The Neighbours casting director who helped launch the careers of Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and many more is sharing secrets in a new book. Jan Russ worked on the show for 25 years from its inception, proving instrumental in casting some huge names over the years.
She has just launched her new autobiography What Will the Neighbours Think: Love, Loss and Showbiz, which is described as a "candid, spirited memoir" from a woman who "built a remarkable life in spite of – and sometimes because of – the secrets she was told to keep" (via Amazon).
Russ has now shared some secrets in a new chat, including dispelling myths around Jason Donovan being initially rejected on the soap.
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"It’s true he auditioned for the Channel Seven series when we were there, but he wasn’t turned down," she said at a book launch of the Scott Robinson star (via TV Tonight). "I offered him the role, but his dad, [actor] Terry Donovan, wanted him to continue on with his studies. He was doing his HSC.
"I mean, he was wonderful, and so he came to me and said, ‘Oh, look, Jan, Dad said I’ve got to study some more, I can’t do it.’ So I said, ‘Okay, Jason, no problem. You know, something will come up at a later stage,’ which it did. So when we went to 10, and I rang him, and he’d done his HSC, so he was ready."
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The casting director also revealed that she contracted Hugh Jackman to join the soap before he got famous, though he ended up turning it down when he got accepted to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
"He said, ‘I’ve always wanted to go to WAPPA. I know I’m contracted to you to do Neighbours, but I really want to do it’," Russ recalled. "And I went, 'I will find someone else to do the role.’ He’s never forgotten that!"
Related: Neighbours early years returning to screens in 420-episode deal
As for which stars she could tell were headed for big things beyond the soap, Russ admitted she saw potential in Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce, who have since gone on to become huge Hollywood stars.
Neighbours came to an end last year after a short revival by Prime Video, which itself followed its initial axing in 2022.
Speaking about a potential revival, Russ mused: "It’s that old theatrical thing… you leave them wanting more. You can’t keep floggin’ a dead horse, really.
"I always think, if they only did a spin off from Neighbours, it would have been perfect. But not to try and replace it again. Hopefully, they do a spin off, because I think that would be fantastic. So let’s keep the fingers crossed."
Neighbours concluded in December 2025, but classic episodes are available to watch via Prime Video and YouTube.
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