Luke Van Os has been cast as ‘Xander,’ a new character who arrives in Summer Bay in search of answers, according to Home and Away.
Van Os is set to join the show as Xander, “a mysterious individual who arrives in the Bay searching for answers”. It has also been teased that he’s a relative of a Summer Bay favorite – but who?
While we don’t know about his on-screen family, Luke, 24, does have a link to one of the show’s acting graduates. He’s Chris Hemsworth’s cousin, who played Kim Hyde in Home and Away from 2004 to 2007 before moving to Hollywood.
Luke said in an interview with Australia’s The Daily Telegraph that he sought assistance from his cousin before his audition for the Australian soap.
“When I was asked for a callback for the chemistry test, I actually zoomed with Chris the night before and we ran [the scene] and kind of just got into a good headspace,” Luke explained.
Chris wasn’t the only Hemsworth sibling who grew up watching Australian soaps. Between 2004 and 2005, Liam played Josh Taylor in Neighbours, while Luke Hemsworth played Nathan Tyson between 2000 and 2002.
It’s now Van Os’ turn. He’s been performing and auditioning for the past eight years, but his job in Home and Away was his breakthrough, according to The Daily Telegraph.
“Acting has been my passion for such a long time and for me to be able to make a living, pay my bills and do this every day is a dream,” Luke told the publication.
“Endless people have come and done [Home and Away] and gone on to have extremely long careers and I am just hoping that is what I can do, acting and making a living for as long as I can.”
On joining the cast, Luke said: “I’m so excited to be joining an iconic show like Home and Away, it is a dream come true.
“I can’t wait for the UK fans to meet my character, Xander. He’s come to the Bay searching for answers and has a close tie to one of the Summer Bay favorites. All will be revealed in 2022.”
Luke filmed his first scenes this week and will make his first appearance in early 2022.