Welkom op de fanblog van de Australische serie 'Neighbours'. Neighbours is een Australische soapserie, gestart in maart 1985.

Neighbours gaat over de belevenissen van de inwoners van 6 huizen in Ramsay Street, een doodlopende straat in Erinsborough, een fictieve voorstad van Melbourne. De binnenopnames gebeuren in de Global Television studios in Forest Hill. Voor buitenopnames trekt de crew naar Ramsay Street. Pin Oak Court is de echte doodlopende straat die sinds 1985 dienst doet als Ramsay Street. Alle huizen die je in de serie ziet, zijn echt en de crew mag er een paar dagen per maand op straat en in de voortuinen filmen. De bewoners van de huizen krijgen daar trouwens een mooie vergoeding voor. Lassiter's, de ontmoetingsplaats van de 'buren', met een hotel, pub en koffiehuis bevindt zich achter de studio's.
De gebeurtenissen spelen zich sinds het begin altijd in dezelfde huizen af (nummers 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 en 32). Dat is een groot verschil met andere soaps waar er regelmatig van set gewisseld wordt. De serie heeft ook een heel eigen stijl gericht op het hele gezin en is niet te vergelijken met de Amerikaanse soaps. De soap zelf heeft een eigen stijl gericht op het hele gezin en is niet te vergelijken met de Nederlandse of Amerikaanse soaps. Hilarische misverstanden, humoristische toestanden en gezonde concurrentiestrijd zijn aan de orde van de dag in Ramsey Street, maar ook wel de gebruikelijke drama's, slechte werkverhoudingen en affaires.
Een aantal bekende sterren hebben in Neighbours gespeeld, bijvoorbeeld Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Natalie Imbruglia, Alan Dale, Delta Goodrem en Guy Pearce. Ook Russel Crowe heeft ooit een klein rolletje in de serie gespeeld. Kylie en Jason vormden het meest populaire koppel ooit in Ramsey Street. Dat was in de jaren '80 maar nog voor Kylie en Jason als Charlene en Scott hun intrede deden, werd de serie door de Australische Channel 7 van de buis gehaald.
In Australië worden al ruim 6700 afleveringen uitgezonden. Ook het Britse commerciële Five en het Belgische één brengen de serie dagelijks. In Vlaanderen is ze bekend onder de titel Buren. De eerste aflevering werd op de toenmalige BRT uitgezonden op 31 oktober 1988.

zondag 1 mei 2011

Vanessa Villante



Alin Sumarwata As Vanessa Villante

Proud Vanessa was born to traditional Italian Catholic parents and is one of five children.
She loves her family but often feels lost amongst her siblings. Vanessa despaerately wants to believe she is special but doesn't always feel that way. 

A professional pastry chef and a party girl from way back, she wants more than anything to feel deeply understood by and connected to another person. 

Unfortunately, up until this point, she's been casting her net too wide and looking for love in all the wrong places. 

Arriving on Ramsay Steet results in a major shift in the direction of her life, which ultimately will have huge and permanent consequences for her.

Alin Sumarwata

Alin was just thirteen-years-old when she was introduced to the world of drama and won a scholarship at the Australian Theatre of Young People in Sydney.

Throughout her teen years she continued to study acting and joined the Newton Performing Arts Centre. However, she decided to move away from the arts when she left school and completed a commerce and law degree over five years.

Born in Iran and settling with her family in Australia when she was seven, Alin realised in her early-twenties that performing was her passion.

She was cast in her first television role in 2005 and has since appeared in numerous commercials, short films and dramas including East West 101, Sea Patrol, Rescue, False Witness, Home And Away and Mary Bryant.

In December 2011, Alin joined the cast of Neighbours in a regular role as the vivacious Vanessa Villante, a professional chef who has more than food on her mind when she arrives in Ramsay Street.

"The fact that she is always eating mirrors my life, I adore food," joked Alin who has relocated to Melbourne from Sydney with her husband and baby daughter, Tilda.

