As a much-loved soap about everyday Australians comes to an end, a young actor with Down syndrome plays out her dream role.
Image: Guy Pearce and Henrietta Graham on the set of Neighbours.
Could a young fairy in her primary school’s rendition of Peter Pan ever imagine that, one day, she’d be joining the cast of Neighbours?
Henrietta Graham’s dreams came true when she played a new character, Sam, who’ll see out the final weeks of the iconic Australian series. After 37 years of showcasing drama from the fictional suburb of Erinsborough, the final episode of Neighbours will air this month, featuring Henrietta in her breakout role.
“I love acting,” says Henrietta, sitting with her mother, Natalie Graham, in their Melbourne home.
Henrietta was talent scouted from a story in The Sunday Age, where she was interviewed about the Accessible Films Studies Program she’s enrolled in. Run by Bus Stop Films and open to people 17 years and older with disability, this program is taught by industry professionals with assistance from disability support workers.
The Sunday Age reporter asked Henrietta what her ideal acting role would be. Henrietta said she’d love to be on Neighbours - sparking a series of events that would see this goal manifest.
Chancing upon the article, Neighbours publicist Kelly Davis contacted Bus Stop Films and connected Henrietta with two of the show’s producers, Katja Bäuerle and Andrew Thompson.
“They spoke to Henrietta about Neighbours and they asked all these questions that I didn't know any of the answers to because I don't actually watch it,” says Henrietta’s mum, Natalie.
“They asked Hen if she would like to come out on set and meet April Rose, who plays her favourite character. They also sent an audition script and Hen wouldn't rehearse any of it with me!”
Henrietta auditioned on set in the fictional Lassiters Hotel, a hot spot for Erinsborough locals where April Rose Pengilly plays the manager, Chloe.
“Henrietta read her script with April Rose and then Andrew said now let's do it without the piece of paper. And I thought, okay, here we go. I didn't think you'd learnt it properly,” says Natalie to her daughter. “But she nailed it.”
Henrietta was offered the role of Sam on the spot. How did she feel when she got that news?
“Nervous,” smiles Henrietta. “I had butterflies in my tummy.”
Image: April Rose Pengilly and Henrietta Graham on the set of Neighbours.
Natalie says one of Henrietta’s biggest barriers in life is a lack of self-confidence - something the teen is actively addressing. Henrietta has attended a local martial arts course designed to build confidence and during her time on Neighbours was warmly encouraged by the cast and crew.
“One day we walked into the green room and there were half a dozen of the main actors standing in there, saying things like, ‘Hi, Henrietta, I've been waiting to meet you!” says Natalie.
Veteran Neighbours actor Ryan Moloney, who plays Jarrod ‘Toadie’ Rebecchi, was among the group. “He said hi,” says Natalie. “They were just so helpful.”
Like many people who have Down syndrome, Henrietta has a stutter. Prior to shooting her scenes, the producers sent over her scripts and asked if there were any words she’d like to avoid. “Not to show that Henrietta doesn't have a stutter,” says Natalie. “Just to encourage Henrietta’s confidence, so that was fabulous.”
Henrietta says that running lines with her mother is “pretty boring”. Instead, she practices with her support workers - one of whom was the former Drama Captain at her mainstream school, where Henrietta does theatre as part of her Year 11 studies.
Acting has long been a passion of Henrietta’s - since her turn as a fairy in her primary school production of Peter Pan - and her acting career aspirations are central to her NDIS plan. Natalie's advice to other parents of children with disability is: “Whatever they want to do, get that support.”
Natalie and her husband, Angus, helped start advocacy organisation Down Syndrome Australia after the third of their four daughters was born with the genetic condition.
“Research shows that the vast majority of teenagers with disability don't have a part-time job outside of school,” says Natalie. “Neighbours was Henrietta’s opportunity to have that part-time job, which came with having to fill in superannuation and employment forms and opening a bank account. That’s an amazing experience in itself.”
Natalie describes the working environment at Neighbours as “inclusive in every single way”.
“I wasn’t on set at all during the whole experience,” she says. “Bus Stop supported Henrietta with a support worker, which was really helpful for both Henrietta and for the cast and crew. But I did come into makeup and costume for the first couple of days and there was just a complete openness. Nothing seemed to be too much or too difficult.”
Henrietta is not the first actor with disability to set foot in Erinsborough. Deaf actor Nathan Borg joined the series in 2020, and more recently, Oli Pizzey-Stratford became the first wheelchair-using cast member to have a featured role on the show.
As it happens, many years ago, Oli was in a playgroup with Henrietta.
“I was texting his mum saying, I didn’t realise Oli was on too!” says Natalie. “Neighbours, all credit to them, made Henrietta’s dream come true - but they haven't highlighted the fact that Henrietta has a disability. They've just introduced a new character, Sam, who is now Chloe's assistant. They’re just showing inclusion and not highlighting difference.”
Henrietta has glowing reviews of her cast mates - including April Rose (“She was beautiful”), Stefan Dennis (“He was so nice”), and returned ’90s Neighbours heart-throb, Guy Pearce (“I love him”), who joins several A-listers who made their start in the long-running series to mark its final farewell.
Image: Guy Pearce and Henrietta Graham on the set of Neighbours.
Having lost its British broadcaster back in February, the show was unable to secure a replacement and ended production last month. As a huge fan of the series - and now one of its cast members - how does Henrietta feel about Neighbours ending?
“I’m kind of sad,” she says.
“You are kind of sad,” says Natalie, adding that Henrietta sent her a text saying she would personally pay for Neighbours to return, which Natalie sent on to the show’s producers.
“Katja said, ‘So we’re saved!” laughs Natalie. “So many people wish that it was saved, Hen. But I suppose all good things must come to an end.”
Henrietta’s star, however, has only begun to rise.
Henrietta Graham will feature as Sam in Neighbours from July 5-27. Visit Bus Stop Films for information about their Accessible Film Studies Program.
Melanie Dimmitt
Melanie Dimmitt is a freelance journalist, author and broadcaster. Since her debut book, Special, was published by Ventura Press in 2019, Melanie has written, spoken, podcasted and advocated far and wide for disability families. Creator and host of the award-winning NDIS Know-how and Tubie Talks podcasts, Melanie also publishes an annual magazine, The Blend, for the tube-feeding community.