Latest news with #DanniiMinogue
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The shock secret soapie flings you DID NOT know about - including 'hours of passion' between Heath Ledger and Kate Ritchie
The Aussie TV industry may be small, but it's had its fair share of romantic interludes over the years. Yes, Neighbours' Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan got their airtime in the pages, as did her sister Dannii Minogue and the late Julian McMahon after sparks flew in Home and Away. But what about the rest? Turns out, there is an underground archive of soap stars that slipped into the sheets together and slipped off the tabloid radar without anyone noticing. From Neighbours actors that got too neighbourly to Home and Away stars that couldn't leave their feelings in Summer Bay, the TV circuit proves to be a hotbed of hedonism. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Heath Ledger and Kate Ritchie (Home and Away) It seems Heath Ledger and Kate Ritchie's on-screen romance spilled into reality after the Gold Logie winner made a telling comment about her time acting alongside the late star. Heath, who played bad boy Scott Irwin, and Kate, who played Sally Fletcher, were love interests on the show, both being around 17 at the time. In 2018, Kate sat down for an interview to celebrate 30 years of the hit soap and shed light on her relationship with the Hollywood star. 'Heath was very good looking, very charming,' she said in the trailer. 'There were a few hours of teenage passion.' While the pair never confirmed a relationship or tryst of any kind, Kate did go on to say that she was 'the envy of all the girls on set' as she got to lock lips with hunky Heath multiple times on the show. Tragically, Heath was found dead at a New York City apartment on January 22, 2008, after an accidental overdose, following months of physical and emotional exhaustion. Axle Whitehead and Samara Weaving (Home and Away) Life imitated art for Axle Whitehead and Samara Weaving, who announced their relationship while their fictional romance blossomed on screens. Axle, who played Liam Murphy, and Samara, who played Indi Walker, reportedly dated briefly in July 2012. However, the alliance was over quicker than it started, with both the stars spotted cuddling up with other people in August that year. Axle was snapped with a beautiful brunette at a Surry Hills bar and Samara was seen getting close to her new man in Sydney's inner west, according to Nine Honey. The split appeared sugary sweet, with Axle claiming that they remained good friends with a lot of respect for each other. Samara soon turned her sights to Hollywood, starring in blockbusters Ready or Not, Babylon and Borderline. Axle, on the other hand, spends his time playing music gigs at small venues across Sydney and selling his used music equipment on Instagram. Lincoln Lewis and Indiana Evans (Home and Away) Did you know that Lincoln Lewis and Indiana Evans were an item? These Home and Away lovebirds also enjoyed a brief stint of dating, but called a time out on their romance in 2008 after just a few months together. However, their short-lived romance became the talk of the town in 2009 after Lincoln confessed that he had filmed a sex tape the year prior and showed it to his castmates. At the time, The Daily Telegraph reported that the clip featured a 'teenage TV starlet'. Daily Mail is not suggesting that Indiana was involved in the alleged scandal. 'You do stupid things when you are young,' he told the publication in 2010. 'But you learn from your mistakes, that's part of growing up — this mistake, and what I have learnt, will contribute a lot to making me a better person in the future.' Stefan Dennis and Gayle Blakeney (Neighbours) Before Stefan Dennis and Gail Easdale lived happily ever after, there was a Gayle of another kind on the scene - and the screen. Gayle Blakeney, who played Christina Alessi on the show, dated the longtime Neighbours star between 1990 and 1992. And while their characters wed on the show, the pair didn't make it to the altar in real-life, instead parting amicably and Stefan moving on to another Neighbours castmate... Stefan Dennis and Natalie Imbruglia (Neighbours) It seems Stefan was quite the fan of the Neighbours watering hole, for pretty quickly he was embroiled in a secret romance with another one of his co-stars Natalie Imbruglia. Natalie, who went on to enjoy a successful music career with hits such as Torn and Big Mistake, first appeared on the beloved soapie in 1992 as Beth Brennan. Stefan revealed that the pair struck up a relationship after sparks flew on set, leading to his reputation among the cast as a ladies' man. 