Lucas Fitzgerald



Scott Major As Lucas Fitzgerald

He's cheeky, cocky, always the life of the party, and loves being a hero to his mates. Lucas Fitzgerald has a reputation as a bit of a bad boy but underneath is a sensitive guy out for a bit of harmless fun.
Lucas is Dan’s brother, and when Lucas winds up in Erinsborough, Dan is less than impressed. There is a troubled past between them and Dan is sure Lucas has come to make his life more difficult. When Dan realises Lucas is interested in Libby, their past rivalry comes back to haunt them and the two brothers go head to head, competing for Libby’s love. 

Lucas went through a gambling addicition which almost killed his relationship with Elle, a brief liaison with Steph Scully and many scraps with Elle before finally coming good and asking Elle to marry him. And all looked picture perfect for the loved-up couple, until Elle was offered a job as a foreign correspondent for a New York newspaper and left Erinsborough and her fiance for greener pastures. 
Damaged by Elle's departure, Lucas immersed himself in the garage and his friendship with his brother to stop him sliding down the slippery slope of his gambling addiction.  Although that was shortlived when Dan and Libby's relationship started to fall apart and Dan deserted his brother without saying goodbye, leaving the Street completely.  Upset by his brother's actions and a recent call from Elle breaking off their engagement completely, Lucas does the one thing he knows best and blows out of Erinsborough on his beloved motorbike, and in a crazed need for speed gets chased by cops and crashes into a truck, winding up in hospital with damage to his spine and a chance that he may never walk again.  
After an ill fated relationship with Steph Scully, Lucas met, married and had a baby with Vanessa Villante (but not in that order). Having battled his gambling addiction once more, Lucas and Vanessa drove off into the sunset to start a new life together in Daylesford.
But who is there to nurse him back to health but his ever-reliable mate Steph Scully, and after a brief struggle between them, the two end up confessing their love for one another and decide their fate is to be together, finally. That is until Steph's past comes back to haunt her! And then, so does Lucas'. What will happen to poor Lucas after all?

Scott Major

It’s very rare that an actor returns to a series as a different character but for Scott Major, it was like coming home when he re-joined the cast of Neighbours as Lucas Fitzgerald in July 2008.

At just 18, Scott was cast as the original Darren Stark in 1993 for a brief period, and went on to have roles in Heartbreak High, Always Greener, Blue Heelers, Home & Away and All Saints, as well as in feature films, He Died With A Felafel In His Hand and Ned Kelly.

Scott, 36, has had success overseas in the BBC’s mini-series Doctors and also wrote, produced and starred in his own play at the 2006 Edinburgh fringe festival. His passion for script writing, producing and directing has also come to fruition in recent years with the debut of several original plays in Melbourne including, The Subtle Art of Flirting, All This Intimacy and The Fellatio Monologues. 

An enthusiastic cook, Scott plays the guitar and is a die-hard Western Bulldogs supporter.

Kyle Canning



Chris Milligan As Kyle Canning

Kyle’s a ripper bloke with a big heart. An Aussie through and through, he’s the type of blue-collar guy to have the Southern Cross tattooed on his butt in an end-of-season footy trip dare. He wants the All-Australian dream: the girl, the car, and a beautiful home. Kyle recently realised his dream of owning a handyman business which he named Dial-a Kyle.
Kyle’s greatest weakness is his inferiority complex. He thinks he’s really dumb. He never ‘got’ school; while everyone else was learning, he was staring out the window, thinking about footy.
Due to his imposing physical presence as a teenager, he fell easily into the role of a group leader and bully, before realising his lack of academic intelligence made him vulnerable to those kids who were smarter than him. Since his school days, he’s grown up to become a bit of a larrikin, a good-time guy with a heart of gold and 
sense of adventure.
Kyle sees himself as an alpha male among his peers, but intelligent and suave blokes intimidate him. He’d say it’s because they’re up themselves, but deep down it’s because he feels intellectually inferior.
Kyle’s dad ran out on him and mum Shazza when he was young, but he remained in contact with that side of the family through his grandmother Sheila.

Chris Milligan

As a 14-year-old, the Brisbane-born Milligan chose drama as an elective in Year 8 because it sounded easy and he had heard there was little homework attached to the subject.

