An Australian Soap Opera Has Quietly Launched Some Of The World’s Best Actors

What do Margot Robbie, Guy Pearce, and Russell Crowe all have in common? Along with coming from the land down under and being among our greatest working actors today, they all quietly launched their careers on the Australian soap opera “Neighbours.” 

Set in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough, the series follows the melodramatic lives of the residents of Ramsay Street. Airing between 1985 and 2025, it is the longest running soap opera in Australian broadcasting history. Over that time, the series gave many of Australia’s greatest performers their first paid acting work.

Guy Pearce joined “Neighbours” in 1986 as high school senior Mike Young,…