'Because of my relationship with Gayle and later, in a well-kept secret, I was also going out with Natalie Imbruglia, there was a rumour that I was making my way through the female cast,' he told Stellar in 2022. The revelation was a shock, not only because it slid under the tabloids' radar, but because Stefan was 17 years her senior. Beau Brady and Bec Hewitt (Home and Away) Bec Hewitt (Cartwright at the time) and Beau Brady's relationship was widely covered at the time, but the early noughties romance may have slipped your minds since it came crumbling down twenty years ago. The couple, taking their on-screen relationship off-screen, dated for four years and were hailed as Australia's soapie sweethearts. Beau even proposed, with the couple enjoying a few months engaged before Bec called off it off in 2004 and broke hearts across the country. In the ultimate plot twist, Bec moved into WAG territory the following year, dating tennis star Lleyton Hewitt for six weeks before getting engaged in 2005 and then married. The pair have now been playing the tennis game that is marriage for 20 years. Speaking with Woman's Day magazine in 2010, Beau broke his silence on their split and also made some shock claims about the fallout of their relationship. 'I'm only speculating, but in the end I'm still not really sure why Bec broke it off. Maybe it was because I didn't own a Ferrari!' he told the mag. Beau also claimed that Bec started texting and calling Lleyton while they were together and that she disappeared for more than a week before dumping him. 'I thought there was nothing to it because - let's face it - I'm a much better looking dude than Lleyton,' he added. Sigh... There's nothing worse than when your former tennis partner starts calling fouls.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Home and Away star 'to make her return to acting in new drama alongside Kym Marsh' - 35 years after leaving the beloved soap
A Home and Away star is reportedly set to make her return to acting in new drama alongside Kym Marsh. Dannii Minogue, 53, is thought to have already starting filming for a new series called Imposter which will air on Channel 5 - 35 years after quitting the Australian soap. The Sun reports that the four-part series - centred around a murder at a seaside resort - is already underway with filming in Victoria, Australia. Neighbours star Jackie Woodburne, 69, is reportedly starring in a leading role in the drama too. A source told the publication: 'Bosses have spent weeks trying to get Dannii and she finally put pen to paper just days before filming started. 'It's been decades since she's acted on the small screen and everyone at the channel is over the moon that she was able to make the dates work because she loved the script. 'She started filming last week after meeting her fellow cast members. Dannii has been wanting a return to acting for a long time but hadn't found the right role.' But the source added that when Imposter came along she knew the role would be 'perfect for her acting comeback'. Imposter will feature Jackie as matriarch Helen, whose refusal to sell her seaside hotel sparks a dramatic family feud with her three adult children. The series marks Jackie's first non-Neighbours role in more than 30 years. The plot thickens when Amanda, played by Marsh, arrives claiming to be Helen's long-lost daughter given up for adoption years ago. As Amanda integrates into the family, doubts arise about her true identity, leading to a gripping tale of deception and betrayal that culminates in murder, according to the series' synopsis. The series is set to be filmed across Victoria later this year. Jackie had played Susan, the wife of co-star Alan Fletcher's character Dr Karl Kennedy, since 1994. Since leaving Home and Away in 1990 Dannii has had a successful career, starring on The X Factor and more recently fronting dating show I Kissed A Boy. Earlier this year Dannii opened up about life in the spotlight when she was younger. And she said she 'wouldn't be alive' if she wasn't so mentally strong after years of 'nasty comments' and being compared to her elder sibling Kylie. Speaking on Fearne Cotton 's the Happy Place podcast, Dannii revealed: 'I've said this to my friends, 'I know that, if I wasn't mentally strong and I did have any kind of eating disorder or something, I wouldn't be alive now.' That is fact. 'It was so brutal, and it went on for years.' And despite critics trying to create a sibling rivalry, Dannii and Kylie, 57, remain a united force. She added: 'I was compared to my sister, who's always had a completely different body shape our entire lives. 'I wasn't living up to her body. At the time, the only body shape that was accepted was slim. 'I was a square trying to fit into a hole. You read back now how nasty the comments were.' Dannii went on to share her priority is now is spending precious time with her family and only taking on work that's 'important' to her. She is in a relationship with music producer Adrian Newman, and said giving birth to son Ethan, 14, in 2010 changed her focus. She explained: 'I've spent my life travelling around the world, being away, missing birthdays, weddings, funerals. 'I'm really trying to find the balance now. 'You can't have just the happiness without everything else. If you accept there's light and dark, it's all part of it.'
