Oof! Dannii Minogue once called Russell Brand a “vile predator” — and this was over a DECADE before he was accused of sexual assault!
02.09.2023 - 13:47 / ok.co.uk
Australian soaps have undeniably produced some international superstars over the years.
Two of the biggest successes are clearly Neighbours alumni Kylie Minogue (who played Charlene) – the highest-selling Australian recording artist of all time, with more than 80 million albums sold worldwide – and Margot Robbie (Donna), star of the runaway movie success Barbie, that's broken 17 box office records to date. But other notable stars who've gone from Aussie soapland to bigger things include Home and Away's Ryan Kwanten (who played Vinnie), Isla Fisher (Shannon) and Chris Hemsworth (Kim) as well as Neighbours' Jason Donovan (Scott), Guy Pearce (Mike) and Jesse Spencer (Billy).
Other actors have plodded along successfully in their original soap roles for years, including Home and Away's Ray Meagher (Alf) – who holds the record for the longest-serving actor in an Australian drama series – and Lynne McGranger (Irene) as well as Neighbours' Stefan Dennis (Paul) and Ian Smith (Harold). Yet sadly both Aussie soaps have also seen some of their stars be far less lucky, including actor Ben Unwin, who played bad boy Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and again from 2002 to 2005.
The role was written specifically for Ben, and secured him a nomination for Most Popular New Talent at the 1997 Australian TV Logie Awards.
He later went on to work in the music industry, directing videos for Culture Club, including I Just Wanna Be Loved and Chumbawamba's huge smash hit, Tubthumping. He later complete a law degree and became a solicitor in Newcastle, New South Wales.
But in 2019, Ben was sadly found dead at the bottom of a 'cursed' waterfall – he was just 41 years old. Aboriginal tribes in Australia believe the isolated 300ft Minon
.Oof! Dannii Minogue once called Russell Brand a “vile predator” — and this was over a DECADE before he was accused of sexual assault!
Margot Robbie put safety first during a night out with husband Tom Ackerley on Monday (September 18) in Los Angeles.
Home and Away star Lynne McGranger - best known for her loveable character Irene Roberts - suffered a nasty fall on Tuesday evening that left her with a bloodied and bruised face.The star, who has been on the Australian show since 1993, shocked fans with a picture of her injuries that included sore red scrapes across her cheek, nose and chin and deep cuts on both her upper and lower lip. Lynne, 70, explained that it all happened quite suddenly as one minute she was just fine. "One minute walking your daughter and son-in-law's dog with your MOG (mother of the groom) Nek minit you’ve face planted the road," the soap star wrote.
Iconic soap Neighbours is back with a bang – and Mischa Barton – on Monday. Australian soap Neighbours broadcast what was thought to be its last episode in July 2022 when Hollywood star Guy Pearce’s Mike Young got back together with Jane Harris (Annie Jones).
To the relief of Neighbours fans, Ryan Moloney is returning to the Australian soap as Jarrod 'Toadie' Rebecchi ahead of its upcoming Amazon Freevee reboot - and the long-time star has promised that the new series is just as dramatic as it's always been. Ryan arrived on Ramsay Street in 1995 and stuck with the soap until it was cancelled by its Aussie channel Network 10 last year.Thankfully, Amazon Freevee stepped in and announced that it would be picking up the long-running soap for its streaming site. While Ryan has kept tight-lipped about the details of his comeback, he's teased that fans are in for a shock with the upcoming storylines.
Vinnie Patterson was Home and Away's red Speedo-clad lifeguard – a loveable rogue who, at various time, was also a part-time stripper and high school student. Other storylines saw Vinnie diagnosed with testicular cancer and become a children's entertainter – Vin-Vin the clown – while he also enjoyed one of the soap's most popular romances with Leah. Played by Ryan Kwanten from 1997 to 2002, poor Vinnie eventually ended up in prison for fraud when he was framed by a business partner, before soap bosses finally killed off when his character – now under witness protection – when he was said to have died in a farming accident.
Things get awkward for Rose Delaney and Mali Hudson on Monday's episode of Channel 5's Home and Away, 28 August. Plus Felicity Newman is left struggling to know what to do after the man who sexually assaulted her makes contact and issues a threat of blackmail. It comes as a shock especially after she told husband Tane Parata that they need to get back to their lives.
Margot Robbie came very close to landing a role in “American Horror Story” season 2 over 10 years ago.
Home And Away's Sam Atwell has made quite the transformation since his shock exit from the soap 14 years ago.The actor, 42, played Kane Phillips on the show between 2001 and 2009 and had long blond hair and a baby face on screen. Now, he's looking quite different- with a shaved head and beard. On Home And Away, Kane was embroiled in some big storylines.The most controversial was when the character sexually assaulted Dani (Tammin Sursock), sister of Kirsty Sutherland (Christie Hayes).
