ALUMNI

Luke Mitchell

The Code (USA)

Luke Mitchell is without question an actor that everyone is excited about. After only 3 weeks of being in Los Angeles, Luke landed a starring role in the CW’s new drama series The Tomorrow People, playing John Young, the cool rebel leader with a troubled past who is searching for his place in the world. Originally wanting to be a professional tennis player, Mitchell began his acting career in Melbourne, Australia. He has trained exclusively at Film & Television Studio International, since the age of seventeen. In his first professional acting role, Mitchell played the part of Chris Knight in the long running soap Neighbours. He then moved to the Gold Coast, after he was hand-picked to play the lead role, Will Benjamin, in the third series of internationally acclaimed children’s drama series H20: Just Add Water. Following his impressive start in the Australian Television industry, Mitchell then moved to Sydney to join the main cast of Home and Away playing resident heart-throb, Romeo Smith. In 2010, he won the Most Popular New Male Talent Logie Award for his portrayal. Mitchell recently played the lead role of Sam in an Independent Movie titled Seven Minutes, which was shot in Seattle, Washington, and then landed the leading role in Members Only, a prime-time Television Series produced by ABC Studios (USA) in conjunction with CBS Television. This 13-part series was created by BAFTA and Oscar nominated writer, Susannah Grant, known for writing the screenplay to the critically acclaimed film Erin Brockovich. Luke starred as a young man from the wrong side of the tracks alongside Breaking Bads Betsy Brandt. He also starred alongside Susan Sarandon and Sharon Stone in US feature film, Mothers and Daughters. Most recently, Luke was signed as main cast to Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D - series 3 and after finishing up on the series landed a leading role on hit USA NBC drama Blindspot. One week after wrapping on Blindspot, Luke commenced filming his leading role in the most anticipated USA Marine Drama on the CBS Network: The Code. He is currently filming in New York. The series will be aired internationally in 2019. Luke is managed by McMahon Management and co-managed internationally by Management 360 and United Talent Agency (UTA).

Ashleigh Brewer

The Bold and The Beautiful (USA)

Ashleigh has trained exclusively at Film & Television Studio International since we opened our doors in Brisbane in 1998. At the young age of eight, she was one of our very first students. Ashleigh was trained, mentored and managed by Craig and Dominique McMahon (Founders of McMahon Management and Film & Television Studio International) throughout her primary and high school years in Brisbane. After winning roles on various TV shows throughout that time, she then had the opportunity to audition for the series regular role of Kate Ramsay on Neighbours. She was cast by the wonderful Jan Russ and relocated to Melbourne to live with Craig and Dominique just after she finished high school. Ashleigh was very fortunate to have tested for Jan Russ in our Brisbane studio over the years and to be submitted for the Melbourne based role via McMahon Management - Melbourne. In 2014, after 5 years on the show, Ashleigh and the McMahon Management team decided it was time to move on, and within weeks of landing in Los Angeles, she was signed to one of the most watched shows in the world, being cast as Ivy Forrester in The Bold and the Beautiful at CBS studios in Hollywood. She has since returned to Australia to star in Home & Away before returning to Los Angeles.

Zima Anderson

Neighbours

Originally from Tasmania, Zima auditioned and gained a placement in our Professional Full-Time Acting for Television Program in Melbourne. She relocated to Melbourne, completed the Full-Time program, and continued to train in our evening classes - keeping up her skills in anticipation for upcoming roles. Luckily she did! After recently finishing a major guest role on Miss Fishers MODern Murder Mysteries, she landed a series regular role on Neighbours, playing the feisty Roxy Willis, which started airing in April 2019.  Zima follows in the footsteps of many other internationally successful students from our studio.  Zima is managed by McMahon Management.

Andrew Morley

Neighbours; Home and Away

After being discovered by Craig McMahon (McMahon Management) & beginning his training at Film & Television Studio International, Andrew successfully landed the lead role of Brandon in Lightning Point and relocated to the Gold Coast to commence filming for seven months. When filming concluded, Andrew headed back to the farm to finish his degree and continue his actor training at Film and Television Studio International in The Foundation Year Program. He was soon faced with a big decision, a full-time job at an engineering firm in Melbourne for the role of Spencer on Home and Away. Being a huge Home and Away fan, Andrew packed his bags and headed for sunny Summer Bay. After his leading role on Home and Away, Andrew returned to Melbourne, where he auditioned and won another series regular role (Jack Callahan), this time on long running iconic Australian series, Neighbours.