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Dannii Minogue set to make huge acting comeback alongside Coronation Street icon
Dannii Minogue started her career working on one of Australia's biggest soaps - and now she is teaming up with other soap legends for a brand new four part drama Dannii Minogue is set to make a triumphant return to acting - decades after walking away from her breakout soap role. The 53-year-old Australian may be known to millions for her music and TV judging career. Dannii has enjoyed chart success with smash singles including Put the Needle on It, All I Wanna Do, and I Begin to Wonder. And she won over even more fans when she served as a judge on hit series The X Factor from 2007 until 2010. More recently, Dannii has been playing cupid for boys and girls looking for love on the dating shows I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl on the BBC. But before any of these career achievements were made, Dannii enjoyed a career as an actress - breaking into the spotlight before her older sister, chart superstar Kylie Minogue, 47. Back in 1989, Dannii drew attention for playing Emma Jackson in the Aussie soap Home and Away. She landed the role after playing smaller roles on an array of TV shows - and she remained on Home and Away until 1990. Now, 35 years later, the star is to make a return to acting in a new Channel 5 drama called Imposter. She will appear in the show opposite ex-Corrie actress Kym Marsh, 49. The four part drama is already filming in Victoria, Australia, and follows a family that is torn apart by betrayal and murder. Neighbours icon Jackie Woodburne, 69, who has played Susan Kennedy since 1994, also features as the leader of the family. A source told The Sun:"Bosses have spent weeks trying to get Dannii and she finally put pen to paper just days before filming started. It's been decades since she's acted on the small screen and everyone at the channel is over the moon that she was able to make the dates work because she loved the script. "She started filming last week after meeting her fellow cast members." The Mirror has contacted representatives of Dannii and Channel 5 for comment. Imposter was announced earlier this month - with TV fans already excited by the news that Kym and Jackie would be united together on screen by the show. And the new series was announced alongside news that a string of other shows are being made; Number One Fan, Missed Call and The Family Secret, to returning shows The Hardacres and The Teacher. Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted at Paramount UK, Sebastian Cardwell, said last week: "This new slate of scripted commissions showcases the breadth and ambition of 5's storytelling. "From brand new thrillers and character-driven mysteries to the much-anticipated return of audience favourites, we're continuing to build a rich and distinctive drama offering. "These titles reflect our commitment to delivering compelling, accessible British drama that resonates with viewers across the UK. We look forward to announcing further titles in the coming months."
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Neighbours star returning to acting 35 years after quitting Aussie soap in new role alongside Kym Marsh
DANNII Minogue is returning to acting 35 years after she left Aussie soap Home and Away. The former X factor judge and singer, 53, is starring in glamorous Channel 5 drama Imposter opposite ex- Corrie actress Kym Marsh, 49. 8 8 8 Dannii, younger sister to pop icon Kylie, 57, has already started filming the four part series in Victoria, Australia. The Succession-like plot centres around a twisted family betrayal and a murder and is set in a seaside family hotel. This is also with Neighbours 'Susan Kennedy' icon Jackie Woodburne, 69, starring as the matriarch. A source said: "Bosses have spent weeks trying to get Dannii and she finally put pen to paper just days before filming started. "It's been decades since she's acted on the small screen and everyone at the channel is over the moon that she was able to make the dates work because she loved the script. "She started filming last week after meeting her fellow cast members." Dannii portrayed the troubled teen Emma Jackson on Home and Away from 1989 to 1990. She currently presents the LGBTQ BBC dating shows, I Kissed a Boy and I Kissed a Girl. The source continued: "Dannii has been wanting a return to acting for a long time but hadn't found the right role. "But then Channel 5 came along with Imposter and she instantly knew the role would be perfect for her acting comeback." They added: "Her character will be one of the suspects in the murder, as the family all fight it out over the family empire. "From what's been filmed of her performance already bosses really couldn't be happier to have got Dannii signed up." Channel 5's thrilling new drama, Imposter will hit our screens in 2026. Neighbours stars who made it big The long-running Aussie soap has launched the careers of some of Hollywood's biggest stars. Here are some of the Neighbours alums who went on to make it big after starring on the soap... Kylie Minogue Before she hit the big time with her music career, Kylie shot to fame playing Charlene Mitchell on Neighbours. Shortly after her arrival, Kylie began an on and off-screen romance with co-star Jason Donovan, who played Scott Robinson, which gained the couple an army of adoring fans. Jason Donovan After his stint as Scott, singer and actor Jason became an international popstar and had his pick acting of roles. He moved to the U.K., married, had children and has since starred in over a dozen West