Home and Away star Tempany Deckert has revealed she has no regrets about her soap exit.Tempany, who played Selina Cook, left the show 25 years ago to focus on motherhood. Selina was a teen tearaway who lived with Irene (Lynne McGranger) for a time. She was never officially her foster child but Irene took her under her wing.
Home and Away viewers recently saw the arrival of new character Tegan to Summer Bay, claiming to be Andrew’s half sister. Tegan, played by Sophia Forrest, has made it clear about their desire to get to know Andrew better.The two have already started bonding over shared childhood trauma and fans will have to wait and see where this storyline leads... Who is Sophia Forrest? In a vastly different life from that of their Home and Away character, Sophia Forrest is the child of one of Australia’s wealthiest families.
Actress turned radio presenter Kate Ritchie, best known for portraying Sally Fletcher in the long-running Australian soap Home and Away, marked Book Week with a sweet costumed throwback snap.The photo, taken in 1987 just one year before Katie joined the cast of Home and Away, saw the then nine-year-old actress dressed up as Dame Slap from Enid Blyton's The Faraway Tree series. Fans were quick to comment on the snap and shared either their own, or their children's Book Week costumes, with one of Kate's followers writing: "Omg! My first book week in 1989 I went as the faraway tree itself!!!" "My 14 yr old daughter went as Mario, as in Mario karts for book week lol" added another, while a third wrote: "That book is a classic, I brought the whole series for my daughter." Kate was an original member of the Home and Away cast, but quit the show in 2008, before later returning for brief time in 2013 to celebrate the show's 25th anniversary.
Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou has shared some adorable snaps from her family holiday with her birthday-boy Jonah as she misses out on soap awards. Ada, who plays Leah Patterson in the hit soap, has been a fan favourite since she joined over 20 years ago in 2000.
Home And Away actor Joel McIlroy, who is suffering from a brain disease, is currently facing the possibility of spending years behind bars as he faces allegations that he intentionally, or recklessly, destroyed property in a Sydney suburb earlier this year. Joel, 50, first appeared on Home And Away in 1994 before securing a permanent role as Flynn Saunders from 2003 to 2006.
Neighbours legend Guy Pearce has revealed the devastating news that his mum has died.The TV and film star shared a loving tribute as he sadly announced his mother Anne Cocking passed way following a battle with Alzheimer’s. Sharing images of him, his sister Tracy and their "fierce and witty" mother on X, formerly known as Twitter, Guy, 55, wrote: "Lost my beautiful Mum today. "Kicked the bucket’ as she would say.
Spanish women’s national team celebrates their historic World Cup win in Australia, on the other side of the world, in the U.S., David Beckham is thrilled about his team’s title victory. Led by Lionel Messi, Inter Miami triumphed over Nashville SC.
‘La Roja’ had a resounding victory in the World Cup, prevailing over England with a score of 1-0. The atmosphere was a mix of nerves and uncontainable joy, creating an unforgettable tapestry of emotions. As the clock struck noon, the players graced the field, their determination and teamwork evident in every stride, leading them to emerge as this year’s champions!In the stands of the Australian stadium was an overwhelming surge of passionate support from the entire Spanish fan base that echoed through the air as they cheered the players on the field.
Emily Symons found her breakout role in the character of hairdresser Marilyn Chambers on Home and Away, taking up the role in 1989.The star, now 54, took up the role for ten years before departing for a series of other roles, including a stint on Emmerdale, although she later returned to her Home and Away role in 2010.The star also had a stint on Dancing On Ice in 2007, but was voted out in the semi-final following a skate-off against Blue's Duncan James. After years living in the UK and seven years playing Louise Appleton on Emmerdale, Emily returned to her native Australia to reprise her Home and Away role and has resided there ever since. Off screen, Emily’s romantic history includes two marriages - her first to drummer Nick Lipscombe, who she met in London in the early 90s.
She may only have been on Home and Away for three months, but Ella Scott Lynch cemented her place in our memories when she took on the role of Hayley Rose Smith in the soap from September to November 2005. The role, which for 7 years had been played by actress Rebecca Cartwright, was passed to Ella in the Autumn of 2005, after Rebecca left the show for personal reasons.
The last time Home And Away actress Georgie Parker left Summer Bay to star in a play, her character Roo Stewart came back with a parasite from South America! This time, to allow Georgie to temporarily leave our screens to appear in a Sydney stage production, Roo was caught up in a van explosion. “Usually when I go to do a play, Roo goes to see her mum, or she’s recovering from something - this time she got blown up,” says Georgie. “It's pretty funny and a good dilemma to leave Marilyn in.