Kate Lister

Seachange (2019)

Esther Anderson

Gold Logie Nominee

Esther Anderson was recently seen in the Nine Network’s Celebrity Apprentice, the Seven Network’s Dancing with the Stars and NBC’s Siberia. Esther grew up in Geelong, Victoria and always knew she wanted to be a performer. Esther has seen much of the world through working as a model as she was based in Japan for six years, during that time traveling between Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, Korea and Europe for work. Esther started on screen in Japan and whilst doing commercials decided she would set her sights on acting and presenting and moved back to Melbourne to take acting classes at Film and Television Studio International. Esther then went on to sign with McMahon Management and landed a gig with the local Victorian travel show Postcards. After a year in that role, she had the chance to audition for Home and Away. From the first audition to moving into Summer Bay was a whirlwind, finding out she had the role of Charlie on a Monday, and four days later starting in Sydney. Esther says, "I have always wanted to be part of the show and when I found out I had role I was in complete shock". For her Role on Home and Away Esther was nominated for 2 Gold Logies and 2 Silver Logies.

Chris Milligan

Neighbours

Following high school, Chris Milligan undertook classes exclusively at Film & Television Studio International in Brisbane. Eventually Chris decided to try his luck in Melbourne and scored the lead male role in the BBC/ABC co-production Dead Gorgeous, and major guest roles in The Pacific; Rush; and Winners & Losers, as well as a number of national commercials. He then joined Neighbours in a recurring guest role as the loveable Kyle Canning in 2009. Positive viewer feedback to the character resulted in Milligan becoming a regular cast member at the start of 2011. In 2013 and 2014 he was nominated as Most Outstanding Television Star by UK Inside Soap Magazine. After playing Kyle for 6 years, Chris decided it was time to move on, and relocated to Los Angeles where he starred as Danny in featured film Overture and most recently Arrow.  Chris has returned home to Australia to reprise his series regular of Kyle Canning in one of Australia's most popular Television series, Neighbours.

Gemma Forsyth

Mako Mermaids

Gemma studied at Film & Television Studio International in Brisbane for many years before going on to win roles on The Sleepover Club, H20 Just Add Water - Series 3, Mortified, Sea Patrol and Slide. She is however, best known for her starring role as Evie on the hit international series Mako Mermaids. Gemma has a huge future ahead of her, and continues to audition both here in Australian and Internationally.  Gemma will commence filming in Sydney in February 2019, in a starring role, on an exciting new TV Drama.  To be announced soon. 

Lester Ellis Jr

Ja'mie: Private School Girl

Former champion boxer turned actor, Lester Ellis has trained exclusively at Film & Television Studio International. After graduating from the Professional Full-Time Acting for Television Program, Lester guest starred in ABC children’s drama The Nowhere Boys - Series 1 & 2. However, It was his role starring alongside Chris Lilley in Ja’mie: Private School Girl that brought Lester to the public eye, undertaking roles in Fat Tony & Co: The Tony Mokbel Story; The Dr Blake Murder Mysteries; and Wentworth thereafter. Currently, Lester is in post-production for The Sunshine Kid and has been signed with one of the worlds renowned powerhouse agencies WME – William Morris Endeavour. Lester is represented by Brandt Joel and Duncan Millership who’s clients jointly include: Justin Timberlake, Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Ryan Phillippe to name a few.

Nick Bracks

Neighbours

Nick Bracks is an Australian model and fashion designer who released his own underwear label known as Underbracks with the up-market Australian department store Myer. Prior to this, Nick completed a Bachelor of Business – Entrepreneurship at RMIT University in 2008. He was discovered by American Crew in 2009 and his modelling portfolio includes Myer, David Jones and GQ magazine. In 2011, he made the final of the Cleo Bachelor of the year contest. Nick appeared in a number of reality television shows including Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Splash! before turning his attention to acting. He completed the Profession Full-Time Acting for Television Program and is now filming on Neighbours. In between his filming schedule, he continues to train in the evening sessions at Film & Television Studio International.

Taylor Glockner

Neighbours; Conspiracy 365

Only 9 days after graduating from the Professional Full-Time Acting for Television Program at Film and Television Studio International, Taylor moved straight to Melbourne from Brisbane to take a co-starring role in family drama Conspiracy 365. Upon completing work on this series, he went on to guest star in ABC comedy The Strange Calls. Soon after, he auditioned for a guest role in Neighbours. So impressed were the producers, they created a series regular role for Taylor playing Mason Turner. Taylor then went on to star in Mako Mermaids - Series 2 and Australian feature film No Two Snowflakes.  He is currently living and auditioning in Los Angeles.

