The universes of Channel Seven’s Home and Away and Channel Nine’s Underbelly may appear to be worlds different at first look.
However, if you look closely, you’ll see some startling parallels between the two Australian drama titans.
Both programmes have become famous TV brands in their own way, with a startling amount of murder and gunshots, and many recognized personalities.
The Australian acting profession is well-known for being close-knit, and many performers – particularly those with long careers – will wind up working together several times or appearing on the same programmes, even if their spells do not overlap.
So it’s no surprise that this is also the case with Home and Away and Underbelly. However, it’s astonishing how many celebrities have polished their skills on both of these hit series.
With the announcement that Underbelly: Vanishing Act would premiere in 2022, it’s time to scroll down for the most complete list of actors who have been on both Home and Away and Underbelly.
GYTON GRANTLEY
Gyton Grantley played Carl Williams, a driver-turned-drug-kingpin, in the original Underbelly in 2008. It was perhaps his most renowned on-screen performance. In the spin-offs Fat Tony & Co and Informer 3838, he reprised the role. Gyton had a brief appearance on Home and Away a year previous to his big role, in which he was involved in a love triangle with none other than Chris Hemsworth! Kit (Amy Mizzi), who was pregnant with Kim’s (Chris Hemsworth) kid, had a flirtation with Gyton’s character James. Messy!
RODGER CORSER
Who doesn’t like a blue-haired boy? Rodger Corser was the guy behind the fictitious officer Steve Owen in season one of Underbelly, who was determined to bring Melbourne’s most renowned underworld characters to justice. Rodger, on the other hand, played a character in Summer Bay in 2006 who was attempting to mow Chris Hemsworth’s lawn! Hugh Sullivan’s character made a move for Rachel Armstrong (Amy Matthews), who was dating Kim at the time.
DANIEL ALMALM
Daniel Almalm played Jack Wilson, a disturbed foster youngster who appeared frequently in the early years of Home and Away, in the 1990s. One of his most famous stories included him as one of Sally Fletcher’s (Kate Ritchie) first boyfriends during a brief affair. Daniel reappeared on Underbelly’s debut season, playing underworld figure and drug dealer Dino Dibra, more than a decade later.
KESTIE MORASSI
Kestie Morassi first appeared on Home and Away in 2017 as Maggie, the matriarch of the Astoni family. She was married to Ben (Rohan Nichol) before the pair moved to Italy three years later. Her on-screen romance on Underbelly was a lot more complicated. She played lawyer Zarah Garde Wilson, who became too involved in the criminal underground when she established a relationship with crime figure Lewis Caine (Marcus Graham), who was finally killed.
MARCUS GRAHAM
Marcus Graham, however, was another actor who dabbled in both Home and Away and Underbelly. Though his time as Lewis Caine ended in tragedy when his character was assassinated, his life in Summer Bay was a little less dramatic. Marcus’ character Harvey Ryan had a romantic connection with Roo Stewart (Georgie Parker) and even married her before leaving the Bay in 2014 after two and a half years.
LES HILL
Les Hill was one of Summer Bay’s earliest heartthrobs, playing Blake Dean on Home and Away from 1990 until 1993. It was a sharp contrast to his portrayal as deadly gangster Jason Moran on Underbelly in 2008, in which he was gunned down.
CALLAN MULVEY
While Callan Mulvey is more remembered for his famous performance as Drazic in Heartbreak High than his Home and Away guest appearance, the actor did visit Summer Bay’s sandy sands. From 2006 through 2008, he played gang member Johnny Cooper in several roles, and he had a particular dislike for Sally (Kate Ritchie). On Underbelly, he played Mark Moran, a legendary Melbourne underworld figure and Jason Moran’s brother.
ROBERT MAMMONE
Robert Mammone played Dr. Sid Walker, the father of Indi (Samara Weaving), Dex (Tom Green/ Charles Cottier), and Sasha (Samara Weaving) on Home and Away from 2009 until 2013. (Demi Harman). On Underbelly, he played underworld figure Tony Mokbel, one of the few surviving important figures from the gangland warfare, and his professional path was entirely different.
ELLA SCOTT LYNCH
Ella Scott Lynch’s tenure on Home and Away was marred by controversy, as she took over as Hayley from Bec Hewitt when the latter left the show after seven years. Ella, on the other hand, made a name for herself in the Underbelly franchise by portraying a variety of roles. Camille Alavoine in Underbelly: Badness, Margaret in Underbelly: Chopper, and Nicola Gobbo in the spin-off Informer 3838 were among them.
KATE RITCHIE & MARTIN DINGLE WALL
Thanks to her 20-year tenure as Sally Fletcher, who grew up in front of the nation’s eyes, Kate Ritchie was one of Home and Away’s most renowned ever stars. And, while she had numerous relationships throughout her time in Summer Bay, her marriage to Flynn was one of the most notable (originally played by Martin Dingle Wall). The couple reappeared as a more sinister husband-and-wife team in 2009’s Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, playing Judi and Les Kane in the 13-part series set in the 1970s and 1980s.
