 Ryan
Kwanten: Vinnie Patterson
Ryan was born on teh 28th of November,
1976.
Acting runs in Ryan's family; his two
brothers have always been performers – with one currently in a band and
also at the Conservatorium of Music – while Ryan was the sporty one. However,
as fate would have it, Ryan fell into acting purely by chance at the age
of 15.
His first acting job was a minor guest
role in, funnily enough, Home and Away as a young surfie. He also had a
lead role in the children's TV series Spellbinder II: Land of the Dragon
Lords.
Ryan's character, Vinnie Patterson, is
a bit of a schemer and Ryan describes him as 'a lovable rogue who gets
himself into plenty of strife and fancies himself as a bit of a ladies'man
with plenty of money-making ideas. He is definitely an ideas man who constantly
uses lines such as "I've got plans, I've got ideas, and I'm going places".
The only similarities Ryan can see between
himself and his character are that they are both shy with ladies (or so
he says!!). He feels that Vinnie talks before he thinks whilst Ryan thinks
before he talks.
Ryan's interests include fitness (he currently
trains with a number of Australia's leading ironmen), ironman events, swimming,
tennis, snooker, golf, snow skiing… and the list goes on.
Ryan first appeared as Vinnie Patterson
as a guest in July 1997 and returned as a permanent cast member in November
1997.
 Kimberley
Cooper: Gypsy Nash
Gypsy was born in Sydney on April 24,
1980.
Kimberley is a relative newcomer to television,
having previously concentrated on dance — she studied ballet for 12 years
and has received numerous awards for jazz, tap and classical ballet. So
when Kimberley learned that she had won the role of Gypsy on Home and Away,
she was quite overwhelmed.
'I walked through the front door and saw
Mum with a single tear rolling down her cheek. All she said was 'Congratulations'
and presented me with 12 long-stemmed roses. It was a moment I will never
forget.'
Aside from acting and dancing, Kimberley's
interests include dancing, kickboxing and going to parties where she can
dance the night away.
Kimberley describes her character Gypsy
as hard on the outside, but like a marshmallow on the inside. She is devoted
to her family but like any sister has a love/hate relationship with her
brother, Tom.
 Justin
Melvey: Harry Keller
Justin was born on the 7th of May, 1969
in Sydney. Justin joined Home and Away as Harry Keller, Summer Bay's
new science teacher.
It was at the age of 10 that Justin first
knew he wanted to be an actor, when he and his family went to Disneyland
and Hollywood studios. It was his first taste of the industry, but acting
would have to take a back seat to other interests that he pursued.
Snow skiing has been a passion for Justin
since he was three years old, travelling with his family to Perisher ski
fields in NSW on their annual ski trips.
He went to Colorado on a ski program when
he was 16, and the following year was selected for the Australian Freestyle
Ski Team (development team).
Justin trained with the US team in Colorado
and at 18 was placed in the top 5 in the Australian National Championships.
He then earned his spot on the Australian
Freestyle Ski Team and toured the world. He competed in moguls and did
acrobatic aerials for fun. And it runs in the family – his sister is currently
in the Australian Cross Country Ski Team and is ranked fourth in the world.
During his ski career, which spanned the
ages of 16-21, Justin completed high school, and did various commercials
and some modelling. He told his parents that he wanted to be in front of
the camera.
At 21, Justin knew that he had no future
with freestyle skiing, as it was still an exhibition sport, so he then
based himself in Los Angeles.
The modelling offers came rolling in and
he did various campaigns and jobs for teen magazines, such as a shoot with
Hollywood superstar Cameron Diaz for American magazine 17.
He travelled to Milan, Paris and New York
and began to use his modelling career to finance his acting career, which
had now become his number one priority. He embarked on this dream career
by taking up some acting and voice classes in LA.
Justin's first lead role was in a graduate
film called The Promise Land, which led to roles including Cloud 2000,
Valley of the Dolls, The Burning Boys, Mametville Murders (in which he
played a Washington State prosecutor) and, more recently, The Debtors,
a $20 million film starring Michael Caine and Randy Quaid. Justin played
Michael Caine's personal driver. 'Being on that kind of set blew me away',
he says.
Justin's television credits include Young
and the Restless, on which he had a recurring role, and Sunset Beach.
Now, at 30, Justin joins Home and Away
as science teacher Harry Keller. But this is not the first time he has
been on Home and Away: he had a guest role three years ago where he played
a possible love interest for Rebecca (Belinda Emmett).
Harry was always a well-liked and inspiring
teacher, developing scientific interests in the most unlikely students.
And Summer Bay will be no exception, when his students sit up and take
notice of his method of teaching science in a way they are not quite used
to.
Justin knew the gig on Home and Away was
the perfect opportunity to return to Australia and build his career here
and be close to his family.
He auditioned while still in LA and flew
back to Australia to do a screen test. When he discovered that he did get
the part he then flew back to LA to 'pack up his life' and move back home
to Sydney.
On his character Harry Keller, Justin
comments:
'Harry is a great guy, he is very intellectual,
sophisticated , charming, cheeky – all those wonderful traits.'
Justin first appeared as Harry Keller
in Home and Away on 13 September 1999.
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