Mitchell Ryan

One Tree HIll (USA)

While studying at Film and Television Studio International, Mitchell Ryan guest starred in City Homicide. Soon after packing his bags, LA bound, he won a recurring role on One Tree Hill on the CW Network. Mitch played Alexander, a handsome ‘pro surfer-turned-young mogul’. Since then, Mitchell has gone on to star in the ABC family series The Lying Game; The Mentalist; and feature films Missionary and Cabin Fever: Patient Zero.

Meghan O'Shea

Grease

Meg joined the Professional Full-Time Acting for Television Program at Film and Television Studio International shortly after graduating from WAAPA. Meg is an established musical theatre performer who has appeared as Laurey Williams in Oklahoma, played Trisha in A Chorus Line (TML Enterprises) as well as understudying the roles of Val, Maggie, Connie and Judy. Meg has just finished a national tour of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Singin' in the Rain. She is now touring Nationally with Grease the Arena Spectacular, in the starring role of Sandy.

Carrie Schroeder

I Am Frankie (USA)

Currently starring in Nickelodeons hit new USA series I am Frankie, Carrie is a graduate of our Professional Full-Time Acting for Television Program. She was cast in the television miniseries adaptation of Bryce Courtney's novel Jessica. Following this, she went on to guest star in popular Australian television programs including H2O: Just Add Water and Neighbours. Carrie relocated to Los Angeles in 2012, and continues to add to her resume in film, television and webisodes. Her notable L.A. theatre credits include playing Alison in John Osborne's Look Back in Anger with the Los Angeles New Court Theatre and as Sophie in Joanne Mosconi's new work for the Fringe Theatre Company, You Love That I'm NOT Your Wife! In addition to her acting career, Carrie is also an accomplished mezzo-soprano and performs regularly. She sang with Jason Alexander and the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall, and then again at Tanglewood. Carrie has sung with vocalist Robyn Spangler several times, including at The Metropolitan Room in New York City and appeared in her music video for the song, Second Wind. She has also performed for two years as a back-up singer for the Alzheimer's Benefit A Night at Sardi's at The Beverly Hilton.

MAGGIE NAOURI

Joe Cinque’s Consolation

Maggie has recently starred in her feature film debut as the lead role in Sotiris Dounoukos’, Joe Cinque’s Consolation, for which she received an AACTA nomination for Best Actress. She is best known as ‘Rose’ on the second and third series of Foxtel’s critically acclaimed drama series Wentworth. Her other television credits include Channel Ten’s popular series Offspring and Neighbours and SyFy Networks Childhood’s End. Maggie trained at Film & Television Studio International in our Brisbane Studio and then relocated to Melbourne where she continued to train at our Melbourne studio.

Micheal Doonan

Bates Motel (USA)

Micheal started training at Film & Television Studio International after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama & Film at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Wanting to specialise more in acting for film and television, Michael was successful in obtaining a placement in our Foundation Year Program. Since completing this program, Micheal got his big break starring as "Rogers" in Jonathan Teplitzky's feature film The Railway Man, starring alongside Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman and Jeremy Irvine. Micheal then went on to feature in The Doctor Blake Mysteries and ABC mini-series Gallipoli. He is currently living and auditioning in Canada and has filmed two major guest roles on Bate’s Motel and American Gothic.

Ashley Stocco

Playing for Keeps

Ashley has been training at Film & Television Studio International since her mid-teens. After finishing high school, she was accepted into Law school but decided to audition for a placement in our Professional Full-Time Acting for Television Program. She was accepted and hasn’t looked back since. While training in the Full-Time Program, Ashley was cast in major guest roles on Neighbours; The Olivia Newton John mini-series (starring alongside Delta Goodrem); and most recently, Playing for Keeps on the Ten Network.

DAJANA CAHILL

Neighbours; Mortified

Dajana first burst onto our screens as the hilarious & bratty Layla Fry on Channel 9’s hit show Mortified, alongside our very own Nicholas Dunn, who played Hector Garcia. Since wrapping on Mortified, Dajana went on to star in another Channel 9 Drama, Sea Patrol as well as H20: Just Add Water. Dajana completed her training in our Foundation Year Program and continues to train casually at Film & Television Studio International. She has just recently filmed a major guest role on Australia’s longest running series Neighbours.

