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Interviews > Tamasin Ramsay

Back in 1987, actress Tamasin Ramsay won the role of aspiring model BB Larkin, who both conned and charmed Henry Mitchell. Here, she shares some memories of working alongside actors including Craig McLachlan and Kylie Minogue, as the show's popularity was really starting to take hold...

Can you tell us a little about your career before Neighbours?
I started working from a young age. I played 'Flower' in an episode of the ABC TV series The Truckies starring John Wood in the mid 1970s, and had a small part in Dimboola the movie when was even younger - I must have been 10 or so. In The Truckies I got to drive an old beat up car around the back yard which was very exciting! And my best memories from Dimboola was mucking around with Bruce Spence, dancing with Chad Morgan in the wedding reception scene, and meeting the band. I did some voice overs, commercials and danced and sang in front of my grandfather - the usual things...

How did your role as BB Larkin come about? Was it just a typical audition?
I didn't audition for BB Larkin, as I recall. I was working pretty steadily at that point and I just had a quick chat with Jan Russ. She offered me the part.

Did you enjoy playing BB? How would you describe the character?
She was a model which I had to work a bit at playing - I've never had that kind of delicacy and grace in my mind. My dad says I still walk like a 15-year-old boy, and I'm now 40! However, I liked the fact that she played along as a kind of girly girl who didn't know much about anything, and then pulled out her talents at the last minute (in this case it was playing darts) and stole the show!

Were there any actors you particularly enjoyed working with?
I quite enjoyed working alongside Craig McLachlan [Henry], although I remember he was a pretty big flirt off the set. Even moreso than on the set! I also liked Kylie [Charlene] a lot. I remember how regular and unassuming she was... and how tiny! We were chatting in the makeup van and she told me about how she was about to see an image consultant, to help work out how to best present herself for the next stage in her career. Obviously she or he did a good job. Fiona Corke [Gail] was great. Ian Smith [Harold] as well... he's been a friend of the family for many years. Also, Anne Charleston [Madge] I knew from working on Possession so it was great to work with her again too.

How did it feel to be working alongside such an established cast, particularly as the show was just becoming so hugely successful?
At that time it was just like some of the other shows I'd worked on. Also, because I knew some of the cast previously it was much like any television - kind of like running into old family members again. I was actually going out with Darius Perkins [Scott] when the show first began in 1985 before Jason Donovan took over the role. So I somehow had a strong connection with the beginning of the show.