Before appearing on Neighbours, what sort of acting work did you have?
I had appeared in around 60 TV commercials worldwide including SPRITE, FORD CARS, HAAG & DAZ ICE-CREAM, L'OREAL, SCHWARTZKOPT, etc.
What inspired you to pursue acting?
I had spent 14 years as a semi-professional dancer and was auditioning for a musical in London at Pineapple studios in Covent Garden when I was approached in the audition line by the Chief Executive of COCA-COLA UK. He asked me to audition for a commercial for their new drink SPRITE. I got the commercial and spent 6 weeks in Lake Garda in Italy filming it. The commercial was a huge success and others followed which gave me the acting bug.
You first appeared on Neighbours in 1996, what was it like to join the cast at that time? Where you prepared for the popularity of Sarah?
It was nerve wracking joining the cast originally. I wasn't accepted as well as I would have liked. For two reasons firstly, I was British and there was some displeasure within the main cast about that and they made their feelings about it clear. Secondly, I was perceived as an ex model or an MTA (model-turned-actress) and again this was brought up to me on more than one occasion. I found the crew to be the most welcoming and maintain firm friendships with many of them today.
I had appeared in around 60 TV commercials worldwide including SPRITE, FORD CARS, HAAG & DAZ ICE-CREAM, L'OREAL, SCHWARTZKOPT, etc.
What inspired you to pursue acting?
I had spent 14 years as a semi-professional dancer and was auditioning for a musical in London at Pineapple studios in Covent Garden when I was approached in the audition line by the Chief Executive of COCA-COLA UK. He asked me to audition for a commercial for their new drink SPRITE. I got the commercial and spent 6 weeks in Lake Garda in Italy filming it. The commercial was a huge success and others followed which gave me the acting bug.
You first appeared on Neighbours in 1996, what was it like to join the cast at that time? Where you prepared for the popularity of Sarah?
It was nerve wracking joining the cast originally. I wasn't accepted as well as I would have liked. For two reasons firstly, I was British and there was some displeasure within the main cast about that and they made their feelings about it clear. Secondly, I was perceived as an ex model or an MTA (model-turned-actress) and again this was brought up to me on more than one occasion. I found the crew to be the most welcoming and maintain firm friendships with many of them today.
Are there any similarities between you and Sarah?
I think the biggest similarity between Sarah and I is that she never sets out to cause trouble but invariably finds herself in it. Saying that my husband was married when we met so I guess you could characterize us as having a similarity there. But on the whole I attempted to make Sarah vulnerable and naive, neither of which I would use to describe myself.
Seeing as Sarah had an affair with Karl, what was it like working with Alan and Jackie, both whom were such a big part of the show when you joined the cast?
I suggested the Karl/ Sarah storyline to the Producer and Exec Producer a full 12 months before they ran with it. I looked around the green room and asked myself who I would like to work with and Alan was the one that sprung to mind. Dr Karl was not only Sarah's boss at the surgery but also her friend’s father. I felt the web of intrigue that could be spun would be immense. The Producers laughed me out of the room at the time and said that the BBC would never break up "the holy Kennedy family". But 12 months later after a ratings slump up it popped.
Were there any story lines or scenes that you particularly enjoyed, or disliked, filming?
I disliked filming the scene that required me to hang off a sheer cliff face for about an hour of filming. I was attached to a safety line but as someone who suffers from vertigo it was terrifying. Nothing about the emotional stuff or the physical contact bothered me. I was prepared to do anything that the storyline required and found it challenging.
Are there any cast members you wished to of worked with more?
I always wanted to work with Stefan Dennis and only got a brief couple of scenes in Sarah's return.
Sarah departed Ramsay Street with new husband Peter in 1999, what led to your decision to leave the series? What did you think of Sarah’s exit?
Sarah's initial exit was a little tame for my tastes but I was chastised quite harshly in the Australian press when I suggested she should commit suicide on the show and draw attention to that issue. Seeing her sail off into the sunset in a horse drawn carriage was a little too Disney Princess for me. I left for personal reasons and to follow my heart back to the UK. It wasn't such a wise decision as it turns out but I was young and didn't have a strong support system around me to advise me on my career and life choices.
