Neighbours: “I wanted to go out with a bang”

Actor Ben Turland turned Neighbours fans to tears when his character Hendrix tragically died young having developed pulmonary fibrosis.

Expiring not long before Neighbours cancellation -and subsequent renewal via Prime Video / 10 – does he look at the show’s return with any sense of missing out on its third chapter?

“I don’t really look at it as ‘Why?'” he recently told TV Tonight.

“I think I think I was very grateful, especially because that was the end of that chapter as the last big death storyline. I really got a lot of creative input. I felt honoured that they trusted me so much with that storyline, and especially an illness that hasn’t really been talked about a lot on many television series, I don’t think. I mean, I wanted to go out with a bang, like any actor wants to do.

“I’m very happy for other people to experience that show … I did my time and I learned my things and now I’ve moved on. I think it’s time for other people to kind of soak in that world.”

Turland, recently named in the Casting Guild of Australia’s 2023 Rising Stars, also reflected on his on-screen relationship with Mackenzie, played by Georgie Stone.

“Working with Georgie was absolutely phenomenal. She is one of the sweetest, most incredible humans that I’ve ever worked with and come across. She reminds me a lot of my mum actually. She’s a very soft soul, a very good listener. She never puts herself first. She’ll always listen to peoples’ problems and take it in and try to help wherever she can,” he continues.

“She helped me through a lot of things and we kind of grew up together, being on that show for three years.

“I think also the connection with the characters was so real and the story was so beautiful. I think us developing that storyline, that chemistry and relationship kind of brought us closer.

“I’ll forever have love and time for Georgie, she’s really beautiful.”

Since leaving Neighbours, Turland has appeared in Riptide, Paper Dolls and filmed upcoming Rebel Wilson-directed feature The Deb.

But he also has his sights set on international projects, with Neighbours proving a great springboard for young talent, particularly in the UK.

“I’d love to be able to go over there at some point and experience that culture as well, because the fan base over there is incredible.”