Xanthe Canning (Lilly Van Der Meer)
A new cast member arrives in Erinsborough.
Hot on the heels of announcing the return of Charlie Hoyland played by newcomer Xander McGuire, Neighbours’ producers are investing in another up and coming young talent, Lilly Van der Meer.
Certainly one to watch in 2016, the stunning 16-year-old from the Gold Coast in Queensland, joins a long list of superstars to launch their careers as teenagers on the global soap including Margot Robbie who coincidently grew up in the same hood as Lilly – what better omen?
“It’s part of the Neighbours legacy to nurture and develop amazing new talent from all over Australia and I’ve no doubt that Lilly is definitely a star of the future,” said Neighbours’ Series Producer Jason Herbison.
Her character, Xanthe Canning has a formidable pedigree, the granddaughter of Sheila Canning, played by one of Australia’s most respected performers Colette Mann, half-sister of Ramsay Street hunk Chris Milligan and the daughter of one of the family’s more recent members to join the series Gary played by Damien Richardson who also returns in the new year.
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LillyVanDerMeer
“There are times the Cannings could be mistaken as a colourful mob family but it all comes from the right place,” joked Colette. “Lilly’s world has certainly been opened up since joining the and we’re loving having her here. She was already a Canning after just a couple of weeks, we had converted her.”
Lilly debuts on Neighbours on January 22.
The Canning's are rocked by new arrival Xanthe...
Poor Sheila gets the shock of her life this week, when a strange girl turns up and claims to be her long-lost granddaughter!
Sheila has already had a run-in with the troublesome Xanthe earlier in the day, so she gives the lass short shrift when she sees her on Ramsay Street. She is stunned as the teenager drops a bombshell about her true identity...
“Xanthe is a sneaky devil - she shows up at The Waterhole and tries to scam a free burger! reveals Colette Mann, who plays Sheila. “Sheila is on to her in a nanosecond and Xanthe does a runner. Then she turns up at the house and tells Sheila that she’s Gary’s daughter.”
The revelation is a huge development for Sheila, who had no idea her jailbird son had fathered another kid. She’s not the only one who’s stunned - poor Kyle is gob smacked to discover that he has a half-sister.
“Sheila doesn’t take it well - Gary is her favourite child and she’s hurt that he’s kept this from her,” sighs Colette. “She doesn’t believe it at first but soon realises it’s true. She actually feels sorry for Xanthe because Gary has kept a lot from her as well.”
While Sheila struggles to embrace Xanthe, Colette is overjoyed at the latest addition to the Canning clan.
“I’m building an empire!” chuckles the star. “Xanthe is such a great character. There is a toughness to her but she has a fun side, too. I think the viewers will really like her.”
Source: Inside Soap Magazine
