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Zoe Ventoura pursues Hollywood dream

Updated: Zoe Ventoura told producers of Packed to the Rafters at the end of last year that she wouldn't be renewing her contract.

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Zoe Ventoura told producers of Packed to the Rafters at the end of last year that she wouldn’t be renewing her contract.

Instead she wanted to pursue acting opportunities in the US.

But keeping the storyline, filmed in September, under wraps was a major exercise.

“It was really important that we kept it on the down-low because of the impact from the shock of it,” she said.

“Literally it comes from nowhere – it is such a shock and if it was ruined, it would have been such a shame.

“I said to someone it felt like I was ripping my right arm off. It’s been a part of me for so long. It was really emotional.”

Seven withheld DVD previews from media, for fear of leaks.

Even forthcoming synopses gave nothing away:

November 9th:
This week on PACKED TO THE RAFTERS, Dave is determined to shelve his own battle with depression, but as tensions build, he finds himself exploding inappropriately in anger. Julie convinces Dave to go to counselling while Chel, who has not been around to witness the changes in him, returns home to comfort her son. Tom has a second agenda, and despite Coby’s attempt to keep him at arm’s length, Coby realises he can’t escape his grandfather’s reach that easily.
PACKED TO THE RAFTERS stars REBECCA GIBNEY as Julie Rafter, ERIK THOMSON as Dave Rafter, MICHAEL CATON as Ted Taylor, JESSICA MARAIS as Rachel Rafter, HUGH SHERIDAN as Ben Rafter, ANGUS McLAREN as Nathan Rafter, GEORGE HOUVARDAS as Nick ‘Carbo’ Karandonis, ZOE VENTOURA as Melissa Bannon and JAMES STEWART as Jake Barton, with RYAN CORR as Coby Jennings, HANNAH MARSHALL as Retta Schembri, JOHN HOWARD as Tom and GILLIAN JONES as Chel.

November 16 (2010 Final):
This week on PACKED TO THE RAFTERS, with Christmas and Ruby’s first birthday fast approaching, Dave searches for the words to put himself and his family back on track. Dave is struggling with his own demons. Julie gently convinces him to give therapy another try. Finally able to find the words his therapist’s been pushing for, it seems that Dave might finally be starting to address some of his issues. And then when the whole family gathers for Ruby’s first birthday and she takes a first tentative step, it seems all could be coming right in the Rafter world. Julie discovers that Coby’s apprenticeship papers have arrived. In the spirit of moving on, the Rafters feel that life is too short to hold grudges. Dave speaks to Coby, who promises never to let them down again and Dave renews his offer of an apprenticeship to a grateful nephew.
PACKED TO THE RAFTERS stars REBECCA GIBNEY as Julie Rafter, ERIK THOMSON as Dave Rafter, MICHAEL CATON as Ted Taylor, JESSICA MARAIS as Rachel Rafter, HUGH SHERIDAN as Ben Rafter, ANGUS McLAREN as Nathan Rafter, GEORGE HOUVARDAS as Nick ‘Carbo’ Karandonis, ZOE VENTOURA as Melissa Bannon and JAMES STEWART as Jake Barton, with RYAN CORR as Coby Jennings and HANNAH MARSHALL as Retta Schembri.

Seven may yet issue an amendment for the episodes today.

Ventoura will speak to Sunrise today.

UPDATED 3/11: New Synopsis amendment:
Rest In Peace
Julie and Dave struggle to help their family rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the devastating tragedy as additional support comes from unlikely quarters. Meanwhile, Coby is again confronted by his past and Chel returns to be on hand in her beloved new family’s hour
of need. Starring REBECCA GIBNEY, ERIK THOMSON, MICHAEL CATON, JESSICA MARAIS, HUGH SHERIDAN, ANGUS MCLAREN, GEORGE HOUVARDAS, JAMES STEWART, GILLIAN JONES, KRISTIAN SCHMID, RUBY AND EMILY LANGLEY and JOHN HOWARD.

Source: news.com.au

13 Responses

  2. Watch the show slowly die as they all leave one by one to pursue their acting opportunities over in America. Macleods daughters ring a bell? Don’t hear much from those actor’s anymore.

  3. What happened ? I missed the Rafters this week … and most of this and the second series. What started out in quite promising fashion, has been ground down by the Seven network’s desire for another soap product.

  5. Honestly, I’m kind of happy about this. Ben and Melissa were starting to get insufferable, especially Ben. What did the writers do to his character? Lately, he’s been acting like a 5-year-old. Constantly complaining about everything, having a sook about Retta every 5 minutes, having a spazz attack when they can’t get pregnant after one day. I really hope his character grows up now because I am starting to hate him. The writers really need to improve the show and stop turning it into some lame soap.

    And the death was very obvious. I could tell it was Mel from the add, just because she was the only one in the picture of the Rafter family that could be killed without totally changing the show. Also, Ben giving it away straight away didn’t help. Channel Seven was desperate for ratings and promoted it as some huge episode, whereas the actual produces of Rafters obviously weren’t heading in that same direction.

  6. Oh these young people. To give away a gig on the number one show, a job she obviously enjoyed, there was such comradarie with the cast. Yes sure she wanted to try her luck in Hollywood, but would one more year on the show made that much difference? This event will surely now change the fun dynamic of the show, that attracted so many peple to it in the first place. They will need to bring back one of the other supporting characters that has left, to compensate somewhat. What about Julie Rafters friend from the first season and a half?

  8. Add another Aussie actor to the growing list up for a job in Hollywood. If this was happening in the opposite way, Today Tonight and ACA would have a field day complaining about immirgrants stealing our jobs!

  11. I think Zoe one of the most stunningly beautiful women i have ever seen on television i think she has a big future in the U.S. I wish her the very best in her pusuits- i will miss her on Rafters…Good Luck Zoe!

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