Where else but Australia could you find so many A-list actors who have started their careers in soaps? A unique moment in small-screen history created a situation where the work-horse serials Neighbours and Home and Away ran for decades, attracting an audience of millions both at home and abroad (mostly in the UK). Young, untried actors used these television shows as an apprenticeship in the industry and a calling card for the wider world. They might have spent precious teenage years working 15-hour days, but at least they learnt to hit their marks and cry on cue, often from the experienced older cast members playing their parents and principals. Actors found a springboard and a community; they might even have found love – before going on to become internationally famous. Here are nine Australian celebrity success stories who still call [insert imaginary suburb] home.