I think the biggest similarity between Sarah and I is that she never sets out to cause trouble but invariably finds herself in it. Saying that my husband was married when we met so I guess you could characterize us as having a similarity there. But on the whole I attempted to make Sarah vulnerable and naive, neither of which I would use to describe myself.
Seeing as Sarah had an affair with Karl, what was it like working with Alan and Jackie, both whom were such a big part of the show when you joined the cast?
I suggested the Karl/ Sarah storyline to the Producer and Exec Producer a full 12 months before they ran with it. I looked around the green room and asked myself who I would like to work with and Alan was the one that sprung to mind. Dr Karl was not only Sarah's boss at the surgery but also her friend’s father. I felt the web of intrigue that could be spun would be immense. The Producers laughed me out of the room at the time and said that the BBC would never break up "the holy Kennedy family". But 12 months later after a ratings slump up it popped.
Were there any story lines or scenes that you particularly enjoyed, or disliked, filming?
I disliked filming the scene that required me to hang off a sheer cliff face for about an hour of filming. I was attached to a safety line but as someone who suffers from vertigo it was terrifying. Nothing about the emotional stuff or the physical contact bothered me. I was prepared to do anything that the storyline required and found it challenging.
Are there any cast members you wished to of worked with more?
I always wanted to work with Stefan Dennis and only got a brief couple of scenes in Sarah's return.
Sarah departed Ramsay Street with new husband Peter in 1999, what led to your decision to leave the series? What did you think of Sarah’s exit?
Sarah's initial exit was a little tame for my tastes but I was chastised quite harshly in the Australian press when I suggested she should commit suicide on the show and draw attention to that issue. Seeing her sail off into the sunset in a horse drawn carriage was a little too Disney Princess for me. I left for personal reasons and to follow my heart back to the UK. It wasn't such a wise decision as it turns out but I was young and didn't have a strong support system around me to advise me on my career and life choices.
Last year, Sarah made a surprise return to Erinsborough, what was it like coming back after fourteen years and seeing the Susan/Karl/Sarah love triangle revisited?
It was strange returning as Sarah in 2013. I was very excited at the prospect and the early scripts looked promising. But when I got there I was surprised to find that the character of Dr Karl seemed to have had no personal growth in 14 years. That made Sarah's lack of attraction to him easier to play. He was still the hapless Doctor who couldn't decide if he loved the Mother of his children more than his various extramarital partners. I hadn't seen the show as I was in the USA so had no idea that the character now had a child with Izzy, another love interest. Sarah I felt along with myself had changed enormously during that time and gained a lot of perspective. I wanted to make sure that she was portrayed as a woman this time and one that had a surprising new found empathy with the character of Susan. Jackie is such a great actress that it was easy to feel warmth towards her, even when she was shouting at me. I was also disappointed that a couple of the directors seemed annoyed by Sarah's return and seemed to want to rush through the storyline and not investigate the motivations more. Why did she decide to miss her flight and hang around? I'm still not entirely sure. As the return was so brief I wanted to nail it and I guess wanted more time to do that.
Are you still in touch with any of your former co-stars?
No not in touch with any of my former co-stars. Only crew.
You left fifteen years ago, what have you done since moving away from Ramsay Street?
Some rather unpleasant things that I wouldn't wish on another soul.
It was strange returning as Sarah in 2013. I was very excited at the prospect and the early scripts looked promising. But when I got there I was surprised to find that the character of Dr Karl seemed to have had no personal growth in 14 years. That made Sarah's lack of attraction to him easier to play. He was still the hapless Doctor who couldn't decide if he loved the Mother of his children more than his various extramarital partners. I hadn't seen the show as I was in the USA so had no idea that the character now had a child with Izzy, another love interest. Sarah I felt along with myself had changed enormously during that time and gained a lot of perspective. I wanted to make sure that she was portrayed as a woman this time and one that had a surprising new found empathy with the character of Susan. Jackie is such a great actress that it was easy to feel warmth towards her, even when she was shouting at me. I was also disappointed that a couple of the directors seemed annoyed by Sarah's return and seemed to want to rush through the storyline and not investigate the motivations more. Why did she decide to miss her flight and hang around? I'm still not entirely sure. As the return was so brief I wanted to nail it and I guess wanted more time to do that.