Emily Morris

Going for Gold

Emily is a graduate of our Professional Full-Time Acting for Television Program in our Adelaide studio. Although Emily had already starred as Maddie Cornell in the Internationally successful feature film A 2nd Chance, she came to us to take her acting to the next level. Since graduating, Emily has starred in yet another international feature film, Raising the Bar, in the leading role of Hannah Thompson, released in 2018. She continues to train in preparation for upcoming auditions and opportunities.

Phoenix Raei

The Heights (ABC)

Phoenix Raei is a graduate of our Professional Full-Time Acting for Television Program. His feature film Australia Day just premiered at MIFF.  On Australia's most controversial national holiday, the lives of three Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds will collide, illuminating contemporary issues of racial tension and national identity that simmer beneath the surface of modern Australia. Phoenix stars alongside Bryan Brown and Matthew Le Nevez. Phoenix also featured in films Indefinite (2015) and 7 Storeys Down (2017), and is currently starring in new ABC Drama, The Heights.

Paul Gaffy

Legends of Tomorrow (USA)

Paul is a graduate of our Professional Full-Time Acting for Television Program. After starring in Australian TV mini-series Gallipoli, Paul relocated to Vancouver where he has just filmed two major guest roles in the hugely successful international series’ Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. He continues to live and audition in Vancouver.

Max Whitelaw

Nowhere Boys

Max has been training at Film & Television Studio International since he was a teenager. He got his first break in a leading guest role with a major storyline on The Dr Blake Mysteries for the ABC. Once he completed high school, he auditioned and was accepted into our Professional Full-Time Acting for Television Program in Melbourne. He then went on to book two major guest roles on Neighbours and Nowhere Boys for the ABC. Max continues to train in our evening programs at Film & Television Studio International, and we believe that it is only a matter of time before he books series regular work.

Curtis Clarke

Supergirl (USA)

Curtis was trained and mentored at Film & Television Studio International for many years before recently relocating to Canada. He is a graduate of The Foundation Year program, and went on to guest star in The Doctor Blake Mysteries; Gallipoli and Winners & Losers. He is currently living in Vancouver and had a major guest role on iZombie. He has just finished filming on Supergirl.

ALIESHA PEARSON

Supernatural (USA)

Aliesha was trained and mentored at Film & Television Studio International for many years before recently relocating to Canada, where she landed a major guest role on Supernatural (Series 12). Prior to that, Aliesha guest starred on Neighbours and was a graduate of The Foundation Year program. She continues to train, audition, and work in Vancouver.

Tahan Lew

Getaway

Tahan Lew started training in our casual programs at Film & Television Studio International, and then went on to graduate from our Foundation Year Program, alongside fellow graduates Andrew Morley (Neighbours; Home & Away) & Lester Ellis Jr (Ja’mie: Private School Girl; Fat Tony). Looking for a new adventure Tahan then went on to become a part of the Big Brother ensemble and was a firm favourite, coming 2nd runner up. Since then, Tahan has been in great demand on the appearance circuit and has just been signed as the new face of the Northern Territory - a major campaign that will see Tahan as a wonderful ambassador for her home state. Tahan continued to train at Film & Television Studio International, appearing as a Guest Presenter on Getaway, but has since revisited her modelling roots and has become a strong advocate for indigenous Australians.

Melissa Howard

Dead Gorgeous

Melissa has been training exclusively at Film & Television Studio International since her mid-teens, training with fellow actors Christopher Milligan, Ashleigh Brewer and Luke Mitchell, in our Brisbane Studio. She is best known for her outstanding work playing the leading role of Rebecca in popular ABC/BBC series Dead Gorgeous for which she was an AFI contender for Most Outstanding Young Actor. Since wrapping on Dead Gorgeous, Melissa has gone on to star in Winners & Losers, TwentySomething, Rush and Satisfaction, as well as many major national TVC Campaigns.

NICHOLAS DUNN

Strange Calls; Mortified

Nicholas starred alongside Marny Kennedy (Bite Club) and our very own Dajana Cahill (Neighbours) in the hit Channel 9 drama Mortified, whilst training at Film & Television Studio International. Since then, Nicholas took time to focus on his training, graduating from the Foundation Year Program in our Brisbane studio, alongside our very own Micheal Doonan (American Gothic) and starring in the ABC series The Strange Calls, alongside fellow graduate Taylor Glockner (Neighbours).