Where are they now: The stars of 90s kids’ sci-fi series Ocean Girl
Children’s science fiction drama Ocean Girl was one of the most popular series of the ‘90s. Here’s what the cast are up to, 20 years on.
Confidential
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It was one of the most successful TV shows in the mid 1990s after being syndicated in 17 countries including the US, Poland and South Africa.
With original, and at times far-fetched, themes of love, hope and mystery, the show was the first of its kind to use computer generated imagery (CGI) in a children’s drama.
From a telepathic swimmer who could communicate with whales, to rebellious brothers who were always up to mischief, viewers couldn’t get enough of the science fiction TV series. So more than 20 years on, where are they now?
Marzena D’Odorico as Neri/Ocean Girl (season 1-4)
Former dance student Marzena D’Odorico (née Godecki) was just 16 when she was cast in the lead role of Neri (aka Ocean Girl).
Despite having no acting experience, the teenager managed to land the plum gig, beating more than 700 contenders, which she put down to luck and timing.
“I think it (being cast) was just timing,” she once told Vice.
“I happened to be in the right place at the right time. I was a good swimmer, I’ve always been a beach baby, but it was more that I had been a dancer full time. The physicality for me was the easy bit.”
D’Odorico’s character was known for her supernatural abilities, including telepathy, which helped make the show an international success.
After the show ended in 1997, D’Odorico, now 43, pursued a career as a graphic designer in Melbourne.
The Polish-born actor later joined the retail sector and opened her own children’s fashion boutique called Tiny Threads, however she now works as a freelance designer.
She lives a very private life with her husband Damian D’Odorico and their children.
David Hoflin as Jason Bates (season 1-4)
He played Neri’s close friend Jason Bates for four seasons and David Hoflin went on to pursue his acting career on local favourites like Neighbours before cracking the US market. Hoflin, 43, made his mark as Oliver Barnes on Ramsay Street after stints on All Saints, McLeod’s Daughters and Blue Heelers.
The Swedish-born actor went on to star in various US shows including Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles and Hawaii Five-0.
He lives with his wife and former Neighbours co-star Natalie Hoflin (nee Blair) in California.
He previously said he still gets recognised by fans of Ocean Girl, years after it ended.
“I still get asked about Ocean Girl, even in the states, 20 years later,” he told Vice.
“Last time it happened it was a girl from Brazil who recognised me, although they called it Ocean Odyssey over there. Inevitably they ask about Neri. They’d say, ‘Oh she was so beautiful, she was so pretty, do you still see her?’ It always reverts back to that statement, ‘Neri was so pretty, I always wanted to be her.’ You can’t really respond, you just say, ‘That’s nice’.”
Jeffrey Walker as Brett Bates (season 1-4)
Former child actor Jeffrey Walker played Hoflin’s on-screen brother, Brett Bates, for four seasons.
After landing his first lead role on Round the Twist in 1992, Walker appeared on Police Rescue before Ocean Girl and later established himself as a director.
With 40 credits to his name including Chris Lilley’s Angry Boys and Modern Family, the Melbourne-born actor, 39, is an accomplished artist whose work has won him recognition from the Australian Film Institute.
“I’m so grateful working in this business. I’ve never seen it as laborious or felt I needed a career change,” he previously told The Herald Sun. “I love being on set so much, which is especially hard now thanks to Covid-19.”
He is married to American-born Brooke Walker and they share three children, Boston, eight, Ace, six, and three-year-old Leo.
He splits his time between Brisbane and Los Angeles.
Alex Pinder as Dr. Winston Seth (season 1-4)
English-Australian actor Alex Pinder played the charming Dr. Winston Seth for four seasons before moving into the teaching space.
Born Jyoti Mukherjee in the UK, he took on the stage name “Alex Pinder” and was cast in Ocean Girl by chance.
“It was supposed to be a Chinese role,” he said.
“But they couldn’t find a Chinese actor. The original name was Winston Chow and I said to the producers, ‘Well you’ve got to change the name. You can have Winston but you can’t have Chow because there’s no Indian person named Chow.
“At the time I was reading A Suitable Boy and of course Vikram Seth was the writer so I went with Seth.”
Pinder graduated from prestigious acting schools including The Ensemble Studios in Sydney in 1979, where he was trained in improvisation, scene work, script and voice.
He later underwent “gruelling” training at L’Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris.
He continued acting after Ocean Girl and later reunited with Walker who was directing an episode of City Homicide, which Pinder was cast in.
He lives in Melbourne working as a performing artist who acts, directs and shares theatre skills with various communities.
Kerry Armstrong (season 1-2)
Logie award-winning actor Kerry Armstrong played Dr Dianne Bates, the mother to brothers Jason and Brett, for two seasons.
After getting her start on the popular drama The Sullivans during the 1970s, the Melbourne-born actor moved to New York, where she won an acting scholarship and eventually scored minor roles on shows like popular soap One Life to Live.
She eventually returned to Australia and landed the role on Ocean Girl.
She has appeared in 22 films and 30 TV shows including Neighbours and SeaChange, which won her the Logie for Outstanding Actress in a TV series in 2001.
Armstrong, 63, has been married four times and lives with her three sons in Victoria.
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