Neighbors and Home and Away, two popular Australian soap operas, have spawned a number of stars who have gone on to star in Hollywood films.
Some, like Thor actor Chris Hemsworth, had one-shot parts, while others, like Margot Robbie, Isla Fisher, Melissa George, and Guy Pearce, had multi-year deals and featured in hundreds of episodes between them.
Stars from Hollywood who got their start in Australian soap operas Home & Away and Neighbours
A lot of well-known Hollywood actors got their start on Australian soap operas such as Neighbours and Home & Away. You’ll be startled by a few of them. Russell Crowe, for example, appeared in four episodes of Neighbours in 1987, whereas Chris Hemsworth, aka Thor, appeared in only one episode in 2002.
Others, on the other hand, became well-known components of the “furniture.” Guy Pearce, best known for Christopher Nolan’s Memento and Curt Hanson’s L.A. Confidential, appeared in 496 episodes of Neighbours and 12 episodes of Home and Away before making the Hollywood leap. Isla Fisher, who has since starred in Wedding Crashers, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and Now You See Me, played Shannon Reed in Home and Away for three years in the mid-1990s.
Russell Crowe’s cameo on Neighbours was brief (he played the nasty ex-con Kenny Larkin in four episodes), but it was nothing compared to Chris Hemsworth’s visit in 2002, which was limited to a single episode. Between 2007 and 2008, his brother Liam Hemsworth got a little more screen time as Bridget Parker’s paraplegic friend Josh.
Top 10 Neighbours & Home and Away actors to successfully make the Hollywood leap
10. Melissa George
What soap? Home and Away
When: 1993-1996
Melissa George’s first-ever acting role was as Angel Parrish in Home and Away.
9. Liam Hemsworth
What soap? Neighbours
When: 2007-2008
Liam Hemsworth played Bridget Parker’s paraplegic friend Josh. Despite a few dates Bridget decided she was really in love with Declan.
8. Isla Fisher
What soap? Home and Away
When: 1994-1997
Isla Fisher played Shannon Reed in Home and Away from 1994 to 1997.
Best Hollywood Movie: Now You See Me (2013)
7. Naomi Watts
What soap? Home and Away
When: 1991
Naomi Watts played wheelchair user Julie Gibson in Home and Away, a character who lost the use of her legs after a car accident.
Best Hollywood Movie: Mulholland Drive (2001)
6. Ben Mendelsohn
What soap? Neighbours
When: 1986-1987
Ben Mendelsohn played Warren Murphy in Neighbours.
Best Hollywood Movie: Mississippi Grind (2015)
5. Heath Ledger
What soap? Neighbours
When: 1997
Heath Ledger was Home and Away’s the bad boy of 1997, taking Sally Fletcher’s virginity before heading over to Hollywood.
Best Hollywood Movie: The Dark Knight (2008)
4. Guy Pearce
What soap? Neighbours & Home and Away
When: 1986-1989 & 1991-1992
Guy Pearce played Mike Young in Neighbours and, between 1986 and 1989, appeared in 496 episodes. He would later in appearing in Home and Away as David Croft, appearing in 12 episodes.
Best Hollywood Movie: L.A. Confidential (1997)
3. Chris Hemsworth
When: 2002 & 2004-2007
Chris Hemsworth appeared in Neighbours for only a solitary episode. He played Jamie Kane, a guy hired by Steph Scully to work at her garage. A couple of years later he began a stint on Home & Away where he would stay until 2007.
Best Hollywood Movie: Avengers: Endgame (2019)
2. Russell Crowe
What soap? Neighbours
When: 1987
Russell Crowe did four episodes of Neighbours in 1987 as Kenny Larkin, an ex-con who ended up stealing money and ruining Henry Mitchell’s gardening business.
Best Hollywood Movie: L.A. Confidential (1997)
1. Margot Robbie
What soap? Neighbours
When: 2008-2011
Originally introduced as a creepy stalker of musician Ty Harper, Margot Robbie’s talent saw her promoted to Neighbours’ regular cast where she stayed until 2011.
Best Hollywood Movie: The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