“I took it (drama) as an easy option and by Year 10, I knew acting was what I wanted to do,” said Milligan. “I’m not sure what I would be doing now if I hadn’t taken that path.”

When Milligan finished high school he undertook classes at the Film & Television Studio International in Brisbane. He scored a role as a featured extra in the acclaimed HBO series The Pacific and spent ten months filming in far north Queensland and eventually in Melbourne. He had a lead role in the BBC/ABC co-production Dead Gorgeous and has featured in a number of national commercials.

The 24-year-old joined Neighbours in a recurring guest role as the lovable Kyle Canning in 2009. Viewers’ positive feedback to the character resulted in Milligan becoming a regular cast member at the start of 2011.

A fan of most sports, Christopher now calls Melbourne home and shares a house with co-star and close friend Jordan Smith.

Kate Ramsay



Ashleigh Brewer As Kate Ramsay

Due to her mother’s untimely death, Kate spent her teens playing surrogate mum to her younger siblings Harry and Sophie. With them now off her hands, Kate is starting to enjoy the freedoms of young adulthood.
Naturally conservative, Kate’s begun to explore her rebellious side and realized she can be surprisingly strong-willed and stubborn – particularly when it comes to setting her uncle Paul Robinson on the straight and narrow.
Kate puts an incredible amount of pressure on herself to be perfect. Like her uncle, she enjoys order and control.  Kate isn’t in any way a fussy girl. She’s feminine without being showy. She has a passion for dancing but this had to take a back seat to raising Sophie and Harry.
Her one secret escape that has remained constant over the years is her love of romance novels – the grander then better.
Proud, Kate rejected Elle and her money and threw her out of the house asking her never to come back again. However, Susan who had accompanied Elle, later returned with Dan to try and make an in-road as it was obvious these kids needed help. Kate is very protective of her brother Harry and sister Sophie, so getting close to them without Kate is near impossible, however Dan almost succeeded in getting Harry to open up until Kate insisted Harry stay on side and not talk to anyone associated with the Robinsons. But things quickly went from bad to worse for the Ramsays when the media started to harrass them outside their home. Elle then came up with an idea to get the media off their back, she would buy their story for $15,000 and the Erinsborough News.

They continued to struggle however, and Susan came to the rescue, telling Kate about Ramsay Street and her ancestors and their rightful link to the street. Eventually, Kate started to realise the people of Ramsay Street weren't so bad afterall and moved into number 24. However, Kate and Harry were unable to accept the kindness of everyone at first, and really struggle with living next door to Paul and Elle.

Meanwhile, Paul was under investigation as the murderer of Jill Ramsay and had skipped bail to search for the Ramsay kid's father. Then Rebecca noticed a picture Sophie had drawn showing she was at the scene when her mother was hit and was the missing link needed to prove Paul's innocence. Protective Kate however wouldn't have a bar of it and refused to allow anyone come near Sophie who was obviously suffering from the loss of her mother.

Kate puts an incredible amount of pressure on herself to be perfect – something she shares with Mark Brennan. Whenever Kate lets herself go, it makes her feel guilty. It’s like she can’t have fun – that’s for Sophie to enjoy.

Naturally conservative, Kate doesn’t have a rebellious bone in her body. She likes playing by the rules and going with the flow. However, under pressure she releases the fire and strength within her and can be surprisingly strong-willed and stubborn and certainly messes up sometimes.

Kate isn’t in any way a fussy girl. She’s feminine without being showy. She has a passion for dancing but has put aside what she considers to be a childish pursuit to concentrate on her siblings. Her one secret escape from her world of responsibility is indulging in romance novels.

Having missed out on her youth she finally wants to live for herself, and appreciate the opportunities to choose her own future. She feels she needs to let go of the pressure and act her age.
Ashleigh Brewer
Twenty-­one-­year-­old Ashleigh Brewer had her return flight to her home city, Brisbane booked when she came to Melbourne 2009 to scout around local casting agents.

She never imagined she would be offered an on-­going role on Neighbours as Kate Ramsay who has always been interested in the performing arts.

As a student, she had guest roles in H2O just add water, Sleepover Club and Blue Heelers. Ashleigh is an accomplished dancer, having trained since she was in primary school and when time permits, still attends classes.

