Guy Pearce is back as Neighbours brings back original cast during final week of filming

Guy Pearce, Ian Smith, Lucinda Cowden and Paul Keane led the original stars of Neighbours returning to the iconic soap for the final week of filming in Melbourne on Monday.

It’s the end of an era for the landmark Australian soap which is coming to an end after 38 years on the air, with the last episodes airing in August. 

Guy, who played Mike Young between 1986 and 1989, was spotted on set as the TV series began to film its final scenes.

In photos from the show’s Melbourne set, the Memento star could be seen slipping into a Triumph motorcycle jacket while standing next to his character’s motorbike. 

Lucinda Cowden, who played Melanie Pearson from 1987 to 1991, looked in good spirits as she arrived for filming.

The actress cut a glamorous figure for the day as she donned a bright red dress with a floral detail and daring leg split.

Wrapping up in a black blazer, the soap star added height to her frame with a matching pair of boots. 

Neighbours announced that production would be ceasing on the long-running soap in a tweet back in March. 

‘We are so sorry to say that after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes broadcast we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in June,’ the show wrote. 

‘Following the loss of our key broadcast partner in the UK [Channel 5] and despite an extensive search for alternative funding, we simply have no option but to rest the show.

‘To our amazing, loyal fans, we know this is a huge disappointment, as it is to all of us on the team. We thank you for all your messages and support and promise to end the show on an incredible high. From here on, we are celebrating Neighbours.’

Network 10 addressed the end of the series in a statement to Australian media in March, admitting it had been a ‘difficult decision’.

‘Today, Fremantle confirmed that Neighbours will cease production in June, after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes,’ a network spokesperson announced.

‘This difficult decision came after the search for an alternative UK broadcast partner proved unsuccessful.’

They added that the series would ‘not air on 10 Peach beyond September 2022’, marking the end of its decades-long run.

‘A much-loved stalwart of our program schedule for over 35 years it has been a staple of Australian television drama, and Australian cultural exports,’ they added.

‘Ramsay Street, Erinsborough, is a cul-de-sac recognised all over the world and has been home to Scott and Charlene, Des and Daphne, Dr Karl and Susan, Dee and Toadie, Aaron and David and many, many more neighbours.

‘Network 10 thanks the cast, crew, all the production team and Fremantle for bringing the perfect blend of soap and sunshine to audiences in Australia and around the world.’

Channel 10 also praised ‘the Australian fans and audiences for their continued support of the series’.

‘Their encouragement particularly in the past few weeks has been incredible. It shows that our audience still want Australian scripted drama,’ continued the statement.

‘We have listened to them and there are exciting new local projects in the pipeline, which is great for our audience and for the local industry.

‘We are confident that the cast, crew and writers will bring their distinctive warmth, style and humour to the Neighbours set as they embark on filming the final episodes over the coming months.’

Fremantle, the production company behind the soap, said it had been unable to come up with ‘alternative funding’ for the series.

‘It is with sadness that after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes broadcast, we are confirming that Neighbours will cease production in June,’ Fremantle said.

‘Following the loss of a key broadcast partner in the UK, and despite a search for alternative funding, we currently have no option but to rest the show.

‘Everyone at Neighbours has been overwhelmed by the love and support from the audience since the news came out.

‘The show has brought a sunny slice of Australia into the homes of millions of viewers around the world launching the careers of dozens of household names along the way.

‘But as this chapter of Ramsay Street comes to a close, we promise to do everything we can to give the show the send-off it deserves.’  

Channel 5 confirmed the end of its 14-year deal with Neighbours in February, with a spokesperson telling MailOnline that the decision to axe the soap comes as the channel’s ‘current focus is on increasing our investment in original UK drama’.

‘We recognise that there will be disappointment about this decision, however our current focus is on increasing our investment in original UK drama, which has strong appeal for our viewers,’ they said.

What did the Neighbours cast do next? As Guy Pearce leads the stars returning to Ramsay Street to film its final scenes, FEMAIL reveals how the Australian soap became a springboard to VERY successful careers

It was officially axed this spring after 37 years on-air – and Guy Pearce has led the stars returning to Australia’s long-running soap Neighbours to film some of its final scenes this week.

Guy, who played Mike Young between 1986 and 1989, was spotted on set on Monday for the final week of filming in Melbourne – alongside original cast members Ian Smith, Annie Jones and Paul Keane. 

Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan are also set to feature in the grand finale of the soap, after Network 10 and Fremantle, the show’s producer, revealed it would be axed.

