Former Neighbours star Zima Anderson ready for SAS Australia

Ex-Neighbours star Zima Anderson is tired of playing ‘wild child’ roles, and wants SAS Australia to help broaden her career. She also reveals what Anthony Mundine is really like. See the video.

Former Neighbours star Zima Anderson, who shot to fame as a blonde bombshell, playing “wild child” roles, wants to break the mould on SAS Australia.

The 25-year-old, who is 5ft (152cm) tall, has already been dubbed the pocket rocket by the show’s notoriously tough directing staff ahead of Monday’s new season launch.

She hopes her appearance in such a physically and psychologically brutal environment will be a springboard into the kinds of action roles she’s never managed to snag.

Watch the video above to see what Zima thinks about her rival Anthony Mundine.

Recruit Zima Anderson in the Jordanian desert for SAS Australia. Picture: Remco Jansen

Zima Anderson ahead of SAS Australia 2023 launch. Picture: David Crosling

“I really want to break away from that category I’ve been put in,” she said.

“I find because I’m small and because I have blonde hair and I’m also curvy that just really puts me in the bracket of being sexualised.

“I’m always like a romantic partner. Or a wild child or I’m not a very nice person.

“These are the stigmas that have just been in television for some time now and I’m excited to get away from all of that.”

Zima Anderson (l) during her time on Neighbours with (l-r) Matt Wilson, Ben Hall, Georgie Stone, Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne

Anderson, who spent three years on Neighbours as the very fun and very naughty Roxy Willis, joins 13 other celebrities, including boxer Anthony Mundine and convicted drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury.

Also attempting to pass selection for the Special Forces in the toughest environment of the Channel 7 reality series so far are actor Craig McLachlan, Thai cave rescue diver Dr Craig Challen, Olympic gold medallist Matthew Mitcham and original Bachelor Tim Robards.

The recruits were dropped into the searing heat of the Jordanian desert in grim camp conditions, with drop toilets, one bucket of cold water to shower with daily and unappealing rations.

SAS Australia chief instructor Ant Middleton gets stuck into Zima Anderson on the Channel 7 reality show. Picture: Remco Jansen

Zima Anderson and Jemma Donovan farewell Neighbours in July 2022. Picture: Alex Coppel.

For up to 10 days, they are subjected to challenges designed to break them.

It wasn’t the deprivations that rattled Anderson most (she grew up climbing trees and getting dirty on her family’s farm in Tasmania). It was the having to be vulnerable and just be herself, rather than portraying a character.

“It was the most terrifying thing in my life because while I love myself and I’m fine with who I am as person and where I came from – but there are things about me that people don’t know,” Anderson said.

“I’m very private about my life and the people that I love, so doing this is going the opposite way.

“I’m very nervous. I’ve been a lot more open about my personal life and there are things that I’ve never voiced to the public ever before.

“So it’s going to be really confronting for me.”

SAS AUSTRALIA, Monday-Wednesday, 7.30pm, Seven

Originally published as Former Neighbours star Zima Anderson ready for SAS Australia