Are you still in touch with any of your former co-stars?
No not in touch with any of my former co-stars. Only crew.
You left fifteen years ago, what have you done since moving away from Ramsay Street?
Some rather unpleasant things that I wouldn't wish on another soul.
How much input did you have into your storylines? Is there anything you would have changed about the character or her story?
Aside from the initial suggestion of a Karl/ Sarah affair I had little or no input in her story lines and none at all during the return. I would have liked to see Sarah find true love. Someone as wild as she is to run with. A message that even a false start can be rectified and there is someone for everyone.
Sarah’s return in 2013 was greatly enjoyed by fans. Would you ever consider returning again? If so, how would you like your character to return this time and would it ever be permanent?
As always my biggest joy in playing Sarah Beaumont is the fans reaction to her. Their love and loyalty drove me to work hard on her. I'm not sure Neighbours will ever be ready for a permanent Sarah return. She's considered a bit of a hot potato and dangerous territory and I believe they are heading back to family values. Let's see how that pans out.
Were you a fan of Neighbours before you joined the cast? Do you watch the show these days?
No I wasn't a fan of the show before I worked on it. Wasn't a fan of TV generally. Only watch episodes I'm in I'm afraid to check the work. Vain bitch.
Finally, for a show that nearly didn’t make its first anniversary, it’s amazing to see it approach 7000 episodes and a 30th anniversary. What do you think is the secret of the ongoing success of Neighbours?
I always felt the secret to the show’s success was in the casting choices made by Jan Russ. But she is no longer with the show and it remains. Albeit on a new network and cast. I think initially the novelty was of a show that was filming in "exotic Australia", a destination most average Brits could only dream of visiting. Previously the UK's only experience of Australia was Prisoner Cell Block H, The Thorn Birds and Crocodile Dundee. Suddenly here was this show about a little suburban street that was much like ours in the UK only different. Parrots squawked in the yards, the sun shone every day, and people had permanent suntans, but still had to go to work and the supermarket. It was joyous, idyllic without being perfect and people related to that.
Aside from the initial suggestion of a Karl/ Sarah affair I had little or no input in her story lines and none at all during the return. I would have liked to see Sarah find true love. Someone as wild as she is to run with. A message that even a false start can be rectified and there is someone for everyone.
Sarah’s return in 2013 was greatly enjoyed by fans. Would you ever consider returning again? If so, how would you like your character to return this time and would it ever be permanent?
As always my biggest joy in playing Sarah Beaumont is the fans reaction to her. Their love and loyalty drove me to work hard on her. I'm not sure Neighbours will ever be ready for a permanent Sarah return. She's considered a bit of a hot potato and dangerous territory and I believe they are heading back to family values. Let's see how that pans out.
Were you a fan of Neighbours before you joined the cast? Do you watch the show these days?
No I wasn't a fan of the show before I worked on it. Wasn't a fan of TV generally. Only watch episodes I'm in I'm afraid to check the work. Vain bitch.
Finally, for a show that nearly didn’t make its first anniversary, it’s amazing to see it approach 7000 episodes and a 30th anniversary. What do you think is the secret of the ongoing success of Neighbours?
I always felt the secret to the show’s success was in the casting choices made by Jan Russ. But she is no longer with the show and it remains. Albeit on a new network and cast. I think initially the novelty was of a show that was filming in "exotic Australia", a destination most average Brits could only dream of visiting. Previously the UK's only experience of Australia was Prisoner Cell Block H, The Thorn Birds and Crocodile Dundee. Suddenly here was this show about a little suburban street that was much like ours in the UK only different. Parrots squawked in the yards, the sun shone every day, and people had permanent suntans, but still had to go to work and the supermarket. It was joyous, idyllic without being perfect and people related to that.
Interviewed February 2014