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| Neighbours adds first Indigenous actor, Meyne Wyatt, to main cast | Neighbours adds first Indigenous actor, Meyne Wyatt, to main cast |
| (2 months later) | |
| Soap opera Neighbours is to add an Indigenous actor to its main cast for the first time in its 29-year history. | Soap opera Neighbours is to add an Indigenous actor to its main cast for the first time in its 29-year history. |
| Meyne Wyatt will debut on the show in the episode shown in Australia on 13 August as Nate Kinski. His character has a link to Ramsay Street mainstay Susan Kennedy, who was married to Kinski’s uncle in the show. | Meyne Wyatt will debut on the show in the episode shown in Australia on 13 August as Nate Kinski. His character has a link to Ramsay Street mainstay Susan Kennedy, who was married to Kinski’s uncle in the show. |
| While Indigenous actor Tony Briggs appeared on Neighbours in 1987, Wyatt will be the first Indigenous performer to join the main cast of the long-running show, which is set in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. | While Indigenous actor Tony Briggs appeared on Neighbours in 1987, Wyatt will be the first Indigenous performer to join the main cast of the long-running show, which is set in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. |
| The 24-year-old was born in the remote Western Australian city of Kalgoorlie. He took up acting while at boarding school and has appeared in theatre and film work, including Tim Winton’s The Turning and Strangerland, which also stars Nicole Kidman, Joseph Fiennes and Guy Pearce. | |
| Neighbours is the longest-running drama series on Australian TV and one of Australia’s most successful TV exports, but it has been criticised for its overwhelmingly white cast. | Neighbours is the longest-running drama series on Australian TV and one of Australia’s most successful TV exports, but it has been criticised for its overwhelmingly white cast. |
| In 1993, a storyline involved the Lim family, of Asian background, being accused of eating the pet dog of another family, the Martins. | In 1993, a storyline involved the Lim family, of Asian background, being accused of eating the pet dog of another family, the Martins. |
| It was not until 2011 that the first family of Indian background was to enter the all-white street. The arrival of the Kapoors provoked some viewers to complain it was “un-Australian”. | It was not until 2011 that the first family of Indian background was to enter the all-white street. The arrival of the Kapoors provoked some viewers to complain it was “un-Australian”. |
| Susan Bower, a writer and producer for Neighbours, claimed she wanted to move a Lebanese Muslim family into Ramsay Street at the same time but the production company “felt it might be too much too soon”. | Susan Bower, a writer and producer for Neighbours, claimed she wanted to move a Lebanese Muslim family into Ramsay Street at the same time but the production company “felt it might be too much too soon”. |
| Jason Herbison, series producer of Neighbours, said Wyatt was an “exceptional” young actor. | Jason Herbison, series producer of Neighbours, said Wyatt was an “exceptional” young actor. |
| “We feel very privileged to have him join our regular cast,” he said. “From his first audition, we knew we had found the best actor for the role. | “We feel very privileged to have him join our regular cast,” he said. “From his first audition, we knew we had found the best actor for the role. |
| “While cultural diversity is definitely important, in cases where we don’t need a specific ethnic background, our brief to agents is to put forward their best people and that was the case for this character.” | “While cultural diversity is definitely important, in cases where we don’t need a specific ethnic background, our brief to agents is to put forward their best people and that was the case for this character.” |
| Channel Ten, the show’s Australian broadcaster, said Neighbours “has always nurtured and supported young talent and we are thrilled that Meyne is joining the team”. | Channel Ten, the show’s Australian broadcaster, said Neighbours “has always nurtured and supported young talent and we are thrilled that Meyne is joining the team”. |
| Wyatt, who has relocated to Melbourne to rub shoulders with afternoon TV favourites Lou Carpenter and Karl Kennedy, said: “Playing footy was usually the first preference at school so I was in a very small group who pursued acting, although I still managed to play footy, which I enjoyed too.” | Wyatt, who has relocated to Melbourne to rub shoulders with afternoon TV favourites Lou Carpenter and Karl Kennedy, said: “Playing footy was usually the first preference at school so I was in a very small group who pursued acting, although I still managed to play footy, which I enjoyed too.” |