Beloved McLeod's Daughters actress Rachael Carpani has died unexpectedly, age 45.

The Australian acting community — and fans across the country — are reeling from the news that beloved star Rachael Carpani, best known for her iconic role as Jodi Fountain on the long-running series McLeod's Daughters, has died at the age of 45.

The announcement was shared by her sister, singer Georgia Carpani, on her Instagram account, in a joint statement from their parents, Tony and Gael.

"It is with great sadness that Tony and Gael Carpani announce that their beautiful daughter, beloved Australian actress Rachael Carpani, unexpectedly but peacefully passed away after a long battle with chronic illness, in the early hours of Sunday 7th December," the statement read.

They requested privacy for the family during this extremely difficult time.

Watch the opening of McLeod's Daughters Season 1. Article continues after video.

For a generation of Aussie TV fans, Carpani became synonymous with Jodi Fountain, the vibrant and resilient character she played on McLeod's Daughters from 2001 to 2009.

Carpani was a core cast member of the show which, in an era-defining move, focused on the lives of strong women managing a rural outback property. 

Her time on the show earned her two major Logie Award nominations in 2007, including the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress and the coveted Gold Logie nomination.

Beyond Drover's Run, Carpani also graced US screens in shows like NCIS: Los Angeles and wrapped her final major on-screen role recently as Claudia Salini in the 2024 season of Home and Away.

Image: Nine

Rachael had been open about her health struggles in recent years. 

Back in 2021, she was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery for an unknown illness. At the time, she said she had ignored her body's pain signals, telling followers that she tended to "work through pain."

"I was admitted to emergency with acute abdominal pain just over a week ago and spent a few days in the ICU. Was then then moved to the surgical ward," she wrote. 

"Basically it was a case of me not listening to my body and the pain (I tend to work through pain!!) and allowing myself to get quite ill." 

Image: Instagram/rachcarpani

She later used her platform to openly discuss her diagnosis of endometriosis and adenomyosis — conditions that cause chronic pain and affect millions of women.

Carpani shared how she had spent two decades "white-knuckling" through the pain, expressing immense gratitude to the doctors who gave her a diagnosis after years of suffering since she was a teenager. 

"They gave me a voice, and non-judgemental space to voice the fact that I had been in chronic pain basically since I was 13," she wrote on Instagram. 

As recently as March 2024, a candid Instagram post noted a photo shoot was one of the first in a while with "no hospital gown, no awesome surgery sock," a reference to her ongoing medical journey.

Rachael Carpani's passing leaves a huge void in the Australian television landscape.

She will be remembered not just for her talent on screen, but for her quiet courage and her outspoken advocacy on issues she cared about, including women's health.

Feature Image: Nine.