Christie Whelan Browne has joined ‘Neighbours’.
The 36-year-old star is to appear on the Channel 5 soap in a guest role as character Scarlett, after the ‘Wrong Girl’ actress auditioned for the show "a couple of times in the past" without any success.
A tweet on the ‘Neighbours’ Twitter account read: "We’d like to welcome Christie Whelan Browne to Erinsborough. Keep your eyes peeled for the drama she’s about to bring. (sic)"
Christie announced her new role by hitting back at an immigration officer who had previously scoffed at her because she hadn’t been on ‘Neighbours’.
She wrote on Instagram: "Once when I went through Customs the Immigration Officer looked at my form and said ‘Actress, huh?’ with a raised brow.
‘Yep’.
‘Oh really? *scoff* You ever been on @neighbours ?’
‘…No’
‘Hahahahaha, yeah no, see all actors in Australia have been on Neighbours’.
Well suck on this, Graham. Coming to your screens Sept 2019. (sic)"
Christie felt "surreal" during her first day on set sitting opposite soap legend Jackie Woodburne, who has played Susan Kennedy since 1994.
She said: "It’s so surreal. Sitting at my first read-through and Susan Kennedy is sitting opposite me saying lines – it was nostalgia and excitement rolled into one.
"My younger self would never have believed I’d be on this show. It’s pretty awesome."
The ‘Spin Out’ star admits her character is "very complex" and will "go to extreme lengths to get what she wants".
Christie added to TV Week: "She has a clear agenda when it comes to one of the male characters and she goes to extreme lengths to get what she wants.
"She’s had her own pain and struggles, so while sometimes her actions will leave viewers shaking their heads, hopefully they can have sympathy for her too."