Marilyn Fisher

"'Infobox soap character | name = Marilyn Fisher
colour=Television colour|Home and Away


image_size =
caption =
portrayer = Emily Symons
creator =
species =
gender = Female
first = May 12,1989
Episode 308
last = September 4,2001
Episode 3127
cause = Returned to series to give closure to her marriage to Donald after the death of her son
age =44
occupation =
title =
nickname = Maz (by Irene, Bobby and Vinnie)
spouse = Phil Bryant (1992-1995; divorced)
Donald Fisher (1996-2001; divorced)
children = Byron Fisher (son, deceased)
aunts/uncles = Jean Chambers (aunt)
footnotes =
residence = England

Marilyn Fisher (née Chambers, previously Bryant) was a fictional character on the Australian television soap opera series Home and Away. The character was played by Emily Symons.

Character's background

Marilyn first appeared in Home and Away in 1989 in episode 309 as a love interest for Lance Smart. Marilyn was known for being perky, bubbly and a little ditzy. In 1992, Marilyn met Phil Bryant, and married him, much to the chagrin of his daughter, Toni (due to Marilyn being young enough to be Phil's daughter). Marilyn later left the Bay and returned three years later, having split from Phil and began working in her own Salon on the same premises as the Bayside Diner.

In 1996, Marilyn became closer to local Principal Donald Fisher and later married him.

In 1998, Marilyn gave birth to a son; Byron Vincent (his middle name came from Vinnie Patterson who sped through traffic to get Marilyn to hospital. Marilyn had trouble connecting with Byron and subsequently suffered from post-natal depression, leaving Donald literally holding the baby after disappearing for several months.

Marilyn returned to Summer Bay and reconciled with Donald later, but fate took a cruel turn as Byron was diagnosed with cancer. Marilyn and Donald flew to America to get treatment, but when the show watched in horror as Byron died when the plane landed. Donald returned to Australia alone and heartbroken.

Several years later, Marilyn was seen again after Donald took a trip to London along with Irene Roberts and her foster children Will, Hayley and Nick Smith. Marilyn spotted Donald at the launch of his book "Letter to Byron" and ran away. Donald eventually caught up with Marilyn and they discussed everything and shared a final goodbye hug bringing their marriage to a close.

On Donald's return to Summer Bay in 2007, he revealed that he had received a letter from Marilyn, in which she had mentioned she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.