Emily Symons to take maternity leave from Home And Away in June

Home and Away star Emily Symons has confirmed she will be leaving the soap in June to go on maternity leave.

The 45-year-old actress – who is expecting her first child with partner Paul Jackson – has been playing ditzy Marilyn Chambers in the Australian soap on and off since 1989.

Never say never!We are so happy to finally be able to share our news.Thanks for all your incredibly kind words http://t.co/7XLz1TlAIi

— Emily Symons (@EmilySymons_) February 21, 2015

Emily told TV Week: “End of June, I finish. And then I am going to have six months off. I’m getting bigger and I am getting really tired. I want to have a bit of time at home and get my head around it."

She added: “A lot of my friends who are mums, like Ada (Nicodemou, who plays Leah Patterson-Baker), said to take as long as I can, as I will never get that time back.”

In Summer Bay, Marilyn has found happiness with John (Channel 5)

It has not yet been confirmed how Marilyn will be written out of Home and Away. In the soap, Marilyn married John Palmer (Shane Withington) at the end of last year and they have decided to adopt a child together.

Emily has previously said how wearing towering stilettos helps her get into character as Marilyn.

She revealed: “I have had to retire the heels. Being Marilyn in flats is very weird, I tell you. It’s just wrong!”