End show, most notably Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat. Alan Dale New Zealand born actor Alan was one of Neighbours 12 original cast members having made his debut as Jim Robinson on the soap's first episode on 18 March 1985. As the head of the Robinson clan, widower Jim lived at Number 26 Ramsay Street with his children Paul, Julie, Scott and Lucy, and was a real anchor in the community. He stayed with the show for eight years, before his character was killed off in dramatic scenes aired in 1993 but which still reverberate through the soap to this day. Margot Robbie Way before she was Barbie or Harley Quinn, Margot was best known as Ramsay Street resident Donna Freedman. Her notable storylines included her marriage to Ringo Brown and becoming a young widow following his tragic death. After three years she bid farewell to the soap and Australia with a plan to make a name for herself in Hollywood which she did when she bagged the role of Naomi Lapaglia opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street. Jesse Spencer Jesse rocked up on Ramsay street in 1994 with the rest of the Kennedy clan. He stayed for five years, literally growing up in front of the camera, but in 2000 felt it was time to spread his wings and head for Hollywood. It was certainly a smart move as he went on to bag leading roles in popular shows like House and Chicago Fire. Russell Crowe New Zealand-native Russell had a brief arc on Neighbours, appearing in four episodes of the soap 1987 as Kenny Larkin, the former cellmate of Street resident Henry Ramsay. The role obviously got him noticed though because he quickly went on to become a fully-fledged Hollywood A-lister, winning the Best Actor Oscar for his standout performance as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator. 8 8 8 8 8
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Resurfaced interview with Julian McMahon and Dannii Minogue reveals how crazy they were about each other before failed marriage - as she remains silent on his shock death
A moving clip has resurfaced of Julian McMahon and Dannii Minogue in the wake of his death. It was revealed in a statement released by his wife Kelly on July 2 that Julian had passed away after secretly battling cancer. Now, a video has come to light showing Julian and his former wife of 18 month, Dannii, revealing just how crazy the couple were about each other during their relationship. In the interview, filmed shortly after their engagement, the two could be seen in the back of a car looking loved up, with Julian kissing Dannii's hand and asking to marry her before cuddling up next to her on the backseat. 'I already said yes to that!' Dannii giggled as the pair cuddled and exchanged smitten looks. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Julian and Dannii then shared what they love most about each other, and explained how 'sparks flew across the room' when they first met. 'You'll have me going for days... well, she's a wonderful person, she really is,' Julian gushed. Dannii chimed in, while giggling and looking lovestruck: 'He is very fun to be with. And he's very romantic. Everything a girl would want.' Elsewhere in the clip, sweet details behind Julian's proposal to the pop star were revealed. 'He went to ring my parents first and asked my dad,' Dannii confessed. 'For permission?' the interviewer could be heard asking, to which she replied: 'Yeah'. In shock, the interviewer remarked: 'Gee that's old-fashioned.' 'I'm an old-fashioned guy,' Julian lovingly responded. The couple also discussed their upcoming wedding, with Dannii revealing her sister Kylie Minogue 'screamed' in excitement when she learned of her sibling's engagement. Dannii has not made an official statement following Julian's shock death last week. The Australian actor died from lung metastasis as a result of head and neck metastatic cancer, per a Cremation Approval Summary Report from the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office in Florida, obtained by People. However, Dannii did give an insight into their whirlwind marriage just one month before Julian's passing. Dannii originally met Julian in 1990 while co- starring as Emma Jackson and Ben Lucini on the set of Home and Away. Three years later, Dannii (born Danielle) enlisted Julian to play her boyfriend in her music videos for This Is It and This Is the Way, before art imitated life and they tied the knot in 1994. However, the union was short-lived, with the couple parting ways just a year and a half later. Dannii never won over the approval of McMahon's late mother Lady Sonia, who didn't want her entering the political world dominated by his late father Sir Billy, the former Prime Minister of Australia. 'She thought that I was wanting to be part of that world [and] that I was going to take, take, take from them,' Dannii recalled on the How to Fail podcast on May 27. 'And it was the furthest thing from the truth and not what I wanted at all. So she made it very clear that I was not to be around and she didn't want me a part of anything. Yet Julian wanted me to be his wife. 'I knew that their [mother-son] relationship there was a lot had gone on and he loved and adored her, but they were not close in many ways. So it was a wild time. 'I mean, it was a lot to take on and that's how swept off my feet I was and thought that it could still work.' The marriage began falling apart after The Residence actor moved to New York City to star in NBC soap opera Another World while Dannii flew back and forth from London. In 1995, just a year after they married, the couple's divorce was finalised.
