‘I’M THANKFUL FOR NEIGHBOURS’
THE AUSSIE ACTRESS LOOKS BACK AT HER BIG BREAK
After 37 years, Neighbours will be filming its final season. Network Ten confirmed the sad news after UK broadcaster Channel 5, who largely funds production, previously announced it wouldn’t be renewing the beloved series. During its long run, Neighbours launched many young actors’ careers – including Natalie Hoflin’s. Natalie, 37, played Carmella Cammeniti from 2003 to 2011. Reflecting on her Ramsay Street stint, Natalie
– who won a Logie for playing Carmella – says she feels “honoured” to have been part of the iconic series.
“Considering the show started just after I was born, it’s had a pretty good run, really,” the actress tells New Idea. “I feel honoured to have been a part of such an Aussie staple.”
Of course, Natalie also credits Neighbours with introducing her to husband, David Hoflin, with whom she shares 5-year-old son, Finn.
“We had an on-set romance ... he played the father of my baby ... and here we are 14 years later – married with a little one of our own. Is that life imitating art?” she says.
While she looks back fondly at her time on Neighbours,
Natalie is also thrilled to be returning to our screens as a fairy in the children’s program, The Fo-fo Figgily Show.
“I’ve always enjoyed entertaining children, it’s such a fun, heightened way to perform,” she says. “As a teenager, I formed a group with two other girlfriends called ‘The Sparkles’. We would perform at children’s birthday parties, sing songs, dance, play games – I absolutely loved it!”
And, Natalie loves that it’s a program her son can tune into.
“He is a big fan of the series,” she says. “Although he does get weirded out sometimes seeing me on-screen. My husband is an actor too, and it’s the same thing – he doesn’t like watching him either!”
THE FO-FO FIGGILY SHOW, OUT NOW ON WIZZ AND TUBI TV AND AMAZON PRIME