Neighbours v Home and Away: Which Aussie show has produced the most international superstars?
RAMSAY St and Summer Bay are the early learning centres for future international superstars. So which show has produced the most successful alumni?
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AUSSIE soaps have long been a launching pad for our brightest international stars.
But is Ramsay St or Summer Bay the better starting point for success?
As popular soap Neighbours celebrates its 32nd year, and Home And Away its 29th, the star-making powers of both shows remains as strong as ever, launching a new wave of actors to stages in Los Angeles, New York and London.
“I think Neighbours is still excellent preparation for taking the next step,” said Jason Herbison, an executive producer on the show.
“An actor needs to be disciplined and professionalism is of utmost importance.
“You need to come to the set prepared, know your lines and be at the top of your game because the show moves very quickly.”
Past Ramsay St alumni include Kylie Minogue, Russell Crowe, Chris Hemsworth, Ben Mendelsohn, Guy Pearce and Margot Robbie.
Home And Away series producer Lucy Addario agreed.
“It’s really intensive work,” she said. “The speed in which we work and the storylines, you experience all these things — you do action, romance, comedy, drama.
“It’s lots of genres all at once, and it’s an opportunity for an actor to try everything.”
While the ability express emotions might impress on the small screen, actor Ray Meagher, who has played Alf Stewart on Home And Away since 1988, suggested those with big-screen ambitions worked hard on self-improvement.
Meagher cited Chris Hemsworth, who played Summer Bay lifesaver Kim Hyde from 2004 to 2007, and now rules the superhero world as Thor.
“You would have to be motherless blind to see Chris Hemsworth and not think: ‘There’s a big chance here!’,” Meagher said.
“When he got to Home And Away, you could tell he wasn’t content to be just here.
“Chris wanted to improve himself at every chance.
“He was taking acting classes, voice classes and God knows what else, here there and everywhere. He was always analysing his performances and trying to get better all the time.
“He was genetically blessed, of course. Some bloke who’s 6 foot 2 and looks like that, but he’s not a pretty boy type, he’s a ruggedly really good-looking man.”
Actor Alan Fletcher, who has played Dr Karl Kennedy on Neighbours since 1994, said Margot Robbie, cast as kooky Donna Freedman from 2008 to 2011, was also destined for bigger things.
“Margot was immediately obvious,” Fletcher said. “She was wonderful at comedy, then in seconds she would break your heart.
“The key thing about actors who leave the show and have success overseas is they have a singular focus about it.
“They hone their preparation, they work with their agent and they co-ordinate it.
“It is very much a business decision that has to be handled correctly. You don’t just get on the plane and say ‘I’m gonna try my luck.’
“But the cream does rise to the top.”
Home And Away’s Addario argued an actor’s “x factor” did not necessarily guarantee success. “I wouldn’t cast (an actor) on the show if I didn’t see something,” she said.
“You can have the x factor, but if you don’t work hard and take the opportunities seriously …”
Television commentators expect the next soap-to-stardom stories to include Neighbours stars Olympia Valance — who is set to star in a risque British drama Ghetto Heaven this year — and Home And Away’s Stephen Peacocke, already making small inroads in Hollywood.
Andrew Mercado, author of Super Soaps: behind The Scenes Of Australia’s Best Loved TV Shows, said Lilly Van Der Meer, 17, who plays Xanthe Canning on Neighbours, was “the standout star of any show right now”.
Critics have also touted Van Der Meer, currently a year 11 student, as the next Margot Robbie.
“Neighbours started all this with the success of Kylie, Jason, Guy Pearce, etc, then Home And Away took over with stars like Isla Fisher, Ryan Kwanten, Chris Hemsworth,” Mercado said.
“But I think the tide is turning — and the stars of tomorrow could be Lily and Olympia.”
Peacocke left Home And Away last year, and has been cast in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, opposite Tina Fey, and Me Before You with Game Of Thrones star Emilia Clarke.
TV Tonight editor David Knox said while success abroad was good for local talent, there was sometimes too much focus on marquee stars.
He cited Australians breaking through in supporting roles like Lee Jones in The Bastard Executioner, Adelaide Kane on Reign, Rebecca Breeds on Pretty Little Liars, Ben Lawson in Covert Affairs, Todd Lasance in Spartacus, Rhada Mitchell on Red Widow, Sianoa Smit-McPhee on Hung, Dichen Lachman on Dollhouse and Richard Brancatisano on Chasing Life.
SUNDAY HERALD SUN TV EXPERT COLIN VICKERY’S RULING
VERDICT: Home and Away
No contest. That was my first thought as to which soap — Home and Away or Neighbours — is the better stepping stone to international stardom.
In ratings terms, Home and Away is a runaway winner. On Monday night, the Channel 7 soap averaged 757,000 viewers across the five capital cities compared with Neighbours’ paltry 176,000. I know which ratings figure I’d rather mention in an audition tape for a Hollywood agent.
US TV and movie producers value the skills both soaps teach their young cast — turn up on time, know your lines, you’ll only get one take, and no diva antics. That has to be refreshing in an industry where petulant stars are the norm.
That is why Margot Robbie has had such a meteoric rise from Ramsay St’s Donna Freedman to A-lister alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Will Smith. She knows her stuff.
It is the same with Chris Hemsworth. Is there a bigger career trajectory than going from Kim Hyde to Thor?
Neighbours has the edge over its rival when it comes to the pop careers it has helped launch — Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Natalie Imbruglia, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Holly Valance and Delta Goodrem. But Neighbours’ ratings have been in freefall since it was relegated to digital channel Eleven in 2010.
Rule No.1 for a young actor is “get noticed” so it really is no contest in 2017 — Home and Away is the winner.
FAMOUS NEIGHBOURS ALUMNI
Kylie Minogue (Charlene Mitchell)
Jason Donovan (Scott Robinson)
Russell Crowe (Kenny Larkin)
Liam Hemsworth (Josh Taylor)
Holly Valance (Felicity Scully)
Natalie Bassingthwaighte (Izzy Hoyland)
Delta Goodrem (Nina Tucker)
Guy Pearce (Mike Young)
Margot Robbie (Donna Freedman)
Natalie Imbruglia (Beth Brennan)
Alan Dale (Jim Robinson)
FAMOUS HOME AND AWAY ALUMNI
Melissa George (Angel Brooks)
Heath Ledger (Scott Irwin)
Isla Fisher (Shannon Reed)
Chris Hemsworth (Kim Hyde)
Naomi Watts (Julie Gibson)
Ryan Kwanten (Vinnie Patterson)
Isabel Lucas (Tasha Andrews)
Dannii Minogue (Emma Jackson)
Simon Baker (James Healey)
THE NEXT GENERATION
Olympia Valance (Neighbours)
Lily Van Der Meer (Neighbours)
Stephen Peacocke (Home And Away)
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