carpani's incredible career

The Australian entertainment industry has been left in shock by the news of Rachael Carpani's death.

The actress, best known for her work on Aussie drama series McLeod's Daughters, died at the age of 45 on December 7 following "a long battle with chronic illness".

Carpani made a lasting impact in the industry, finding success with stints on shows including All Saints and even Home and Away. nine.com.au takes a look back at her incredible career over the years.

One of Aussie TV's 'daughters'

Carpani, who was born and raised in Sydney, was beloved to many thanks to her role as Jodi Fountain McLeod in McLeod's Daughters, which ran from 2001 to 2009.

Jodi was the half-sister of Claire (Lisa Chappell) and Tess McLeod (Bridie Carter). 

The series also starred the likes of Simmone Mackinnon, Michala Banas and John Jarratt.

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She also starred in an episode of All Saints in 2001, adding to her acting resume, followed by a small stint on Home and Away as a character named Miranda.

In 2005, she scored a role in Hating Alison Ashley, alongside Delta Goodrem, who she reportedly went to school with in Sydney's Hills district. 

Carpani was nominated for two Logie awards during her time on McLeod's Daughters, with this role and show catapulting her to fame at a young age.

Reflecting on her time on the hit show in a 2024 interview with Stellar Carpani revealed she has been a longtime sufferer of endometriosis, but still worked despite the pain she was in.

"Getting on and off a horse and riding while you've got full-blown endometriosis is terrible. Unbelievably and indescribably painful," she said.

She later left the show in 2007 and returned for the season finale in 2009.

Carpani also told Stellar she had struggled with aspects of fame in the early days of her career, and recalled a conversation she once had with her agent.

She said she wanted to go somewhere away from the spotlight, threatening to quit acting if she couldn't.

"I said, 'I don't want to be famous! Earning a living would be nice. I adore 'action' to 'cut', but everything else – the networking, the hobnobbing, the dealing with sleazy directors – I just don't want any of it,'" she told Stellar.

Following the news of Carpani's death, McLeod's Daughters co-star Bridie Carter, 54, paid tribute to the actress.

Sharing Carpani's family's statement announcing the heartbreaking news, she wrote in a post on Instagram: "This is the most difficult post….. "

"Rest in peace our beautiful girl….the 'baby' of our MD [McLeod's Daughters] family…. We love you, we cherish you.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DSRe0l7iWey/?igsh=ZWxvcGxpZmt6dHpr

"This is the wrong order of things. We are better people for having the privilege of sharing time with you."

Carpani once dated her McLeod's Daughters co-star Matthew Passmore, from 2006 to 2011.

He wrote in a tribute shared on Instagram: "Farewell my friend All the love I have to the Carpanis, friends and family. The greatest gift you gave was knowing you."

In 2022, she shared a picture of herself in character as Jodi as she reflected on women's rights around the world.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CgEmN4yPeTv/?igsh=MWFwbDhra3Jwc3Btdw%3D%3D

"Having been part of a series that had women at the forefront, voices up - strong and bloody loud …it's hard for me to see this goat rodeo crap show that is happening to women's rights in certain parts of the world 🌎," she wrote at the time.

"(But let's face it …it's everywhere) - I do believe that Jodi's face shows how we are ALL feeling about it."

Moving to the US

The late star told Stellar her agent wanted to send her to the US, Hollywood in particular, where she would be a 'nobody'.

This too proved difficult and Carpani touched on the Me Too movement.

"So how would I call my parents and say, 'Oh, the director of this show that apparently is launching my US career made a pass at me tonight and I don't know who to tell or what to do – and I have to work with him for 16 hours tomorrow'?" she said, emphasising the acting industry in general, in Australia and the US, could be difficult for women to navigate.

In 2007, she was cast in CBS pilot Law Dogs, but it was not picked up.

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She had some success in the US, appearing an episode of NCIS: Los Angeles in 2009 and a few epsodes of the TV series, Cane, in 2007. 

In recent years, she scored roles in the likes of 2020's The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee and the 2014 TV movie, Touched by Romance.

Back to home - and away

In 2024, Carpani was cast as Claudia Salini in long-running Australian soap Home and Away after a decade abroad, according to TV WEEK.

This meant she moved back home to Australia shortly before her shock death.

"I started out on an iconic Australian show [McLeod's Daughters], I did my stint overseas, and nowI'm back home and on an iconic show – I feel very, very lucky," she told the publication. 

She said her role in Summer Bay and those she landed in the US were a bit more "villainous" and worlds away from her character in McLeod's Daughters, which she was happy about.

"I wouldn't be human if I didn't say there were a few years where I deliberately tried to distance myself from it," she said.

"Not that I didn't love that show – I'm so thankful for it – but that's why I went overseas."

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