Aussie actress Margot Robbie could go down in history today as the first ex-Neighbours actor to win an Oscar. And when her award category is announced her Neighbours family will be watching the big moment.
“Try and stop me,” Alan Fletcher, 60, says when asked if he’ll be watching from set. “There’ll be no saving it up to watch it later on that’s for sure.”
Alan and Margot on the set of Neighbours back in 2010.
Margot is nominated for the Actress in a Leading Role category for I, Tonya. In the film she plays controversial figure skater Tonya Harding. Margot was also produced the movie.
But the 27-year-old from the Gold Coast has stiff competition. The favourite to win Margot’s category is Frances McDormand for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.
Saoirse Ronan for Lady Bird, Sally Hawkins for The Shape of Water and Meryl Streep for The Post round out the nominees.
Margot starred as Donna Freedman on Neighbours from 2008 to 2011.
According to her former co-star and current Neighbours actor Alan, who plays Karl Kennedy, Margot was a star from day one.
“When she was on Neighbours it was quite clear to me she was one of the best performers to ever come through the program,” he reveals.
“There was no question, even from the first day she was here, that she was going to go on to be an extraordinary actress.”
Margot in her Oscar-nominated role.
For the up-and-coming actors currently on Neighbours, Margot’s Oscar nomination is proof of what kind of career the soap can lead to.
Tim Kano, who plays Leo on the soap, says it’s exciting to see what Margot’s achieved.
“It’s really motivating and inspiring to know someone who was on the show [not so long ago] has worked on some amazing projects since then,” Tim Kano, 31, says.
“I can’t wait to see how it plays out,” he adds. “She’s always been an amazing actress so she definitely deserves it.”
Catch Margot at the Academy Awards from 12pm on Nine.
