Jessica Redmayne has set the record straight about her onscreen pregnancy after being questioned by fans.
The actress took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday after it was announced her Home and Away character Harper Matheson is pregnant.
Promotional material for the Channel Seven soap confirmed Harper is expecting after spending the night with Tane Parata (Ethan Browne).
However, Jessica has now clarified that she is not pregnant in real life as she shared a lighthearted video to Instagram to address the new plot.
‘So the latest Home and Away promo announces that Harper is pregnant. It’s been brought to my attention that people are wondering if Jessica is pregnant,’ she began, according to Yahoo! Lifestyle.
She joked that while the similarities between herself and former Home and Away star Margot Robbie – who is expecting her first child with Tom Ackerley – are ‘uncanny’, she is not expecting.
‘Now, I know the similarities between me and Margot are uncanny, but no, I’m not pregnant,’ she continued.
‘And if you have no idea what any of that means, I’m an actor, I work on Home and Away and my character’s name is Harper – she is pregnant.
‘My name’s Jess, I’m not pregnant and Margot Robbie is pregnant. Just in case you didn’t see that in the news. That was the gag. Trying to be funny.’
Fans took to Facebook to comment that it was ’embarrassing’ that people were asking the star if she is pregnant in real life.
‘Can’t believe that Jessica had to make a video and explain this herself. I really feel second hand embarrassment for these people who go on her Instagram and ask if she’s pregnant or congratulate her on her pregnancy,’ one wrote.
‘Poor Jessica. Some people still can’t tell the difference between make believe for the show and real life,’ another remarked.
It was first reported in May that Harper and Tane would be expecting a child together after a fan leaked a photograph from set showing Jessica wearing a fake baby bump.
At the time, many fans shared their theories that the baby storyline could be hinting that Tane and Harper will soon head overseas and exit the show.
Many parents have left Summer Bay after having children, with Tori Morgan (Penny McNamee) and Christian Green’s (Ditch Davey) leaving after welcoming baby Grace.