Former Home and Away star Olivia Deeble continues family tradition in theatre

She shot to fame as a soap star on the small screen a decade ago, but stepping onto a Sydney stage holds a special place in former child actor Olivia Deeble’s heart.

She shot to fame as a soap star on the small screen a decade ago, but stepping onto a Sydney stage holds a special place in former child actor Olivia Deeble’s heart.

The 22-year-old, who began her acting career as the fresh-faced Raffy Morrison on Home and Away, is a third-generation television star, whose mother Kate Gorman starred in Neighbours during its Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan heyday.

But her family’s acting roots can be traced back to her grandparents, The Sullivans star Reg Gorman and Blue Heelers actress Judith Roberts, who first crossed paths in musical theatre.

Now gearing up to hit the Capitol Theatre stage this weekend as Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher, a Peter Pan prequel, Deeble is proud to be continuing a family tradition.

Olivia Deeble is starring in the upcoming Peter Pan prequel at the Capitol Theatre. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Olivia Deeble as a 12-year-old with famous family members Reg Gorman (The Sullivans) and Kate Gorman (Neighbours). Picture: Jason Edwards

“It’s a full circle moment,” Deeble told The Daily Telegraph.

“I’ve been wanting to get into theatre for a really long time.

“There is something so beautiful about it and something really special happens each show. You can never recreate the energy from one same night.”

Deeble’s mother also dabbled into theatre and is a big fan of seeing her daughter shine on stage.

Home & Away stars with Olivia Deeble. Picture: Instagram

Despite living her dream as an actor at just 12, Deeble, who attended several schools during her Home and Away days, still felt like an outsider.

“My parents thought it was really important that I was still hanging out with kids my age but, because the workload was so demanding, I was only at school maybe 10 hours or less a week,” she said.

Olivia Deeble in Home and Away. Picture: Seven Network

“I didn’t really feel connected to school, and I didn’t have a lot of close friends.

“I wasn’t bullied, but I was definitely the outsider.

“But I think that really helped me handle how to trust people or figure out who actually had good intentions and wanted to be my friend because they liked me, not because I had fame.”