Matthew Werkmeister | |
|---|---|
 Matthew Werkmeister at the Heath Ledger scholarship gala. LA | |
| Born | 30 January 1992 Melbourne, Australia |
| Education | St Peter's college |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Known for | Neighbours (TV series) as Zeke Kinski |
Matthew Werkmeister (born 30 January 1992) [1] [2] [3] is an Australian stage and television actor. He is best known for his role as Zeke Kinski in the soap opera Neighbours from 2005 to 2011 and 2014.
Werkmeister began his career with the Children's Performing Company of Australia [4] and is represented by Storm Actors. [5]
Prior to appearing in Neighbours, Werkmeister appeared in a stage production of The Full Monty . It was for this portrayal that he was nominated in 2005 for a Music Theatre Guild of Victoria: Awards for Excellence award in the category of Junior Performer (Male). [6] The award was won by Daniel Todd for the stage production of Kiss Me Kate. [6]
It was whilst he was appearing in The Full Monty that Werkmeister landed the role of Zeke Kinski in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. He almost missed out on the role when his father took the call about the audition and refused it because it was a five-hour drive to there. Werkmeister has said that he was "horrified" when he found out and called his agent back to find out if he could still attend the audition. [7] He joined the cast in 2005 initially in a recurring role before becoming a regular cast member. His portrayal of Zeke Kinski led to a nomination in 2008 for Best Young Actor at the Inside Soap awards alongside fellow cast member Fletcher O'Leary (Mickey Gannon). [8] During his time on Neighbours, Werkmeister met British singer Lily Allen when she filmed a cameo role with him. Speaking about the cameo appearance, Werkmeister admitted he was "freaking out". [9]
In 2008, he joined the judging panel of the Inkys, Australia's only teenage choice book award judged by people under 20 years of age. The aim of the reward is to encourage young people to read. Of his judging role Werkmeister said "Finding the time is the difficult part but some of the books are great so the reading part has been fun." [10]
In 2009, Werkmeister was longlisted for the Logie Award for Most Popular Actor, alongside fellow cast members Steve Bastoni (Steve Parker), Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy), Ryan Moloney (Toadfish Rebecchi) and Ian Smith (Harold Bishop). [11] He was included on the longlist for Most Popular Personality on TV, alongside fellow cast members Pippa Black (Elle Robinson), Carla Bonner (Stephanie Scully) and Tom Oliver (Lou Carpenter). [11] The following year, he was longlisted for Most Popular Actor again. [12] Werkmeister starred in the 2010 short film Barrier: the Invisible Machine as an apprentice race pilot. The film was co-produced by Neighbours crew member Terry Shepherd and premiered at the Armageddon Pop Culture Expo at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. [13]
In October 2010, it was announced that Werkmeister was to leave Neighbours along with Jane Hall (Rebecca Robinson) and Erin Mullally (Declan Napier). [14] Speaking about his decision to leave, Werkmeister said "When I started on Neighbours I was only thirteen, I didn't shave or drive a car so I really have grown up on the show, I've learnt so much, worked with some great people who are now some of my closest friends." [15] His final episode was broadcast on 11 March 2011.
From 2012 until 2014, Werkmeister starred as Josh in Matthew Smolen's webseries Chris & Josh. [16] Werkmeister made a cameo appearance in Australian band Eagle and the Worm's music video for their 2012 single "Give Me Time". In the video, he plays a roller-skating sex symbol. [17] From May to June 2013, Werkmeister performed as Roger Boothby in Barry Lowe's acclaimed stage play The Death of Peter Pan at Melbourne's Chapel Off Chapel. [18] [19] In April 2014, Werkmeister made a brief return to Neighbours as part of his on-screen family, the Kennedys' 20th anniversary. [20]
Werkmeister was educated at St Peters College in Cranbourne, Victoria [ citation needed ] and did most of his schoolwork by correspondence due to his acting commitments. In 2010, he attended his Débutante Ball. His hobbies include skimboarding, playing chess, oil painting, playing guitar and eating. [21] Since leaving Neighbours, Werkmeister has kept a low-profile. [19] In February 2017, he moved to the United States. [22]
Jacqueline Anne Woodburne is a Northern Irish-born Australian actress, who is notable for her roles in TV soap operas.
Shannon Louise "Lolly" Allen is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 25 July 1994. Louise was played by Tessa Taylor from her birth, with Jiordan Tolli taking over the role a few months later. The character was written out in 2001 when Tolli's parents and the producers felt it was the right time for her to leave. In 2006, it was announced that Louise would be returning to Neighbours and Adelaide Kane was cast in the role, after winning the Dolly "Neighbours Next Big Stars" competition. Kane's contract was not renewed and Louise departed on 29 June 2007. The character returned for one episode on 4 October 2013 with Tolli in the role.
Katya Kinski is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Dichen Lachman. She made her first on-screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 12 December 2005. Lachman originally auditioned for the role of Elle Robinson. But producers asked her to play Katya instead. Katya is characterised as a "bitchy nasty person" with a "dark past". She arrives in Erinsborough to visit her terminally-ill father Alex before he died. She reunites with her younger siblings Rachel and Zeke Kinski. Katya feuds with Susan Kennedy and Karl Kennedy over custody of her siblings. Lachman believed that her flawed character disliked Susan to justify her own failings as a sister.
