Neighbours star has reality check for Chrishell Stause as she goes from Selling Sunset to Ramsay St
The actress who played Summer Hoyland on Neighbours warns US star Chrishell Stause about the “jail like” vibe of Ramsay St filming studios.
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Neighbours star Jordy Lucas has a reality check for US star Chrishell Stause as she gears up to join the Australian soapie Neighbours: “It’s not going to be glamorous.”
The wife of Australian music sensation G Flip, Stause is best known for starring in global hit series Selling Sunset.
The American TV personality will arrive in Erinsborough in July to start filming, playing Yasmine Shields, a glamorous and successful businesswoman in pursuit of an exciting work opportunity.
“If you watch Selling Sunset, it’s glitz and glamour,” Lucas said. “The multimillion-dollar homes they sell are beyond words, the wardrobe is incredible.”
“What she’s in for when she goes to Ramsay St, is not that,” the actor laughed.
Lucas, who played Summer Hoyland on Neighbours from 2009-2012, said when she reprised her role in 2023 after the show was rebooted, nothing had changed on set in a decade.
“In the latest series of Selling Sunset, Chrishell’s boss and ex-boyfriend Jason (Oppenheim), spent US$1million renovating a new Sunset Boulevard office,” Lucas said.
“It makes me chuckle imaging what her face is going to look like when she walks into Nunawading.”
Since Channel 10’s acquisition of the program in late 1985, Neighbours was based at the former Global Television Studios in Melbourne (now Nunawading Studios) where it was also regularly filmed on location nearby.
“To give you a bit of an idea of the ambience … They used to film a show called Prisoner in the studios, but then they also used to film within the halls of the studio. So the whole building has a bit of a jail vibe.” Lucas said.
“It even smelled the same,” Lucas’ It’s Showbiz Baby! podcast co-host Alex Funnell added in Tuesday’s episode.
Funnell worked alongside Lucas as a social media producer on Neighbours and has also produced MAFS and MasterChef Australia.
“It’s a hard smell to describe but musty is probably the word for it,” she told Confidential.
“The studio is like a big factory warehouse, full of equipment that collects a lot of dust. The lights are so bright and strong they add top notes of this burn kind of smell.”
“So it’s definitely going to be a very different experience for Chrishell,” Lucas added.
Stause has previously acted in American daytime television series All My Children, The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives.
“Coming from the world of soaps in the US, it’s back to my first love in the entertainment industry,” Stause said last week.
“They pitched me an idea for a character, and I was immediately excited to figure out a way to make it happen. Ramsay Street here I come.”
“She won’t be treated like a celebrity on set. Once you walk through those doors, everyone is equal. From the executive producers, to the regular cast, crew, and extras — you’re just one of the team and any level of ego is not tolerated.”
Stause has starred on Selling Sunset for six seasons and is undoubtedly its most prominent face, despite the reality juggernaut spawning multiple spin-off series.
Lucas added that nowadays on Neighbours, some senior cast members have the luxury of their own changing rooms, which was not the case when she starred on the soap.
“I don’t think Neighbours’ hair and makeup and wardrobe will get to touch her, but when she gets onto set, she’ll be treated as any other actor,” Lucas said.
“She’s married to G Flip, who is pretty down to earth, so I don’t think it’ll be a problem for her.”
Funnell said that if she could give one piece of advice to the American starlet, it would be this: “Lunch is fed at 12 o’clock and that is for absolutely everyone. It’s a bit like a buffet. So at midday, run. You don’t want to be picking up the cold dregs that have been touched by that many people.”
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Originally published as Neighbours star has reality check for Chrishell Stause as she goes from Selling Sunset to Ramsay St
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