Former TSS student Cantona Stewart lands role as troubled teen on Home and Away
From Burleigh Heads to Summer Bay – the Gold Coast’s own Cantona Stewart is Home and Away’s new kid on the block. SEE MORE
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From Burleigh Heads to Summer Bay – the Gold Coast’s own Cantona Stewart is Home and Away’s new kid on the block.
The 28-year-old former TSS student plays 17-year-old Perri in the next season of the long-running show – a troubled youth finding his way with the help of Ethan Browne’s character, Tane.
“He’s a bit of a mixed bag,” Stewart said.
“You see his troubles unfold in each episode. He is of Maori descent, as I am myself.
“He’s half Australian, but because he didn’t have an upbringing in New Zealand he has this disconnect from his culture and he yearns for what he never had.”
The former Burleigh nipper and Burleigh Bears player was born in England, moving to Newcastle (Australia) at six months, then the Gold Coast when he was four.
“My father was a professional rugby league player,” he said.
“He was the first captain of the Newcastle Knights back in 1988. When he finished his career in Australia, he went and played a few years in England – I just happened to pop out there.”
Stewart said just like himself, he feels a lot of people will relate to Perri’s story.
“People like myself, whose parents moved over to Australia for jobs, family, whatever reasons and they’ve brought their kids up here who haven’t had that chance to have the day in, day out, cultural aspect,” he said.
“I think there’s three key connections to the audience – the teenagers, the parents, and it’s also the Maori or Pacific Islander audience who had that upbringing in Australia.”
Cantona Stewart will appear on Home and Away from July 10 Channel 7 and 7plus.
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Originally published as Former TSS student Cantona Stewart lands role as troubled teen on Home and Away
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