Home and Away stars: Where are they now?

This was a monster-sized slideshow I wrote for The Fix in 2014. It was a big research project because I’m far from a Home and Away expert – phew! Fun though.

 

Sure there’s been Hollywood break-outs Chris Hemsworth, Melissa George, and Ryan Kwanten, and a slew of others who have sustained acting careers. But not all Home And Away alumni hit the big (or even medium) time. So where are they now? We delve into the corners of the internet – even as far as LinkedIn – to find out…

Nicolle Dickson

THEN
Let’s start with the big hitters. One of the original crew, Nicolle played beloved Summer Bay icon, the relentless rebel Bobby Simpson. She earned a Logie for her portrayal and apparently received a tonne of extra fan mail every time she punched someone on the show.

NOW
Nicolle was on All Saints and, most recently, Australian Celebrity Survivor, where she was the fourth last eliminated. And, er, here she is at Channel Seven’s 50th birthday in 2006. Hmm. Maybe this would be more exciting if she told us all to “Rack off!”

Alex Papps

THEN
Frank was the first character to appear on Home And Away, back in its 1988 pilot, and the first foster kid taken in by Pippa and Tom. And he won a Logie in the show’s first year.

NOW
Alex has worked steadily in Aussie TV, but can currently be spotted on Play School alongside his Home And Away TV ex Roo, Justine Clarke.

Sharyn Hodgson

THEN
Another of the Fletchers’ foster children in 1988 pilot, Sharyn played troubled teen (but weren’t they all?) Carly Morris, who later married soldier Ben (Julian McMahon). In true soap spirit, she also played her even more troublesome twin sister Samantha. A regular until 1991, Carly occasionally reappeared in Summer Bay until 2002.

NOW
Now 43, Sharyn stepped away from the spotlight to have a family, and apparently lives somewhere down the NSW coast (so there’s still a hint of Summer Bay in her life). But in 2008, Sharyn returned briefly for Kate Ritchie’s departure from the show (pictured).

Adam Willits

THEN
Adam played Steven Matheson – fostered by the Fletchers after he was orphaned. Stevo was no stranger to forbidden love, having an affair with an older lady, then one of his students, then with Curtis’ girlfriend Selina. But in this clip, he gets shut down… We suggest he eat a burger. Just saying.

NOW
40-year-old Adam has said he works “office jobs” in the insurance industry – pictured here with Alex Papps (Frank), Kate Ritchie (Sally), Craig Thompson (Martin), Les Hill (Blake) and Peter Vroom (Lance). “I’ve sort of been famous four or five times in my life,” he says. “I’ve had good stints… It’s a good security blanket to see it on TV. If it was not there, I think a little piece of me would die.”

Tempany Deckert

THEN
Tempany played Selina Roberts, Summer Bay’s own grunger tramp with a heart of gold. She ditched Curtis for teacher Steve (not her first romance with a teacher, btw) – only to (spoiler alert) leave Steve at the altar. She also found a baby on a beach once and decided that, rather than a bizarre occurrence, it was fate.

NOW
Far from a real-life Selena, 34-year-old Tempany is now a children’s and young adults’ author, having penned 18 published novels, as well as plays and screenplays.

Tristan Bancks

THEN
Tristan played bad boy teen heartthrob Tug O’Neale was a streetwise tough kid always keen for a fight – pretty brave for a guy called Tug. In fact, Tristan said at the time the name was “the worst part about the job”. Fair call. That and the ‘90s undercut maybe?

NOW
Tristan, 37, is a children’s author. Sound familiar? Turns out he also co-wrote a book, it’s yr life, with fellow Home And Away castmate-slash-author Tempany Deckert. He’s also written cool-sounding titles like Galactic Adventures: First Kids In Space. Nothing like child stardom to keep your inner-child alive.

Nic Testoni

THEN
Hunky Nic played all-round good guy and branded ‘dreamboat fisherman’ Travis Nash, so popular that he won a Logie. Travis’ romance with Rebecca Fisher (Belinda Emmett) was a Summer Bay success story, leading to a beach wedding and the two of them sailing off into the sunset.

NOW
Nic is now on the other side of the camera as a filmmaker, and won an award for his film Mr. Patterns.

Kristy Wright

THEN
Kristy’s character Chloe Richards had a tough time of it and turned to drugs, naturally dealt to her by the school secretary (played by Kimberley Joseph). In a similar vein, Chloe is raped on the beach only to be counselled by her assailant, Brad Cooper (Bruce Samazan) – with whom she also has a relationship. And other wholesome plotlines until Chloe (spoiler alert) dies.

NOW
Now 33, back in 2005 Kristy scored the role of Motée in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith – a loyal handmaiden who tended to Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) during her secret pregnancy. Maybe Chloe’s next ghostly appearance on Home And Away could bring this new look to Summer Bay.

Bruce Samazan

THEN
Bruce played dastardly Brad Cooper on Home And Away, but he was also the only actor to have played regular roles in all of the “Big Three” Aussie soaps the ‘90s, with credits on E Street and Neighbours to his name. So why wouldn’t he release a hip-hop single that is everything terrible about the era?

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Today Bruce, 41, works in real estate marketing on the Sunshine Coast. In this headshot, found on career networking site LinkedIn, he’s channelling Arrested Development’s Michael Bluth – but presumably with better properties than Sudden Valley.

 

Check out all the slideshow images at The Fix

 

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