<P> Parker called her "a colourful character who has a strong history with the origin of the show". Parker has said the grown up Roo is very different from the teenager . She said "She was a colourful character when she left . She lost her mother when she was very young, and I think that when girls lose their mothers, they can go off the rails - and that's exactly what Roo did". Parker added that she gets to play the adult who may have learned from past mistakes . During an interview, Meagher said the adult Roo is "still full of energy, bluff and bravado . She's had a few financial problems and is possibly running away from a bloke ." He added that Alf has trouble getting her to tell him the truth, but he is "pleased to see her back in the Bay ." </P> <P> In July 2014, the character was diagnosed with meningitis . After returning from an extended trip to Las Vegas to look after her injured aunt Colleen Smart (Lyn Collingwood), Roo was very secretive about her times away . Within a day, Roo started showing symptoms of an illness . Parker explained "This illness hits her fast and hard . She's lethargic, but thinks it's just jetlag . She also has a splitting headache that affects her eyes, and she's low on energy . It's all very out of character ." Roo's decision to keep quiet about her trip meant that nobody had any idea what was wrong with her . Roo fell unconscious at home and the situation became very serious . Roo was eventually diagnosed with meningitis . Her condition later took a turn for the worse and she suffered a seizure . In order to treat her, the doctors needed to know about her trip and her foster - daughter Maddy Osborne (Kassandra Clementi) found her passport, which revealed that she had been to Peru . With the information, the doctors were able to treat Roo and save her life . </P> <P> Roo begins to resent her father's relationship with Ailsa Hogan (Judy Nunn) out of loyalty to her late mother, Martha (Alison Mulvaney). Roo begins dating Frank Morgan (Alex Papps) and they start a band with Lance Smart (Peter Vroom) and Martin Dibble (Craig Thompson). Roo's continued obsession with Ailsa drives a rift between her and Frank, despite nearly sleeping with him as an act of rebellion over Ailsa staying over . Roo contacts her aunt, Morag Bellingham (Cornelia Frances), who is a judge and asks her to do a background check on Ailsa . At Alf and Ailsa's engagement party, Roo reveals Ailsa went to prison for killing her abusive father . However, Ailsa's friends and Frank, side with her . Roo begins a feud with Bobby Simpson (Nicolle Dickson), Ailsa's friend . Tired of her behaviour, Alf sends Roo to boarding school in Sydney . </P> <P> Roo begins dating Brett Macklin (Gerry Sont) and she gets pregnant . Brett's reaction to this to book an abortion for her . Roo returns to Summer Bay and tries convincing Frank that he is the baby's father . She pretends to accept Alf and Ailsa's relationship so she will be allowed to stay . Roo sleeps with Frank and arranges for Alf to catch them together . She tells her aunt, Celia Stewart (Fiona Spence), that she is pregnant with Frank's baby . Frank agrees to marry her and Roo tries to accept Alf and Ailsa's marriage . Brett turns up and tells Roo the mumps has left him infertile and that he now wants the baby . She refuses to let him back into her life, so Brett goes to Morag, who tries to talk Roo into changing her mind . In the middle of her wedding, she reveals that Frank is not the father of her baby . Frank drives off in anger and swerves off the road to avoid Bobby and the car falls into a ditch, almost killing him . </P>

Who plays ruths mum in home and away