Riches to rags: Australian stars who swapped fame for real life
Many celebrities become obsessed with chasing the next big thing to keep their star rising. Then there are those who shunned the spotlight. This is where they are now.
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Riches to rags or rags to riches – it is all relative depending on your perception of success, how you look at someone’s career and what they want from it.
Here, Confidential takes a look at some familiar faces of Australian reality television, acting, music and the news, to see what they did after they were famous.
For some, they have completely moved on from the glitz and glamour of the red carpet and what the public thinks being a star is.
It seems the real estate industry is the most common career for ex famous faces to venture into after life in the spotlight. For others, they’ve moved behind the scenes but still work in entertainment.
Blake Garvey
Known for: The Bachelor star who controversially chose Sam Frost only to dump her and start a short lived romance with another contestant Louise Pillidge
What he’s doing now: Real Estate Agent in Western Australia
Anne Fulwood
Known for: TV newsreader, reporter
What she’s doing now: media and corporate consultant
Joshua Horner
Known for: choreographer and Dancing With The Stars judge
What he’s doing now: real estate agent
Bree Amer
Known for: Big Brother 2004 contestant who then moved in to radio
What she’s doing now: works as a casting agent/executive
Reggie Bird
Known for: A former Tasmanian fish and chip shop worker who won Big Brother in 2003, scoring $250,000 prize money
What she’s doing now: Mother of two children
Dieter Brummer
Known for: one of the top soap stars of the 90s, Brummer is best known for playing Shane Parrish on Home And Away alongside on-screen love interest Angel (Melissa George)
What he’s doing now: runs a window cleaning business
Blair McDonough
Known for: Big Brother 2001 runner-up who went on to embark on a successful career as a soap actor on Neighbours, playing Stuart Parker on the drama, and later competed on Dancing With The Stars
What he’s doing now: runs a construction business in Byron Bay
Christie Hayes
Known for: playing Kirsty Sutherland on Home And Away from 2000 to 2005
What she’s doing now: breakfast radio host
Tom Williams
Known for: A former construction worker who made his show business debut in Melissa Tkautz’s video clip for her hit single, Read My Lips. His subsequent TV credits include Dancing With The Stars, The Great Outdoors, The Weakest Link, The Daily Edition, The Mole, I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here
What he’s doing now: Real Estate Agent
Laura Vazquez
Known for: played Sarah on Home And Away through the 1990s
What she’s doing now: working behind the scenes as Head of Makeup Department on Home And Away
Fleur Beaupert
Known for: played Stephanie Mboto on Home And Away and Nikki Ruark on Heartbreak High
What she’s doing now: academic specialising in legal reform and mental health
Sebastian Goldspink
Known for: played Charlie Byrd on Heartbreak High in the late 1990s
What he’s doing now: art curator
Beau Brady
Known for: played Noah Lawson on Home And Away, dated co-star Bec Cartwright before she went on to marry tennis great Lleyton Hewitt
What he’s doing now: Changed his name to Johnny Brady and became a personal trainer for Fitness First and enlisted with the Australian Army Reserve after quitting acting for a time. Now back acting and has a show coming out in 2021 called We Were Tomorrow
Bruce Samazan
Known for: a former brickie’s labourer turned soap star in the 1990s who appeared on E Street, Neighbours and Home And Away. His biggest role was as Max Simmons on E Street, scoring him a Silver Logie in 1992 for Most Popular Actor
What he’s doing now: real estate agent
John Blackman
Known for: Hey Hey It’s Saturday regular, radio broadcaster
What he’s doing now: Uber driver
Nikki Webster
Known for: Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony, hit single Strawberry Kisses
What she’s doing now: runs dance schools in Sydney and the central coast
Nathan Foley
Known for: original member of Hi-5
What he’s doing now: live stage performer on cruise ships – winning Princess cruises Entertainer of the Year in 2016, appeared on The Voice 2019
Laurina Fleure
Known for: standout on Blake Garvey’s 2014 season of The Bachelor, went on to compete on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
What she’s doing now: runs a fashion business
Sam Ball
Known for: Married At First Sight contestant
What he’s doing now: most recently working at a bottle shop in Queensland
Tziporah Malkah
Known for: model formerly known as Kate Fischer, who was the long-time girlfriend of billionaire James Packer
What she’s doing now: Working on construction sites as a lollipop lady
Kyal Marsh
Known for: playing Boyd Hoyland in Neighbours from 2002 to 2007
What he’s doing now: runs a construction business
Katie Underwood
Known for: girl band member in Bardot with Sophie Monk, Belinda Chapple, Tiffani Wood, Chanelle Barry and Sally Polihronas
What she’s doing now: sound massage therapist, meditation guide
Zoe Tuckwell-Smith
Known for: played Bec Gilbert on Winners & Losers
What she’s doing now: life coach, married to actor director Damon Gameau
Ash Pollard
Known for: My Kitchen Rules contestant, I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
What she’s doing now: breakfast radio
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