DAVID HOFLIN

David has played the role of JASON BATES in all three Ocean Girl series and will continue the role in the upcoming fourth series. JASON is Ocean Girl's closest friend and confidante, a role that has seen him lead NERI and the ORCA kids through many exciting adventures and escapades.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, David and his family came to Australia when he was four years old. From this early age David was performing at every opportunity, "my mother remembers a time when I acted like a dog for several days, if she spoke to me I'd bark in response!" Another time David put on a spontaneous one man play for his dentist!

Following on from these beginnings David worked on several Australian films and television programs but Ocean Girl has certainly been the highlight. "It's the best thing I've ever done. The atmosphere on set is great as are the storylines. I feel very proud to have worked on the production as it hasn't broken away from the environmental theme which is so important. The significance of friendship is another strong theme and there are no racial prejudices - people from ORCA are from all walks of life - even alien!"

David has just completed his final year at high school. And although he would like to make acting his career, he also hopes to attend University to study Law and History. "Acting isn't stable enough unless you have an ongoing job, I'd like to have a degree to fall back on".

Outside of study and Ocean Girl David spends a lot of his time playing the guitar. His "hero" is Eric Clapton. He keeps fit by playing indoor soccer and basketball and is a champion tennis player. He also enjoys creative drawing and reading up on History. "I'm intrigued by the lost civilisations - the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. I like to contemplate History's unsolved questions."

David's own future is also very much on his mind, ultimately he would like to work on feature films with Directors such as Martin Scorcese, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino and Australian Director, Fred Schepisi. He'd love to work with actors such as Sean Connery, Anthony Hopkins and Leonardo De Caprio and actresses Meryl Streep (again), Lauren Holly and Cathy Baker.

Judging from the amount of fan mail David receives from all over the world there's little doubt David will be successful. "I get a lot of mail from Japan which is fun. They are so polite - they call me Mr. David! It's heartwarming that they take the time to write to me, many say it's the first letter they've ever written in English!"

With the fourth season of Ocean Girl scheduled for filming in 1997, David has his immediate sights set on returning to the role, "My main ambition now is to finish Ocean Girl 4!". After that there should be no shortage of roles for David as he becomes a most eligible leading man.

JEFFREY WALKER

Jeffrey's volume of work includes many Australian children's and adult series but it is through the series Ocean Girl that Jeffrey is seen in over 70 countries around the world. Jeffrey plays BRETT BATES in the series, the youngest of the BATES family who befriend the mysterious Ocean Girl, NERI.

Jeffrey is soon to embark on the fourth series of Ocean Girl to be filmed in 1997. It seems Jeffrey and BRETT have almost grown up together, "We are similar in some ways, we like to have fun no matter what and we both love adventures." There has been no lack of excitement for Jeffrey in this role - riding jet skis and waverunners, scuba diving, boating and four wheel motorbiking are just some of the adventures Jeffrey has had on the series.

But when Jeffrey has a break between series he tends to get down to serious business. What other fourteen year old has a property portfolio! With some advice from his parents Jeffrey has invested his earnings wisely in property, shares, a car and a business.

Jeffrey also loves to play sports - swimming, bike riding, water skiing and knee boarding are just a few. His favourite band is the Beatles and licorice is his favourite food. "My friends at home treat me like anyone else but I do feel different - I've worked with adults for half my life and schools never been a big factor for me, I do most of it on film sets."

Jeffrey has his sights firmly set on a long career in the film and television industry. "Acting itself will decide if I'm good enough to continue down that path", he modestly states, "but I've also learnt a lot of the technical side of things and I'm interested in becoming a Director of Photography and possibly a Director or Producer". To do that Jeffrey plans on studying at film school in Australia.

In the meantime Jeffrey dreams of working with Directors such as Steven Speilberg and George Lucas. "It would be fun to work on a film such as INDIANA JONES or STAR WARS". And when he does hit Hollywood Jeffrey would very much like to work with stars like Robin Williams, Tom Hanks or Elisha Wood.

And though these may be dreams, there's no doubting Jeffrey will give it his best shot. "If you've got a goal don't let anyone stand in your way. Anyone can achieve something if they really want it". Words of wisdom from a 14 year old who has already achieved more than some people would ever dare to dream of.

Because of his heritage which includes an exotic mix of Sri Lankan, Javanese, Swiss, Irish, Italian and German, Jeremy has managed to perform roles that are suitably fitted to his heritage such as "Sparrow" a Vietnamese- Australian street kid. The combination of European and Asian ancestry also proved perfect for the role of "Kal" who comes from the "Planet of the Oceans" in the third series of Ocean Girl.

Jeremy was excited at the prospect of playing the character of KAL given the infinite possibilities such a role had to offer, "KAL is unquestionably alien, from his appearance to his rather peculiar habits. He knows nothing of what it means to be human and sees life very much like a child whose world is safe and full of adventure".

Jeremy admits the role was a challenge, "The joys and innocence of childhood and the relationship with my 3 year old niece, Isabella, were perfect memories to draw from in establishing the wonderment that KAL experiences on the Opal Planet (Earth). Hopefully people will see what the passage of time and simply living does to a person, a child, who knows only trust and love and what this living of life can do to people if we don't behave responsibly."

Jeremy is committed to his work and ranks this as his favourite passion, second to doing absolutely nothing. "Nothing usually involves something" Jeremy says "my other hobbies include regular trips to the cinema, dangerous sports, hearty feasting and a preference toward Jazz and Soul music."

Whilst filming the third series of Ocean Girl on the Great Barrier Reef Jeremy was astonished to find that a pod of dolphins had decided to join the cast and crew for a play. "These aquatic sages suddenly appeared, quizzically studied our appearance there, then disappeared to feast on a school of fish!" remarks Jeremy, "I was in the water at the time and was totally blown away".

Jeremy's other screen credits include roles in MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, BLUE HEELERS, HALIFAX F.P., NEIGHBOURS and most recently and coincidentally, FLIPPER.

Jeremy hopes to be working in America soon after he has completed other acting commitments.