Since Kylie made the leap from soap sweetheart to popstar, this long-running series has produced top singers, Hollywood hunks, TV stars and world-renowned beauties.

But while some have used the show as a springboard to worldwide fame, others have opted to fade from the limelight after leaving Ramsay Street.

Here, FEMAIL reveals those who have turned their soap star beginnings into super stardom and those who have chosen a more sedate path. 

GUY PEARCE: MIKE YOUNG 

British-born Guy, another original cast member, had a four-year stint as Mike in Neighbours before hitting the big time.

The 54-year-old has appeared in hit films including L.A. Confidential, Memento and The Hurt Locker and has been nominated for Golden Globe Awards.  

In 2015, he split from his wife, psychologist Kate Mestitz – his childhood sweetheart who he married in 1997. He later welcomed a son, called Monte, in 2016 with his partner Dutch actress Carice van Houten.

And while they keep details about their four-year-old’s upbringing in Carice’s home country of The Netherlands private, Guy has admitted that being a father in his 50s has its challenges.

He candidly told Who magazine in October: ‘Having a young child at the ripe old age of 53 is a lot. But I am focused on spending all the time I can with him and being the best dad I can be.’

Meanwhile, the actor has described the experience of being back on the Neighbours set as ‘coming home’. 

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Guy said: ‘It is very exciting and surreal at the same time being back on set again, however it feels like coming home.

‘It’s where it all started for me professionally. I’ve been asked to come back on occasions over the years and wondered if it was the right thing to do, but once I knew the show was finishing, I knew I had to do it.’

PAUL KEANE:  DES

Des and Daphne played by Paul Keane and Elaine Smith were Neighbours original happiest couple.

Daphne lent her name to the popular cafe for a time that was a regular haunt of the characters while Des was her lovable husband and they had a child together on the show.

But as this is soapland, their happy marriage was not to last as Daphne was killed off in a car crash in 1987 – the show’s first big tear-jerking departure.

Elaine went on to have small roles on other shows before stepping back from her career to be a mother.

Paul stayed on the soap for a few years and left in 1990. He quit acting altogether and instead took a job in a pub, before struggling with addiction and anxiety for over a decade.

He reprised his role as Des for the 35th anniversary special in March 2020, making a brief return to Ramsay Street in a plotline involving Sheila Canning, played by Colette Mann.

Last year, Paul told Digital Spy why he was not returning to Neighbours full time.

‘I live in Sydney, and Neighbours is filmed in Melbourne. Relocating is fine when you’re young, but I’m getting on a bit! I like the idea of popping back every now and again for a visit though, that would be really cool,’ he explained.

IAN SMITH: HAROLD BISHOP

As Harold Bishop, Ian Smith, 83, became one of the show’s most legendary characters.

He was there from day one and his relationship with Madge Bishop was a focus of numerous plots while his friendship with Lou, who nicknamed him ‘jelly belly’, often added comedy to the show. 

He was notoriously killed off in 1991 – or so we thought – as he then made a miraculous return to appear in the show on and off from the Nineties until 2015.

Speaking on Network 10’s Studio 10 in 2018, the much-loved character admitted that he wished he would have quit the series sooner. 

While trying to branch outside of his character into alternative acting roles, the star said he was turned down from various opportunities because of his long-standing association to Harold.

The famous face said that during an audition for an entirely dissimilar role, he was told: ‘Oh you were Harold. You couldn’t possibly be a murdering paedophile.’

Following a series of attempts, Ian decided that he had had enough and wanted to retire the role.  

When asked about his dream role, Ian admitted to wanting to play one as far away from Harold as possible.

While he said he still loves Harold, he expressed the importance of venturing beyond those constricted territories for himself as an actor. 

‘I would like to go as far from Harold as I can, not to prove it to other people, but to prove it to myself,’ he explained.

STEFAN DENNIS: PAUL ROBINSON

Neighbours icon Stefan Dennis has escaped the grim reaper as villain Paul Robinson many times on the soap since the show’s inception in 1985.

He was left for dead in a vicious attack in the summer of 2019, having been bludgeoned with a blunt object and his serial killer son Robert broke free from prison in December. He was also shot by girlfriend Terry back in 1986.

And Stefan told MailOnline: ‘Paul has done everything now, been married six times, you can’t kill him, they’ve tried many times.’

Stefan has no doubt seen it all since appearing alongside Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce in the glory years of the soap in the 80s.

