Both Home and Away and Neighbours have seen former stars go on to huge success – but it was sadly a different story for Summer Bay’s Ben Unwin, who played the soap’s Jesse McGregor
Over the years, Australian soap operas have undoubtedly generated a number of international celebrities.
Undoubtedly, two of the greatest achievements are Kylie Minogue, who played Charlene in the television series Neighbours, and Margot Robbie, who played Donna in the blockbuster hit Barbie, which has shattered 17 box office records to date. Minogue is the highest-selling Australian recording artist of all time, having sold over 80 million albums worldwide.
However, there are some well-known actors who have left Australian soap operas for greater roles, such as Ryan Kwanten (playing Vinnie), Isla Fisher (playing Shannon), and Chris Hemsworth (playing Kim), as well as Jason Donovan (playing Scott), Guy Pearce (playing Mike), and Jesse Spencer (playing Billy) from Neighbours.
Some actors, like Ray Meagher (Alf) from Home and Away, who is the longest-serving actor in an Australian drama series, and Lynne McGranger (Irene) from Neighbours, as well as Stefan Dennis (Paul) and Ian Smith (Harold) from Neighbours, have been doing well in their original soap opera roles for years.
Over the years, Australian soap operas have undoubtedly generated a number of international celebrities.
Undoubtedly, two of the greatest achievements are Kylie Minogue, who played Charlene in the television series Neighbours, and Margot Robbie, who played Donna in the blockbuster hit Barbie, which has shattered 17 box office records to date. Minogue is the highest-selling Australian recording artist of all time, having sold over 80 million albums worldwide.
However, there are some well-known actors who have left Australian soap operas for greater roles, such as Ryan Kwanten (playing Vinnie), Isla Fisher (playing Shannon), and Chris Hemsworth (playing Kim), as well as Jason Donovan (playing Scott), Guy Pearce (playing Mike), and Jesse Spencer (playing Billy) from Neighbours.
Some actors, like Ray Meagher (Alf) from Home and Away, who is the longest-serving actor in an Australian drama series, and Lynne McGranger (Irene) from Neighbours, as well as Stefan Dennis (Paul) and Ian Smith (Harold) from Neighbours, have been doing well in their original soap opera roles for years.
However, regrettably, some of the stars of these Australian soap operas have also experienced much less luck. One such celebrity is actor Ben Unwin, who portrayed bad boy Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and again from 2002 to 2005.
Ben was given the part especially, and it led to his nomination for the 1997 Australian TV Logie Awards’ Most Popular New Talent.
Later, he entered the music business, directing Culture Club music videos for songs like I Just Wanna Be Loved and Chumbawamba’s massive hit, Tubthumping.
However, regrettably, some of the stars of these Australian soap operas have also experienced much less luck. One such celebrity is actor Ben Unwin, who portrayed bad boy Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and again from 2002 to 2005.
Ben was given the part especially, and it led to his nomination for the 1997 Australian TV Logie Awards’ Most Popular New Talent.
Later, he entered the music business, directing Culture Club music videos for songs like I Just Wanna Be Loved and Chumbawamba’s massive hit, Tubthumping.
Dieter Brummer, who portrayed the handsome Shane Parrish on the soap opera in the early 1990s, was discovered dead at his parents’ Sydney home, bringing misery to the Home and Away ensemble just two years later.
on the meantime, Darius Perkins, who played Scott Robinson on Neighbours until Jason Donovan took over, tragically passed away in 2019 from cancer.
While Neighbours ran for 37 years before being cancelled last summer, during its farewell episode, many of the show’s former characters made a final appearance on Ramsay Street. Home and Away has now been on our TV screens for 35 years.
Fans of the soap opera were excited to learn that Neighbours would be making a comeback on Amazon Freevee in mid-September 2023. The announcement of this news was made in November 2022.
You can email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie, or call Samaritans in the UK and Ireland at freephone 116 123, if any of the topics in this story have impacted you.
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