DIETER BRUMMER
Despite the actors despising each other in real life, Dieter Brummer’s Shane and Melissa George’s Angel are sure to be on any list of Summer Bay’s most memorable couples. Dieter almost vanished from the spotlight during his heyday as a Home and Away heartthrob in the 1990s – until his spectacular return as corrupt officer Trevor Haken in Underbelly seasons two and three.
JESSICA TOVEY
Summer Bay celebrity to Underbelly officer appears to be a well-worn road for many Australian performers! Jessica Tovey, who played Belle Taylor from 2006 until her death in 2009, is another actor who has staked a place on this path. In the 2010 film Underbelly: The Golden Mile, she played Wendy Jones, a police officer who became involved in a love relationship with John Ibrahim (Firass Dirani).
MARK FURZE
Mark Furze was the terrible lover of sex worker-turned-policewoman Kim Hollingsworth in Underbelly: The Golden Mile, with his most famous moment featuring his character throwing her pet cat out the window. Fortunately, on Home and Away, the actor played Ric Dalby, a far more appealing character who, from 2004 to 2008, won the hearts of Australian teens with his brooding bad boy attitude.
JAKE RYAN
Jake Ryan, who portrayed popular character Robbo from 2017 to 2020 on Home and Away, was instantly recognizable by fans, leaving viewers in tears when he was tragically murdered in a dramatic car chase. But what Robbo fans may not know is that the actor who portrayed the bad guy was previously on the opposite side of the law in 2011’s Underbelly: Razor, when he played a cop.
CONRAD COLEBY
Conrad Coleby, who portrayed a policeman in Sydney’s first narcotics squad, fought with Jake’s character on the right side of the law in the Roaring Twenties. Roman Harris, an ex-SAS soldier, and father to Nicole Franklin, was a far cry from the part he played on Home and Away from 2007 to 2009. (Tessa James).
RICK DONALD
In scenes from Home and Away, Rick Donald’s character Keiran is creating a ruckus in Summer Bay and has been involved in brawls with mainstays Roo (Georgie Parker) and Alf (Georgie Parker) (Ray Meagher). When his character Barney Dalton was blasted to smithereens by a shooter outside a bar in Underbelly: Razor, however, the shoe was well and firmly on the other foot.
JEREMY LINDSAY TAYLOR
Detective Dylan Carter on Home and Away was a recurrent role played by Jeremy Lindsay Taylor from 2016 to 2019. He was tough as nails and as shady as they come. But before he became a corrupt officer, JLT played infamous mobster Norman Bruhn in Underbelly: Razor, where he died a violent death.
LINCOLN LEWIS
From adolescent idol to toyboy with a damaged face! From 2007 until 2010, Lincoln Lewis was most known for his role as Geoff Campbell on Home and Away. After saying his goodbyes to Summer Bay, Lincoln starred in Underbelly: Razor as Sly Grog queen Kate Leigh’s considerably younger love interest (Danielle Cormack). In a violent street brawl that left his face shredded beyond recognition, he met his equal.
JODI GORDON
Jodi Gordon, who portrayed Martha MacKenzie on Home and Away from 2005 until 2010, was one of the show’s most popular stars. Jodi reprised her role as Kylie Keogh, a senior member of the NSW police force media, in Underbelly: Badness in 2012.
TODD LASANCE
Todd Lasance will always be remembered by Home and Away fans for his breakout role as the lovable Aden Jefferies, which he portrayed from 2005 until 2010. However, since his days in Summer Bay, the actor has had a successful career that includes not one, but two appearances in the Underbelly franchise. Todd portrayed Sgt Dean Thomas in the 2011 film Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer Was Here. Then, in 2018, he appeared in Underbelly Files: Chopper as bikie Syd Collins.
ZOE VENTOURA
When Zoe Ventoura landed the role of Dr. Alex Neilson on Home and Away for a brief but sweet tenure from 2019 to 2020, she gained a whole new set of fans. And when she played Chopper’s first wife Mary Ann in the 2018 miniseries Underbelly Files: Chopper, all eyes were on her once more.
PAUL O’BRIEN
When you’re a cop, you’re always a cop! From 2005 until 2009, viewers were enamored with Paul O’Brien’s portrayal of good-looking police officer Jack Holden on Home and Away. Paul reprised his role as slain officer Rodney Miller in Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer Was Here, two years after leaving the famous soap.
TAI HARA
With the announcement that the Underbelly franchise would return in 2022 with Underbelly: Vanishing Act, it looks that the trend of ex-Home and Away cast members will continue!
Tai played Andy Barrett in the Australian soap opera Home and Away from 2013 to 2016 and has since been cast in Underbelly: Vanishing Act. Melissa Caddick, a high-roller who reportedly embezzled over $40 million before disappearing altogether, will be the subject of the episode. When a shoe with the bones of her foot was recovered, she was subsequently proven deceased. Kate Atkinson, Maya Stange, Sophie Bloom, and Ursula Mills will also feature in Underbelly: Vanishing Act.