Asked what his favourite memory from his time with those stars, he laughs and says: ‘Seeing Cliff Richard s**tting himself.

‘He was so nervous backstage at the London Palladium in 1988 when we all appeared on the Royal Variety Show.

‘There was a list of huge showbiz names, people I was in total awe of and Cliff was standing across the hallway from me, waiting to go on stage.

‘He was saying “Oh my god, I’m so nervous”. But Smithy, Ian Smith, who played Harold Bishop couldn’t believe it.

‘He was saying, “That’s Cliff Richard, he can’t be nervous!” But it just goes to show that no matter how famous you get, you still get butterflies.’

ANNIE JONES: PLAIN JANE 

Annie Jones, now 55, played ‘Plain Jane Superbrain’ from 1986 to 1989 and was love interest to Guy Pearce’s Mike. She reprised her role in 2018 and has been a regular fixture on the show ever since.

She famously transformed from a nerd to a beauty by losing her glasses and letting her hair down and won the Logie Award for Most Popular Actress in 1989.

Despite her popularity then, Annie never went on to be as famous as her co-stars.

She had a few small roles including in The Flying Doctors after leaving Neighbours but work took a back seat so she could care for her ill mother. 

In February 2022, she admitted she’s ‘in a bit of shock’ at the prospect that the series might film its final scenes in June.

‘I pray the show will be saved somehow,’ the veteran actress told the Herald Sun. ‘We need Neighbours to continue for the sake of our upcoming film and television makers.’

KYLIE MINOGUE: CHARLENE ROBINSON

The pint-sized songstress is arguably the show’s most famous export after finding worldwide fame as a singer when she left the soap.

She initially won hearts with her on-screen romance with Scott Robinson, played by Jason Donovan.

The Kylie and Jason public obsession reached fever pitch when the couple got together in real life and they had a hit record together, Especially For You. 

But superstardom beckoned for Kylie, as she enjoyed hit after hit on the music charts.

Kylie recently relocated to her home city of Melbourne, Australia, after living in the UK for more than three decades. 

The formerly London-based singer is believed to have quietly arrived back in Australia at the end of January.

Kylie revealed she was leaving the British capital after 30 years to return to Melbourne after spending time there during the pandemic.

When asked in October about rumours she was returning to her home country permanently, Kylie confirmed it to BBC 2 radio.

‘It is true, I will be basing myself in Australia,’ she said. ‘I can’t believe the reaction it’s had. I’ve had friends call me.’ I spent a lot of time with my family this year in Australia and it felt really good… I’ve been talking about that for a while.’

Kylie reassured Brits she ‘won’t be a stranger’ and will still visit regularly. ‘Of course I’ve lived here for 30 years. I’m always going to be back,’ she said.

Kylie told friends she wanted to live closer to her family, including her parents Carol and Ron, siblings Brendan and Dannii and nephew Ethan.

Her boyfriend, magazine executive Paul Solomons, won’t be joining her in Australia, but they intend to continue a long-distance relationship. 

Kylie is one of the stars returning for the grand finale, alongside Jason Donovan.

JASON DONOVAN: SCOTT ROBINSON 

Like his on-screen wife Kylie, Jason left the soap to pursue a pop career and while he may not have been quite so lucky, lucky, lucky with his recording career he too topped the charts in the Eighties.

He’s starred in stage productions such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Priscilla Queen Of The Desert.  

The actor hit a rough patch due to alcohol and drug abuse, suffering a cocaine-induced seizure at Kate Moss’s 21 birthday party in 1995.

But he has since regained an image befitting of his alter Neighbour’s ego Scott Robinson with a regular DJ gig on Heart FM. 

And last year, he made his pantomime debut in Goldilocks and the Three Bears at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

A year ago, Jason revealed he wouldn’t ‘still be standing’ today without his long-term wife Angela Malloch. 

In a candid interview, the singer – who once dated his Neighbours co-star Kylie Minogue – gushed over his wife of over 13 years as he admitted that she ‘saved’ him from cocaine addiction.

He told The Mirror: ‘Had it not been for her [Angela], I doubt I’d still be standing. She was my saving grace and set to become the real love of my life.’

Jason went on to explain that he believes Angela was sent to him ‘for a reason’, after the pair met in 1998 while Jason was starring in the Rocky Horror Show UK tour.

He continued: ‘Ange gave me my life back, made me see what love really was and to the day I die I will be grateful to her for that.’

The smitten couple tied the knot in 2008 and share three children together – Jemma, 21, Zac, 20, and Molly, ten.

