Private pain late McLeod’s Daughters star Rachael Carpani dealt with on the set of the popular soap as fans mourn her shock death

Rachael Carpani hid her battle with crippling pain when she appeared on McLeod’s Daughters from 2001 to 2009.

The Australian actress, who died suddenly earlier this month from an undisclosed ‘chronic illness’, revealed last year she suffered from endometriosis.

Impacting one in seven women, endometriosis occurs when cells in the lining of the uterus are found elsewhere in the body, and symptoms include pain, heavy periods and fatigue.

Rachael’s role as the country girl Jodi working on a cattle station was intensely physical, which caused her intense pain.

‘Getting on and off a horse and riding while you’ve got full-blown endometriosis is terrible,’ Rachael told Stellar Magazine in 2024, adding: ‘[It’s] unbelievably and indescribably painful.’

Rachael went on to explain why she had to keep her condition a secret.

Rachael Carpani hid her battle with crippling pain when she appeared on McLeod's Daughters from 2001 to 2009
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Rachael Carpani hid her battle with crippling pain when she appeared on McLeod’s Daughters from 2001 to 2009

The Australian actress, who died suddenly earlier this month from an undisclosed 'chronic illness', revealed last year she suffered from endometriosis
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The Australian actress, who died suddenly earlier this month from an undisclosed ‘chronic illness’, revealed last year she suffered from endometriosis

‘In 2001, you didn’t announce to a crew of 80 men, ”I’m sorry, I’ve got endometriosis. I feel like I’m being stabbed in the stomach. I’ll need five minutes”,’ she said.

She said she used ice packs to ease the discomfort and hid surgical scars from abdominal surgery from the wardrobe department.

Rachael had her fans concerned in 2021 after acute abdominal pain saw her rushed to hospital, where she said she ‘spent a few days in the ICU‘.

‘Was then moved to the surgical ward,’ she said.

‘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.’

‘Yet again, another lesson, especially to women who tend to ignore their own care because “there’s no time” or more important things or people to look after, to stop and listen to what your body is trying to tell you.’

Rachael also revealed she had spent Valentine’s Day in hospital and shared a photo of herself sitting in her hospital bed and holding a bouquet.

Rachael’s family confirmed the star’s tragic death this week, revealing she died ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on December 7.

‘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,’ her parents wrote on social media.

Rachael's family confirmed the star's tragic death this week, revealing she died 'unexpectedly but peacefully' on December 7
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Rachael’s family confirmed the star’s tragic death this week, revealing she died ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on December 7

The family went on to reveal the funeral plans, adding that it will be a ‘private event’.

‘The family requests privacy at this very difficult time and will be making no further statements,’ they added.

Rachael is best known for her role as Jodi Fountain in the hit series McLeod’s Daughters between 2001 and 2009.

In 2007, she was nominated for the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress and the biggest award, the Gold Logie.

She appeared in several films, including titles such as The Very Excellent Mr Dundee, Hating Alison Ashley and The Way Back.

Her latest project was last year, playing a recurring role in Aussie soap opera Home and Away as the villainous Claudia Salini.