Clarissa House

Biography: Born in Melbourne and raised in Perth, Clarissa moved to Sydney in 1985 to attend NIDA. In Perth, Clarissa completed a BA in journalism and theatre arts at the WA Institute of Technology (now Curtin University). After graduating, Clarissa worked in children's theatre and education at the Perth Playhouse for a year before making the move to Sydney.
A few years after graduating from NIDA in 1987, Clarissa and her husband moved back to Melbourne for what was supposedly a one year stint which turned out to be eight. Clarissa then moved back to Sydney five years ago.
Clarissa is no stranger to television, having various credits to her name, with Home & Away being her first ongoing role. Credits include State Coroner, Blue Heelers, All Saints, Young Lions and White Collar Blue to name a few. Clarissa plays the role of Beth Hunter, mother of Scott (Kip Gamblin) and Kit (Amy Mizzi) and who recently became a widow. 'Beth is a huge learning curve, being a widow, and sheBorn in Melbourne and raised in Perth, Clarissa moved to Sydney in 1985 to attend NIDA. In Perth, Clarissa completed a BA in journalism and theatre arts at the WA Institute of Technology (now Curtin University). After graduating, Clarissa worked in children's theatre and education at the Perth Playhouse for a year before making the move to Sydney.
A few years after graduating from NIDA in 1987, Clarissa and her husband moved back to Melbourne for what was supposedly a one year stint which turned out to be eight. Clarissa then moved back to Sydney five years ago.
Clarissa is no stranger to television, having various credits to her name, with Home & Away being her first ongoing role. Credits include State Coroner, Blue Heelers, All Saints, Young Lions and White Collar Blue to name a few.
Clarissa plays the role of Beth Hunter, mother of Scott (Kip Gamblin) and Kit (Amy Mizzi) and who recently became a widow.
'Beth is a huge learning curve, being a widow, and she is a survivor in a lot of ways. She is starting to live again and I like the fact that she is grounded and a 'salt of the earth' type of woman,', she says. Clarissa explains her character as a 'good Australian woman who is adaptable and has a lot of courage'. However Beth has a huge challenge in front of her trying to re-establish a relationship with her wayward daughter Kit who has turned to alcohol to forget all her woes.
'Beth is like all parents where you have problems and there is no particular answer. She keeps trying to find the answers because it is a motherly instinct to do so and such a strong instinct that it tends to dominate everything,' she says.
Clarissa is enjoying being part of the Home and Away team and has already settled into the role. 'It has been a lot easier than I thought because everyone has been so welcoming and supportive. The kids are terrific and it is quite easy and comfortable to be around them. Michael Beckley is great and has been so helpful to me,' she says.
'I also love my character who is so great to work on and is ultimately quite rewarding,' she says. Whilst she is not on the set of Home and Away Clarissa and her husband a director are raising their children: a daughter who is 7 and a three-year-old son.
Before the role on Home and Away, Clarissa was studying Horticulture Design at Tafe part time. Clarissa did this for one term but has had to defer her studies to take up the role of Beth, but hopes to be able to get back into it at some stage.
'I love gardens and gardening and outdoor spaces and it is another passion of mine,' she says.
Clarissa also loves horses and has been horse riding all her life and especially throughout her child hood in Perth, when her parents had a hobby farm.
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