AND… WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE STARS?

RUSSELL CROWE : KENNY LARKIN

Another Neighbour to hit the big time is megastar Russell Crowe, 57, who won an Oscar for his role in Gladiator.

He is one of Hollywood’s leading male stars but before he was rubbing shoulders with the likes of Ridley Scott, he played ex-con Kenny Larkin in four episodes in the Eighties.

His career shows no sign of slowing down and he’s currently filming blockbuster thriller Poker Face, along with co-stars Liam Hemsworth and rapper RZA. 

The big budget action flick was put on pause last year after a number of crew members tested positive to Covid. 

Crowe is directing and starring in the high octane outing which is set inside the glamorous world of high-stakes poker and also features a cameo from Hemsworth’s sister-in-law Elsa Pataky. 

The film will be produced by Australian actor Addam Bramich and Gary Hamilton.

Shot both at Fox Studios and across a number of NSW landmarks, the film was originally due to wrap in September last year.

LIAM AND CHRIS HEMSWORTH: JOSH TAYLOR AND JAMIE KANE

Star of the Hunger Games, Liam Hemsworth launched his career playing wheelchair-bound hunk Josh Taylor on the street from 2007 to 2008.

He’s since taken Hollywood by storm in his role as Gale Hawthorne and is currently filming for blockbuster thriller Poker Face. 

Liam’s brother Chris Hemsworth, star of Thor, also made a brief appearance in Neighbours as Jamie Kane before heading for Hollywood. 

He shot to fame for his role as the superhero in the 2011 Marvel Studios film Thor and sequels, including The Avengers.

Chris also starred opposite Kristen Stewart in the film Snow White and the Huntsman as the Huntsman and in 2014, was named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.

He began dating Spanish actress Elsa Pataky in early 2010 who he later married. They share three children: daughter India Rose and twin sons, Tristan and Sasha.

In 2015 they moved from their Los Angeles home to Byron Bay, where they now remain.

MARGOT ROBBIE: DONNA FREEMAN

Margot Robbie, who started her on screen life in Neighbours in 2008, has since hit the big time starring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street and Will Smith in Focus and Suicide Squad. 

She married British film producer Tom Ackerley in 2016 after meeting on the set of Suite Francaise and is in major demands for film roles. 

As well as having starred as Harley Quinn in a Suicide Squad spin-off, she also portrayed the figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya. 

Margot’s Birds Of Prey was the eighth instalment in the DC Extended Universe and servesd as a spin-off and sequel to Suicide Squad (2016). 

It grossed $201 million worldwide and was mostly well-received, with critics praising Margot’s performance as Harley. 

In total, Margot has made four appearances in her critically acclaimed role: Suicide Squad (2016), Birds Of Prey (2020), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) and The Suicide Squad, a standalone sequel to Suicide Squad (2021).

NATALIE IMBRUGLIA: BETH BRENNAN

Natalie Imbruglia, 47, left her role as Beth Brennan and kissed goodbye to her onscreen surfer-dude husband Brad Willis to launch a singing career in 1997.

The album Left In The Middle sold seven million copies and her single Torn became an instant hit. Other albums followed although they weren’t as commercially successful as her first. 

In 2015, she made a comeback with the album Male, featuring cover versions of songs made famous my male lead singers, which reached number 20 in the UK album charts. 

She made her first film debut in the 2003 film Johnny English alongside Rowan Atkinson.

The singer has since appeared in films Closed for Winter, Underdogs and Among Ravens as well as continuing her music career.

She appeared on The X Factor Australia as a judge in 2010 but didn’t return for the third season and in 2014 signed with Sony Masterworks for her first album in six years.

The London-based star divorced her Australian husband of five years, Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns in 2008 saying the distance between them was too much. 

More recently, she was crowned the winner of The Masked Singer 2022 earlier this month after being revealed as Panda.

The songstress beat Charlotte Church who was unmasked as Mushroom in second place and Westlife star Mark Feehily who was revealed to be Robobunny in third place. 

Natalie impressed judges Rita Ora, Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and Joss Stone on the night when she sang Taylor Swift’s hit Blank Space, before performing a duet with comedian Jason Manford, who was Hedgehog in series one.

Elsewhere, Natalie revealed she is ‘ready to play the fame game again’ after winning The Masked Singer.

The star told The Sun she ‘just doesn’t care anymore’ and added: ‘It’s good to be in a place where you can do a show like this and embrace the fun of it and not take yourself so seriously.’