The coveted role of Kate Ramsay marked a nostalgic return of the famous name name to Ramsay Street. Viewers sort of knew Kate because of the history which was a lovely way to join the series, Ashleigh finished her first year on Neighbours with a Logie nomination for Best New Female Talent.
A keen runner, the popular actress competes regularly in charity fun runs. She is an ambassador for the Leukaemia Foundation and as a tribute to her late grandfather who was struck down by motor neuron disease, raises awareness of this debilitating illness.

Callum Rebecchi



Morgan Baker As Callum Rebecchi

Callum is Toadie’s live-wire adopted son, and the biological son of Sonya.
After a rocky start to family life, Callum finally found a stable home with Toadie, whom he adores, and Sonya, who he came to love and accept as his real mum. The recent addition of baby sister Nell to the Rebecchi clan has solidified the family unit and Callum now feels very secure.
Callum is a funny, resourceful, whirlwind of a kid. A natural salesman, he has the gift of the gab and sees opportunity everywhere. He exudes charm and confidence beyond his age, however they belie a cautious and sensitive nature. His chutzpah is an offensive weapon against a harsh world, and an insurance policy against uncertainty. He doesn’t trust easily, and guards his vulnerability well.
Now in the throes of the terrible teens, Callum’s hormones are beginning to rage and this former confident trouble maker is now finding the need to belong amongst his peers. He also becoming more interested in girls and like his father before him, is working out how to make girls fall for the class clown.
Callum has the typical interests of a teenage boy: comics, fan fiction, and gaming – in particular the online game Dragon Prophecies. Although a mad fan of the Essendon Bombers he’s not fond of playing sports but Toadie still manages to drag him into the occasional game of street cricket.

Morgan Baker

Sixteen-year-old Morgan Baker started acting in commercials when he was a little tyke in kindergarten.

“I’m not sure what he enjoys more, the actual acting or being on set with the people he works with,” said his mother Mairwen. “Whatever it is, he always has a ball.”

The eldest of three brothers, Morgan has appeared in several films, tele-movies and TV series including The Society Murders and Underbelly.

In April 2008, Morgan was cast as the precocious Callum Jones who was originally cared for by long-time Neighbours’ favourite Toadie, played by Ryan Moloney but now enjoys a family life with his biological Mum Sonya played by Eve Morey and Toadie.

“I like Callum because he gets away with more than I ever would be allowed to at home and Ryan and Eve make me laugh a lot,” said Morgan. When he isn’t filming, Morgan attends school.

Jarrod Rebecchi




Ryan Moloney As Jarrod "Toadfish" Rebecchi

Toadie is the secret genius who covered his childhood boredom with comedy. It’s no surprise he bonded so instantly with adopted son Callum.
A sports loving larrikin with a huge heart, he loathes pretension. Toadie likes helping people and would give a mate the shirt off his back, hence his career as a suburban lawyer. Although he’s flirted with bigger law firms before, Toadie senses he might not be cut-throat enough to make it in the corporate world. He owes a huge personal debt to Karl and Susan who took him in when he was a wild and wayward teen and supported him to find his way in the world. The law appeals to Toad as a way to speak up for those in need: advocacy is his thing. A typical bloke, he likes to fix things.
Toadie would solve all problems with laughter if he could. A resilient self-deprecating sense of humour has often been his only comfort in tough times. He loves a practical joke but is quick to laugh first at his own expense. He’s a natural diplomat and peacemaker. He embodies the principle that you only get out of life what you put in. To this end he will compromise his own happiness for the greater good.
Toadie lives for family and community - it’s where he draws his strength. If they’re happy, he’s happy. 
After some false starts and broken hearts on the romance front, Toadie is finally living the Aussie dream with a beautiful home and family. The recent addition of Nell to the Rebecchi brood has brought him and Sonya even closer together. 

Ryan Moloney

Ryan Maloney, born 24 November 1979, is an Australian actor who has played Jarrod “Toadfish” Rebecchi in Neighbours since 1995. 

