How ‘chubby kid’ Bonner turned Summer Bay hottie

From Ramsay Street to Summer Bay, former Neighbours actor Harley Bonner joins the cast of Home and Away. See the exclusive pictures.

Harley Bonner laughs at suggestions he is the new hottie in Summer Bay.

“In that cast I feel like Frodo Baggins,” the 30-year-old said of joining hit Channel 7 nightly drama, Home and Away.

Former Neighbours star Harley Bonner, who joins the cast of Home and Away. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“They are such a good looking bunch of people, big, strong dudes. I am certainly not insecure about who I am as a person, I just try and always focus on bringing a level of performance and reality to these characters and to these TV series.”

He added: “That is the stuff that I am mostly focused on. If people want to peg me as the hot new doctor, then that is okay but for me, that is what it is about.”

Bonner is well versed in the world of television drama.

His mum, Carla Bonner, appeared as Steph Scully on Neighbours for many years while he also acted on the soap as the character Josh Willis from 2013 to 2016.

Harley Bonner as Doctor Logan Bennett on Home and Away.

“It was always pitched as the dark side but it is pretty bright and lovely,” he joked of jumping to Seven from rival 10. “It feels very much at home because I have been in those studios for 22 years. I am enjoying every minute of it.”

After a two-week production break for the Olympics, Bonner will make his debut on Home and Away next week playing Doctor Logan Bennet.

While Neighbours is set in suburban Ramsay Street, Erinsborough, and shot in Melbourne, Home and Away is all sun and fun in the coastal community of Summer Bay and is filmed in Palm Beach.

Harley Bonner on Home and Away

Harley Bonner on Home and Away

Actors have often spoken about preparing for shoots in their swimmers.

“I was a chubby kid growing up so that mental thing is always there for me and feeling a bit timid about it,” he explained. “Thankfully we have got a whole lot of big muscly dudes who they can focus on more than myself.”

Harley Bonner on Neighbours.

Carla Bonner with son Harley.