DELTA GOODREM: NINA TUCKER

Delta Goodrem, 37, rose to fame in 2002 as school girl and aspiring singer Nina Tucker on the soap.

Her song Born to Try premiered on the show, re-launching her music career and contributing to her 2003 Logie for Most Popular New Talent. 

In 2003, at the age of 18, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was forced to leave work for treatment, but after announcing her remission, soon began work on her second album.

In March 2005, Goodrem starred in Hating Alison Ashley, her first film role, however her acting career was short-lived.

In November 2011, Goodrem was announced as a judge on The Voice Australia alongside Keith Urban, Joel Madden, and Seal.

She spent eight seasons as a coach on the Channel Nine version of the singing competition before stepping back in 2021. 

She’s had nine number one singles and five number one albums in Australia and sold over nine million albums worldwide. 

However, she’s often hit the headlines for her love life thanks to relationships with a number of high profile men.

In 2004, she dated Australian tennis player Mark Philippoussis and then had a long-term relationship with former Westlife singer Brian McFadden.

They got engaged but split up in 2011 after which Deltra than had a year-long relationship with singer Nick Jonas of boy band the Jonas Brothers.

She’s since dated musician Matthew Copley, with the couple, who are famously private, confirming their relationship in January 2018.

HOLLY CANDY: FLICK SCULLY

Holly Valance left her role as Felicity ‘Flick’ Scully in 2002 to pursue a music career.

Her first album Footprints, in 2002, was a success, with her single Kiss Kiss peaking at number one and Naughty Girl at number three in Australia.

Her album State of Mind in 2003 didn’t do as well and she returned to acting in 2004 in the US but has not yet managed to crack America like Margot Robbie.

Valance appeared in CSI: Miami, Entourage and CSI: NY, as well as guest-starring in Prison Break in 2006. In 2008, she had a role in Taken alongside Hollywood star Liam Neeson.

In 2012 Valance married billionaire property developer Nick Candy in Beverly Hills and in 2013 gave birth to their first child, Luka Candy, in London. 

JESSE SPENCER : BILLY KENNEDY

Jesse Spencer, 43, who become a teenage heart throb when he played Billy Kennedy in the soap from 1994 to 2000, left the show with high hopes to crack Hollywood.

He went on to star in hit US series House alongside Hugh Laurie and played a leading role in Chicago Fire as well as taking on film parts.

The star is also a keen musician and plays violin in the charity cover group Band From TV, with his former co-star Hugh Laurie.

CRAIG MCLACHLAN: HENRY RAMSAY

Another original cast member, Craig McLachlan, 51, who played Mike’s curly-haired buddy Henry Ramsay from 1987-89, had a brief singing career. 

He had a Number Two hit, Mona, and appeared in Grease on the West End stage. 

But he went back to his first love of soap by playing school teacher Grant Mitchell on rival Oz show Home & Away and also stayed on TV screens down under in The Dr Blake Mysteries.

ALAN DALE: JIM ROBINSON

Alan Dale played Jim Robinson from when the first show aired till his departure in 1993 when his character famously suffered from a heart attack. 

He appeared in 869 episodes and was the head of one of the show’s most popular families.

It took a few years for him to put Jim behind him and resurrect his acting career but in 2000 he found success in the US hit shows The OC and then Ugly Betty.

The 74-year-old also appeared in 24 and Lost and worked on Dominion and NCIS, as well as The West Wing, Entourage and Once Upon a Time.

His film roles include Detective Isaksson in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Councilman Rockwell in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.   

Dale has been married to former Miss Australia Tracey Dale since 1990. 

ANNE CHARLESTON: MADGE BISHOP

Anne Charleston is another Neighbours legend after playing Madge Bishop from 1985 to 1992.

Now 79, she has appeared in various other shows and stage productions since leaving the soap but thanks to her long-enduring appeal, she’ll always be now known as Madge. 

Though leaving in 1992 to re-locate to Ireland, she later accepted the offer to return to Neighbours reprising her role from 1996. Her character Madge died in 2001 of pancreatic cancer. 

In 2013 Charleston played a role in the Prisoner remake, Wentworth, which saw her portray the mother-in-law of prisoner Lizzy Birdsworth.

In 2005, she had cosmetic surgery performed, live on British television for the show Cosmetic Surgery Live and late in 2014 she played the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at the Redditch Palace Theatre.

SIANOA SMIT-MCPHEE: BREE TIMMINS

Sianoa Smit-McPhee, 30, played the introverted, confused and briefly gothic character of Bree Timmins from 2005 – 2007. 

