Iconic Australian soap Neighbours has been axed after almost 40 years on the air, leaving fans devastated.
However, the legacy of the long-running soap lives on, as over the decades, Neighbours has helped to catapult several of its stars to superstardom.
Previous residents of Ramsay Street include the likes of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, as well as Oscar-nominated actress Margot Robbie, Guy Pearce, and all three Hemsworth brothers - Luke, Chris and Liam.
The soap began in 1986, and has served as breeding ground for Hollywood talent, as Margot is one of the hottest actresses in the world, along with Chris Hemsworth, who’s built a hugely successful career as an action superhero.
We take a look at some of the biggest names who have been catapulted to superstardom, thanks to Neighbours…
Kylie Minogue
The petite actress played tomboy mechanic Charlene Robinson from 1986 to 1989, and her wedding to sweetheart Scott Robinson, played by Jason Donovan, attracted more than 18 million viewers in the UK when it aired in 1987.
Despite only being on the show for two years, Kylie quit acting and turned her hand to music instead, and enjoyed a hugely successful career after leaving Ramsay Street, and has gone on to become the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time.
The Spinning Around hitmaker did dabble in acting, and appeared in the Delinquents in 1989, as well as Street Fighter in 1994, and enjoyed a brief cameo in Baz Luhrman’s Moulin Rouge! in 2004.
Guy Pearce
Guy played Mike Young from 1986 to 1989, and starred alongside co-stars Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan.
While his former friends headed into the music industry, Guy chose to head to Hollywood, and landed roles in critically-acclaimed films such as The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, L.A. Confidential, Memento and The Time Machine.
He’s carved out a successful career as a revered leading man, and Guy even headed into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing villain Aldrich Killian in the 2013 blockbuster Iron Man 3, alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Guy also joined another big budget franchise when he starred in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, and reprised his role for the sequel Alien: Covenant, in 2017.
Margot Robbie
The blonde bombshell landed the role of Donna Freedman in 2008, and appeared on the soap for three years, despite initially only signing up for a few episodes.
Margot was nominated for two Logie Awards for her portrayal of Donna, and one of her storylines included a groundbreaking same-sex kiss with Sunny Lee.
She quit in 2011, and the Queensland-born beauty jetted off to Hollywood, where she got her big break in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street in 2013, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.
Margot’s career has gone from strength to strength, and she was nominated for her first Academy Award in 2017, for her portrayal of Tonya Harding in the bleak comedy drama I, Tonya.
She’s since set up her own production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, with husband Tom Ackerley, and has also starred as DC Comics icon Harley Quinn in three hugely successful movies, including The Suicide Squad which was released last year.
Liam Hemsworth
The Aussie hunk played Bridget Parker's paraplegic friend Josh Taylor, who was left paralysed following a surfing accident, from 2007 to 2008.
After less than 12 months on the soap, Liam headed off to Hollywood with his big brother Chris Hemsworth, who had just quit another Aussie soap, Home & Away.
He auditioned for the role of Thor in the eponymous marvel superhero movie, but lost out to Chris, but Liam eventually hit the big time when he was cast opposite Miley Cyrus in The Last Song in 2010.
He and Miley began dating, and even tied the knot in 2018, but they split just a few months later.
Liam has since starred as Gale in The Hunger Games trilogy, as well as Independence Day: Resurgence, and Isn’t It Romantic.
His big brothers Chris and Luke also appeared in Neighbours, with the Thor star briefly playing a mechanic in one episode 20 years ago.
Luke was cast as football player Nathan Tyson in 2001, and spent 12 months on the soap, before returning in 2008 to play a car salesman.
Holly Valance
The actress played Felicity Scully from 1999 to 2002, and decided to take up a career in music following her stint on the long-running soap.
She experienced some success, with her debut single Kiss Kiss charting at number 1, but she failed to reach the same dizzying heights as former Neighbours star Kylie Minogue.
Holly took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2011, and had small parts in shows including Prison Break, and CSI: Miami.
She wed billionaire tycoon Nick Candy in 2012, and the couple share two daughters.
Alan Dale
The veteran actor played patriarch Jim Robinson from 1985 to 1993, and became a firm favourite with fans until his character’s tragic on-screen death from a heart attack.
He’s had success in Hollywood, with small roles in films such as Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as well as TV shows including The Killing, 24, Lost, and NCIS.
He recently played Joseph Anders in CW’s drama Dynasty from 2017 until 2021, and briefly reprised his role as Jim in Neighbours in 2018 and 2019.
Russell Crowe
The critically-acclaimed actor began his career on Neighbours, playing ex-con Kenny Larkin in four episodes.
His character wreaked havoc on Ramsay Street, and he upset the close-knit community by sabotaging Henry Mitchell’s gardening business and stealing money.
Russell, who was born in New Zealand, made waves in Hollywood with his breakout role in L.A Confidential, alongside his former Neighbours co-star Guy Pearce.
His career went from strength to strength, as he won an Oscar for his portrayal of grieving soldier Maximus in Ridley Scott’s 2000 smash Gladiator.
Russell became one of Hollywood’s greatest leading men with roles in A Beautiful Mind, The Insider, Cinderella Man, Proof Of Life, Les Miserables and Man of Steel, and is set to star in the upcoming Thor movie Thor: Love and Thunder, later this year.
Jesse Spencer
The teen heartthrob played Billy Kennedy, son of Susan and Karl Kennedy, on the long-running soap from 1994 to 2000.
He left the show as he claimed the “storylines were boring”, and said he was disappointed with his character’s departure from Erinsborough.
However, he later thanked the programme for helping launch his career, and Jesse shot to superstardom thanks to his role on the critically-acclaimed drama series House, alongside Hugh Laurie.
He then played Matthew Chase in all three ‘Chicago’ TV series in the US, including Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, and Chicago Fire.