Scott Ian Major is an Australian actor and TV and film director, known for his roles as Peter Rivers in the 1994 television teen drama series Heartbreak High and Lucas Fitzgerald in soap opera Neighbours. After leaving Neighbours in 2013, Major returned to direct over 200 episodes of the serial. He has since gone on to direct episodes of Playing for Keeps, and two miniseries Lie With Me and Riptide. Major reprised his role as Rivers in the 2022 reboot of Heartbreak High.
Rachel Kinski is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Caitlin Stasey. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 18 August 2005. She is the middle child of Alex Kinski and sister to Zeke and Katya Kinski. Rachel's storylines ranged from parental bereavement and first love to an inappropriate relationship with an older man. Rachel departed on 11 March 2009, following Stasey's decision to quit the series to focus on her studies.
Zeke Kinski is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Matthew Werkmeister. He made his first on-screen appearance on 22 August 2005. Zeke is the son of Alex Kinski and the younger brother of Katya and Rachel. His storylines have included the death of his father, being trapped in the warehouse collapse, developing an anxiety disorder, joining Pirate Net and forming many romantic relationships. In October 2010, it was announced that Werkmeister and his character were to leave Neighbours. Zeke made his final appearance on 11 March 2011. In February 2014, it was announced that Werkmeister would be returning to Neighbours for a brief guest stint and Zeke returned on 7 April 2014.
Heidi "Pepper" Steiger is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Nicky Whelan. The character was introduced into the serial as part of a group of four characters branded as "20 somethings". She made her debut in the episode broadcast on 12 October 2006. Pepper left the soap on 1 November 2007 after Whelan quit her contract. During her stint in the serial Pepper was involved in notable storylines including a same-sex kiss, a hostage situation and cervical dysplasia.
Ringo Brown is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Sam Clark. Clark was given the role after he entered and won a Dolly magazine competition. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 24 January 2007. Ringo's storylines have included his ongoing battle with an eating disorder, a bus crash, a relationship with an older woman, the collapse of a warehouse roof at an illegal dance party and his on-off relationship with Donna Freedman. In July 2010, it was announced that Clark had decided to leave Neighbours. He filmed his final scenes at the end of the month and Ringo made his last credited appearance on 1 October 2010, but was killed off-screen in the next episode.
Ty Harper is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by singer Dean Geyer. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 27 March 2008. He was introduced to the show as the cousin of Taylah Jordan and as a potential love interest for Rachel Kinski. He departed on 30 April 2009.
Sunny Lee is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Hany Lee. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 8 April 2009. Sunny was created by executive producer Susan Bower in response to criticism that Neighbours was "too white". Lee came to the attention of Neighbours producers after she entered a competition run by Dolly Magazine to win a three-month contract with the show. Despite not winning, she was cast as Sunny soon afterwards. In August 2009, it was announced that Lee and Sunny would be departing Neighbours and Sunny made her final appearance on 19 November 2009.
Sophie Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kaiya Jones. The actress was cast in the role following a competitive audition process. Jones began filming her first scenes in February 2009. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 18 May 2009. The character was created as part of a new generation of the Ramsay family, along with her brother Harry and sister Kate. Sophie is the youngest of three siblings introduced to the show. Sophie departed on 29 March 2013, after Jones decided to leave to concentrate on her schooling. The actress briefly reprised the role for two episodes on 7 and 8 April 2014.
Susan Bower is an Australian television producer and television writer best known for her work on the soap opera Neighbours. Bower is also the founder of the production company Bower Bird Productions.
Meyne Wyatt is an Aboriginal Australian actor, known for his stage, film, and television roles.
The Kennedy family are a fictional family from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. They have been a large part of the show since 1994, when the five-strong family moved into Ramsay Street. Both Karl Kennedy and his wife Susan celebrated 20 years on the show in 2014, and are stalwarts of the fictional Erinsborough community, with Karl serving as the area's doctor and Susan as principal of Erinsborough High. They have earned multiple award nominations for their roles. The Kennedy family has expanded to introduce several others since its conception, although plays a relatively minor role as of 2014, with Karl and Susan as the only members of their family still residing in Ramsay Street.
Benjamin Turland is an Australian actor and dancer. Turland won the grand final of the revived Young Talent Time series with his dance group Lil' Banditz Krew, before going onto the semi-final of Australia's Got Talent. He later appeared as a dancer on The X Factor Australia and The Voice Australia. In 2014, he made a guest appearance in the drama series Love Child and played Jordan Walsh in Home and Away during 2016. From 2019 until 2022, Turland portrayed Hendrix Greyson in fellow Australian soap opera Neighbours. He also appeared in the spin-off Erinsborough High, and was nominated for Best Daytime Star at the Inside Soap Awards. After leaving Neighbours, Turland appeared in the television miniseries Riptide as Ethan Weston. He filmed a role in the 2023 thriller 13 Summers and joined the supporting cast of Paper Dolls. The Casting Guild of Australia named Turland as one of its 12 Rising Stars of 2023.
