Sam Atwell, who notably portrayed bad boy Kane Phillips on Home and Away from 2001 to 2009, has changed a lot in recent years, and is now working as a producer on an Irish drama called Fair City.
Since leaving Australia, the 42-year-old has acquired a more rough appearance, with a shaved head and lengthy beard that makes him unrecognizable.
Sam played ‘Barbie Man’ in one episode of Fair City and told The Irish Sun that he wasn’t sure if Irish fans would recognise him from the Australian serial.
He added, “We’ll see whether they remember [me from Home and Away].” “It was a different age, and I had a different beard.
“I’m not sure whether I was ever a heartthrob, but I believe I was the bad guy, and that was a lot of fun.”
He did, however, mention some criticisms of the show, saying, “I recall reading some nasty comments about my age at the time and receding hairline.”
The actor went on to say that he has “thick enough skin” to deal with such insults anymore.
Sam recently shared a beautiful photo of himself and his dog on Instagram, writing, “Dublin in the summer. We indulged on some ice cream.”
“Can’t take the sweetness!” said Christie Hayes, a former Home and Away star.
With his new style, Sam is characterised as a “complete bushranger” by one fan, while another user remarked, “There’s a bushranger film in you yet.”
Someone another commented, “Perfect movie title and poster,” referring to the caption “Man and Winnie.”
Christie Hayes portrayed Kirsty Sutherland, who married Kane in a highly contentious plotline on the programme.
Despite the fact that Kane sexually abused Dani (Tammin Sursock), Kirsty started covertly seeing him and married him two years later.
Kirsty believes a plot like that would not work in today’s world.
“In this day and age, I don’t believe they’d get away with something like that,” she added. “No way. I don’t see a lot of it happening right now – not at all. It wasn’t that long ago, but I remember storylines from Home and Away and think to myself, ‘That would never be alright now!’”
