This year, Australia’s most iconic tv show, Neighbours, has turned 35 years old. As a result, we’re reflecting on all the memorable moments to come out of the series. By reflecting on the show’s lengthy run, we’ve reminisced on all the iconic stars who have come and left Ramsay Street. Here are our favourites.
Kylie Minogue
She’s Australia’s queen of pop, but never forget, she got her start on Neighbours. Before racking up her 70 million records worldwide, she was the unforgettable Charlene Mitchell. Kylie moved into Ramsay Street in the late ‘80s giving Aussie audiences the adoring tomboy we loved to see! Kylie Minogue decided to leave the show in 1988 to pursue music and thank God for that.
Russell Crowe
Before we knew him as the Cinderella Man or Roger Ailes in The Loudest Voice, this Golden Globe Award winner was spotted on the silver screen in Neighbours. Playing an ex-convict, Russell Crowe’s time on the show was short-lived but definitely memorable. After only four episodes, Kenny Larkin left Channel 10 and this star scored himself the lead as Maximus in Gladiator.
Margot Robbie
Whether you know her as Harley Quinn or Tonya Harding, Margot Robbie’s big break came on Ramsay Steet. She shacked it up with Ringo Brown (played by Sam Clark), eventually marrying him on the show. But, how could we forget Donna Freedman’s unforgettable affair with Andrew Robinson?
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Funnily enough, the Neighbours executives refused to kill off her character when Robbie expressed her want to leave. In an interview, she said, “I told them I was going to move to America and then I asked if they would kill me off in like a really big dramatic way… They said no because, ya know, ‘If things don’t work out in America, we want you to be able to come back and play the role again’. So, my character also moved to America, incidentally.”
Liam Hemsworth
Whether you know him as Gale from The Hunger Games trilogy or Miley Cyrus’ ex-husband, we will always remember Mr. Liam Hemsworth from his Neighbours stint. The Byron Bay-resident was on the show from 2007 to 2008, sadly very briefly, as the paraplegic surfer, Josh Taylor. Notably, Liam Hemsworth’s character was stuck in a love triangle with Bridget Parker and Declan Napier. Perhaps the casting agents of The Hunger Games were fans of the show?
Delta Goodrem
Before we heard the album that shook the ARIA charts, ‘Innocent Eyes’, Delta Goodrem was actually the charming Nina Tucker on Neighbours. She was the girl-next-door for a good four years on the show, striking up a romantic relationship with Jack Scully. Since she has left the show, she’s been a judge on The Voice and The Voice Kids, starred as the lead in Olivia: Hopelessly Devoted to You and racked up quite a few number-one singles on the ARIA charts. An icon.
Guy Pearce
He’s remembered for his iconic roles in Memento, The Hurt Locker, Holding The Man and others, but we can never forget Guy Pearce as Jesse Spencer in Neighbours. Guy Pearce had a rough character to play, starring as Mike Young, a young boy who had been abused by his father. Guy Pearce’s time on the show lasted from 1986 to 1989.
Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Before rocking the Australian music scene with her group the Rogue Traders and her chart-topping album 1000 Stars, Natalie Bassingthwaighte was walking around Ramsay Street. The actress/singer played the iconic Izzy Hoyland, who Neighbours fans will remember as the troubled character who dated and broke up with Karl, dated Paul Robinson and also had an affair with Ned Parker.
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