THERE’S MORE TO THE GIRL NEXT DOOR
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, LILLY VAN DER MEER SEEMED FATED TO FOLLOW IN FAMOUS FOOTSTEPS BUT, IF THE NEIGHBOURS STAR HAS HER WAY, THERE WILL BE A THRILLING PLOT TWIST
If Lilly Van der Meer gets tired of the inevitable Margot Robbie comparisons, she doesn’t let on. While Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth and Kylie Minogue have all risen through the Ramsay Street ranks, there was only one name destined to be dropped when the Gold Coast teenager made her TV debut.
The similarities are striking after all.
Both actors have an uncontrived beauty; the same Grace Kelly blonde scripted for the silver screen.
Both moved from their Gold Coast hometowns as teenagers to cut their teeth on Melbourne-filmed
Neighbours before knocking on Hollywood’s door.
If Lilly, 20, accepts those persistent comparisons with a grace true to her soapie sweetheart stock, it’s because Margot made a farfetched dream feel like it was at her fingertips.
“I really look up to what Margot Robbie is doing now, especially with I, Tonya,” she says.
“There is common ground there, but if I take anything away from that it’s that she took risks.
“She went into that big pool of acting and took risks to get where she needs to be – that’s very inspiring.”
While Lilly seems fated to follow in some famous footsteps, this girl next door is not always what subscribers to the Margot mould may expect.
“There’s something quite appetising about indie films. My genre is thrillers … psychological thrillers … and finding that market is really enticing,” she says.
“My biggest inspiration is actually Shia LaBeouf. A few casting directors have looked at me a bit strangely when I’ve said that, but he’s always had this authenticity to him.
“It’s not about the fame. That’s why I think I have a passion for indie films – the only people who are going to see it are those who are really interested in seeing it.” Lilly’s artistic aspirations began early.
“I started reciting poetry when I was five, but as I grew up it became deeper; it became more a storytelling experience,” she says.
Lilly’s mum, a photographer who still takes all of her headshots, needed a little more convincing that craft could become career.
“She filmed my Neighbours audition in our living room, so she has always been a supporter, but it’s a difficult career and people tend to brush over that,” Lilly says. “If you want to be an actor and artist in every sense of the word, you don’t have an interest in being famous, but in this day and light it can kind of all get meshed together.
“Mum wants to make sure I do something I love and for the right reason.”
Lilly worked odd jobs – washed the car, walked the dog, worked at a chemist – to change her mind.
“I saved up enough money to do a course, then said to Mum, ‘I’m going to do this, you can’t stop me’. “She said that was a defining moment.”
At 15-years-old, the Marymount student left school to pursue a career in Neighbours after being cast as Xanthe Canning. Her first day on set was just two days after her 16th birthday, filming six episodes a week.
After three years flew by in the industry incubator, Xanthe said goodbye to Ramsay Street to study medicine in Toowoomba and Lilly packed her bags for the big time.
“When I left at the end of last year I headed straight to LA to try and understand that world a little more,” she says. “You are thrown into the deep end and you really have to fight for things over there.
“Everybody’s out there chasing their dreams. While you are sleeping there’s somebody who isn’t.
“I didn’t feel as intimidated as people told me I might because I was used to that fast pace from Neighbours .I really enjoy the hustle of LA.”
A convincing American accent may level an audition playing field full of firing egos, but Xanthe Canning still comes in handy occasionally.
“I never walk into a room and expect people to have seen my work or know who I am, so when somebody does come up to you and commend you it’s very humbling,” she says.
“I was in Neighbours all day, every day so you forget that the work you are making is actually being sent out into the world and being shown in a lot of other countries. When somebody does recognise that it’s like a little sign, a bit of confidence.”
While she’s been hustling from home as she waits on her visa, Lilly expects that green card green light any day now.
“I’ve been waiting on my visa for so long and the plan is to permanently move over there,” she says.
“It hasn’t been a short process, but I can’t wait to get back to LA. Hopefully I’ll be over there for pilot season.”
For now, Lilly will celebrate Christmas at her Palm Beach base, lapping up precious moments with loved ones. “You have to give up that personal aspect of your life to chase your dreams as an actor,” she says.
“I don’t know what the future holds, what next year holds, so I want to spend this time with family and friends while I can.”