She later appeared in children’s television series As the Bell Rings as DJ, which aired on the Disney Channel and in 2008, appeared as Desma in the short film Hugo alongside Tessa James and Georgia Flood.

From 2009 to 2011, she starred in the HBO series Hung as Darby Drecker and appeared in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia in 2012. 

These days, it appears as though Sianoa calls Los Angeles home, where she spends a lot of her time working on her music in the recording studio. 

BRETT TUCKER: DANIEL FITZGERALD

Brett Tucker, 49, played the role of teacher Daniel Fitzgerald from 1999–2000 – a role which he returned to in late 2007.

In 2009 he left the show and moved to the US where he appeared in multiple high-profile shows including CSI: NY, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and NCIS. 

In 2013, Tucker briefly appeared in Thor: The Dark World as an Einherjar Guard. He then appeared as Harry Davis in Mistresses where he starred alongside Alyssa Milano until 2016.

More recently, he joined the cast of Fox’s dance dramedy The Big Leap in a recurring role.

DICHEN LACHMAN: KATYA KINSKI

Dichen Lachman, 40, played the role of Katya Kinski on the show from 2005 to 2007, before heading to Los Angeles to advance her career. 

Since, she has played the role of Sierra in television series Dollhouse, appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles and took up the role of Suren in TV series Being Human. 

She also played the role of Tani Tumrenjack in TV show Last Resort, Anya in The 100, Angela in Shameless and Jiaying in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

JANET ANDREWARTHA: LYNN SCULLY  

Janet Andrewartha, 69, is best known for her role as Lynn Scully on Neighbours, where she maintained the role from 1999 to 2011.

Though leaving the show in 2006 to pursue family life and other roles, she returned in 2008 for a brief stint and again in 2009, where she stayed until 2011. 

During that time, Andrewartha worked in London on theatre projects and as an ensemble member in the play All My Sons at the Melbourne Theatre Company. 

ANNE WILKINSON: PLAYED BY BROOKE SATCHWELL  

Brooke Satchwell played the role of Anne Wilkinson from 1996 – 2000 and went on for a brief stint as Sophie Ferguson in Water Rats before working on White Collar Blue until 2003.

She was later cast as a lead role in the film Subdivision and in 2012, joined the cast of television series Packed to the Rafters as Frankie.

In 2013, she worked on the show Dirty Laundry Live as a panellist and later joined the cast of Wonderland as lawyer Grace Barnes. 

ORIGINAL CAST MEMBERS WHO TURNED THEIR BACK ON FAME 

VIVEAN GRAY: MRS MANGEL

Vivean Gray was another Neighour’s legend as gossipy old woman of Ramsay Street, Mrs Mangel.

She could always be trusted to ruin the young people’s fun and lay down the moral high ground. 

Before Neighbours, she had a long-running role in Australian soap The Sullivans but became much more famous thanks to her time in Erinsborough.  

But the actress didn’t seem comfortable with the worldwide fame and devoted fans Neighbours brought and left in 1988 when she retired from acting.

Sadly, she died in Australia in July 2016 at the age of 92.  

MARISA SIKETA : SUMMER HOYLAND

Marisa Siketa joined Neighbours as Summer Hoyland from 2002 – 2007 after playing Melanie Atwood on The Saddle Club. 

After departing the show, she appeared in various commercials before taking up DJ work at 95.5 K-ROCK radio station, where she remained until 2014. 

She then became an ambassador at Geelong Animal Welfare Society.  

CAITLIN STASEY: RACHEL KINSKI

Caitlin Stasey was part of at neighbours as Rachel Kinski from 2005 – 2009 before starring in the hit Australian film Tomorrow, When the War Began, as Ellie Linton.

After appearing in American television series Reign, as Kenna, Stasey was also in comedy-horror film All Chearleaders Die as Maddy. 

Recently, Stasey has made a name for herself in social activism after using social media to draw attention to the Free the Nipple movement.  

DAN PARIS: DREW KIRK

Dan Paris bagged his first acting role as Neighbours hunk Drew Kirk in 1998.

Known for his long ‘hippy’ hair, Drew began a relationship with established character Libby Kennedy, which eventually saw them marry and have a child together.

However, in 2002, Dan decided to leave the show and pursue new challenges. His character was killed off but returned three years later in the dreams of Stephanie Scully.

Dan, 48, moved into television presenting, hosting various natural history and travel programmes. He then set up an award-winning photography business.