DR GAIL HENDERSON played by PETA TOPPANO

Dr Gail Henderson's few months as an intern at the Albert Memorial were certainly memorable, but not for any positive reasons. From day one she clashed with Dr Shaw over a patient and was almost dismissed. But her personal life was no less rocky.

Gail was drawn to fellow intern Jim Howard and they embarked on an affair. It seemed like it was all over when Jim's girlfriend returned from overseas and the couple announced their engagement. But, to her horror, Gail discovered she was carrying Jim's baby. She had a miscarriage and, ironically, it was Jim's wife Maureen on whom she was able to lean for support. After another doomed relationship, this time with Dr Denham, Gail left the hospital.

Peta Toppano (changed from Peita) was born in London to Enzo Toppano and the singer Peggy Mortimer. She travelled the world with them, won a scholarship to France, and studied ballet at the Australian Academy. Her hopes of a dancing career were dashed after a serious foot injury. She did, however, become a successful and respected stage star, appearing in the original Australian version of Godspell.

After The Young Doctors, Peta played another troubled young woman. In Prisoner she was Karen Travers, a teacher who had murdered her husband after he forced her to have an abortion. Karen's lawyer and love interest in the show was played by Peta's then husband, Barry Quin.

Peta has appeared in many Australia TV shows over the years, including All The Rivers Run, E-Street, Heartbreak High and, more recently, Home and Away. One of her most famous roles is as scheming Jilly Stewart in Return to Eden. She played opposite Rebecca Gilling, another Young Doctors favourite, although their characters were not in the medical soap at the same time.