Ryan’s first acting experience was with the Merilyn Brend Children’s Teenagers and Adult’s Theatre Company in Melbourne when he was ten years old. He starred in their production The Purple Pumpernickel. His first role in a feature film was in Say A Little Prayer in 1993. He was also involved with the Victorian Police Department’s Films For Schools Youth project for a while. 

Ryan has appeared on Rove Live, The Big Breakfast, The Saturday Show and Good Morning Australia, and is renowned internationally. In 2004 he was nominated for a Golden Rose of Montreux award for Best Actor in a Soap. 

In 2003 Ryan married his long term girlfriend Alison Hayward and they became parents in 2006. Ryan is a charity worker, working for charities such as Forgotten Children Rescue Foundation, for children based in the Philippines. Ryan is also active in the Down Syndrome Association of Victoria. 

In 2005 Ryan starred as Buttons in the pantomime Cinderella at The Marlow Theatre Company in Canterbury, UK and Sheffield Theatre. 

Ryan is a big fan of long distance running. 

Jade Mitchell

Gemma Pranita As Jade Mitchell


Rhys Lawson

Benjamin Barber As Rhys Lawson

Andrew Robinson

Jordan Patrick Smith As Andrew Robinson


Summer Hoyland

Jordy Lucas As Summer Hoyland


Natasha Williams

Valentina Novakovic As Natasha Williams

Sophie Ramsay

Kaiya Jones As Sophie Ramsey

Mason Turner

Taylor Glockner As Mason Turner


Charming, charismatic and self-assured, Mason is a natural people person.
Mason is impulsive and easily influenced. He often acts before thinking and this has caused some serious consequences in the past. Mason’s alliance with bad boy Robbo set him down a path of juvenile crime for which he paid the price of six months in juvie.
At the heart of it all, Mason’s a good person who does the wrong things for the right reasons.
Matt has always been hard on his eldest son, Mason, and has high expectations of him.
Mason is desperate for his father’s approval and is constantly frustrated when his actions bring about Matt’s disappointment instead. And unlike everyone else who orbits Mason’s universe, Matt can’t be charmed.  
Deep down Mason feels his relationship with his father changed forever the night that Matt arrested him for a robbery in Mount Isa and allowed Bailey to walk free… an event which altered the course of the entire family.
While he’s mostly upbeat and light-hearted, Mason’s determined, ambitious and not used to being knocked back – especially when it comes to the ladies.
After arriving in Erinsborough and setting his sights on Kate, he was surprised when she gave him the cold shoulder. But his persistence paid off and allowed Mason to display some surprising romantic tendencies.
Mason takes pride in his appearance and is into keeping fit.

Lauren Turner

Kate Kendal As Lauren Turner


Lauren’s family life in Mt Isa was turned upside down when her eldest son Mason was sent to juvie for a local robbery. Fiercely protective of her son, she felt helpless knowing she couldn’t do anything to help him. Her family were spinning out of control and they still are – she hasn’t quite worked out how to get them back on track, but she’s trying. The move to Erinsborough is just what they needed. Furthermore, the move has given her the chance to reconnect with her father, Lou. They share a warm relationship, but deep down, Lauren has always felt a little guilty that she has spent more of her adult life with her mother than with her father.


Lauren is generally a happy person with a great sense of humour. She’s down to earth, values honesty and can’t stand injustice. She has no problem speaking out when she feels she needs to. 

Lauren’s never been overly ambitious, choosing instead to prioritise her maternal role. She’s happiest when she’s surrounded by family and friends, and loves horses and the great outdoors – so much so that she used to own a horse riding school in Mt Isa. Although she seems content, she harbours unfulfilled dreams of being an artist.

Bailey Turner

Calen Mackenzie As Bailey Turner


Cheeky, left-of-centre and inquisitive, Bailey Turner is one switched on teen. A self described nerd, Bailey loves flexing his brain muscles and has a unique take on everything. Never lost for a comeback, he has the gift of the gab in spades. Enthusiastic about his studies and the thrill of good marks, Bailey always applies himself academically. He’s into astronomy and physiology – he loves understanding how things work. Bailey loves his family and often takes on the role of peacemaker. He was forced to do some growing up when he got caught up in situation, which will have a profound impact on every member of the Turner family.