For decades, Home and Away has been a launchpad for stars who went on to make waves in Hollywood, but for loyal fans, there’s always been one lingering question:

could some of those fan favourites ever return to Summer Bay? Now, former star Rebecca Breeds, who played Ruby Buckton from 2008 to 2012, has opened up about just

how close she came to stepping back onto the sun-soaked sands of the Bay — and how a scrapped storyline robbed fans of what could have been one of the soap’s most dramatic returns.

Ruby Buckton: From Teen Heartbreak to Tragic Exit

Rebecca Breeds first joined Home and Away in 2008 as Ruby Buckton, a lively and spirited teen whose storylines quickly became central to the drama of the Bay. She was the daughter of Charlie Buckton, played by Esther Anderson, and her on-screen journey was nothing short of heartbreaking.

Viewers watched Ruby navigate romance, betrayal, and devastating loss — most notably the death of her mother, Charlie. The tragedy sent Ruby into a spiral of alcohol abuse and reckless decisions. Her once-bright future dimmed before fans’ eyes, and her emotional exit in 2012 left many viewers unsatisfied.

“I always felt like Ruby deserved redemption,” Breeds has since admitted. “Her story ended in such a bleak place, and it didn’t feel like justice for her.”

That frustration has followed the actress for years, fueling speculation about whether she might ever return to rewrite Ruby’s story.

The Secret Return That Almost Happened

In a recent interview with Aussie outlet Chattr, Breeds revealed that the Home and Away team once had a concrete plan for Ruby’s return. The idea? To bring her back as part of a blockbuster storyline involving the River Boys, the rebellious surf gang that became a cultural phenomenon on the soap.

“There was an opportunity years ago,” Breeds explained. “There was a storyline where the River Boys went to England, and they did want me to come back.”

The crossover would have been huge: Ruby, reuniting with the River Boys abroad, potentially opening a fresh chapter of her life while reconnecting with some of Summer Bay’s most notorious characters. Fans who followed the show during that era will remember just how central the River Boys were — their storylines pushed Home and Away into grittier, more daring territory.

But the plan never materialised.

“I was working on a show called We Are Men at the time, and I couldn’t do it,” Breeds admitted.

For fans, it’s a “what could have been” moment — a reminder of just how close the soap came to reviving one of its most beloved yet misunderstood characters.

From Summer Bay to Hollywood

Since leaving the Bay, Rebecca Breeds has carved out an impressive international career. She’s appeared in Pretty Little Liars, The Originals, and Legacies, before landing her biggest role yet as Clarice Starling in the CBS crime drama Clarice, inspired by The Silence of the Lambs.

Her versatility has made her a standout in the U.S., but despite her success abroad, she has never forgotten her roots.

“I loved that show,” she said of Home and Away. “I never say never about things. It’s just a matter of timing and place.”

Now based in Chicago with her husband, fellow Home and Away alum Luke Mitchell (who played Romeo Smith), Breeds still feels the pull of Australia — and of Sydney, where the soap is filmed.

“We love home, and I can’t wait to be home,” she confessed. “I would love to work in Sydney again. So, you know, watch this space, I suppose.”

Justice for Ruby: What Could a Return Look Like?

While the River Boys storyline was scrapped, Breeds has her own vision of how Ruby might re-enter Summer Bay.

“I wanna vindicate Ruby!” she declared passionately. “She got a really hard rap at the end there. She was smooshed into the ground. It was unfair. I say justice for Ruby.”

Her idea? A redemption arc that sees Ruby turn her painful past into a career helping others.

“She lost her mum, right? And then she turned to alcohol, and I almost had a mental breakdown because every time I got a script I’m like, ‘What do you mean, it’s worse?! What do you mean?!’” Breeds recalled.

“My hope would be that Ruby turned it around and became a child psychologist and helps girls. The show was based around wayward kids that found their way to Summer Bay and were fostered and counselled and cared for by the community… and I think that’s kind of what Ruby would do.”

It’s a storyline that would resonate powerfully with fans. Ruby, once the wayward teen herself, returning as a mentor and protector of the next generation, would not only redeem her character but also pay homage to the show’s legacy of found family and community healing.

Fan Reactions: A Longing That Won’t Fade

Since Breeds’ revelations, fan forums have lit up with speculation. Could Home and Away ever bring Ruby back? Would the writers take Breeds up on her idea of a redemption arc?

For many, Ruby represents unfinished business. Her character’s departure left a hole in the fabric of the Bay, one that viewers feel could be beautifully mended by her return.

Social media has been flooded with calls for the producers to make it happen, especially in light of the show’s recent trend of reviving legacy characters like Brax. If Brax can come back, why not Ruby?

Timing Is Everything

For now, Rebecca Breeds’ return remains hypothetical. But as the actress herself says, in television, nothing is ever truly off the table.

“It’s a big, wide world with lots of exciting adventures and jobs,” she explained. “But we love home… so never say never.”

Whether it’s next year, or five years from now, the possibility of Ruby Buckton’s return continues to intrigue fans. And with Breeds herself expressing such enthusiasm, the ball is firmly in the producers’ court.

Will they seize the opportunity to deliver the redemption arc Ruby deserves? Or will her story remain one of Home and Away’s greatest “what ifs”?

A Legacy That Lives On

Regardless of what the future holds, Ruby Buckton remains one of Home and Away’s most memorable characters. Her tragic descent into heartbreak, her flawed humanity, and her unfulfilled potential still spark discussion more than a decade after her departure.

And Rebecca Breeds’ affection for the role — combined with her growing international profile — makes the possibility of a return more tantalising than ever.

For now, fans can only imagine what might have been if the River Boys storyline had come to life. But in Summer Bay, one lesson is always true: no one ever truly leaves forever.