Kiwi actress lands role in Neighbours
Kiwi actress Zoe Cramond has landed a plum role in one of TV's most famous dysfunctional families.
The 30-year-old has joined the cast of hit Aussie soap Neighbours - as the long-lost daughter of villainous womanising businessman Paul Robinson.
New Zealand fans will see Cramond make her Ramsay St debut on Tuesday.
It is a baptism of fire as her character, feisty solo mum Amy Williams, hunts down and confronts her absentee father. "I grew up watching Neighbours so it is a big thrill for me to be part of the show," she told the Herald on Sunday.
She was transfixed by Paul Robinson's character.
"It is a bit surreal to now be playing his daughter and getting into some full-on arguments with him."
Cramond, from Papamoa, has appeared in New Zealand TV hits such as Go Girls, Outrageous Fortune and Shortland Street.
She moved to Australia five years ago and hasn't looked back since getting roles in Packed to the Rafters and the popular Fat Tony & Co.
"Australia has been good to me and provided a lot of opportunities. Neighbours is another great break."
Neighbours will put Cramond in front of a worldwide audience.
The long-running show is screened in more than 50 countries. Her Ramsay St character is a qualified carpenter who has a 10-year-old son.
Cramond called her builder brother and uncle in New Zealand for tips of the trade.
"I grew up with builders in the family so it's not as if I don't know which end to hold a saw.
"But I want to get the female carpenter right because I'm hoping she will be a role model for other girls who want a job like that.
"I will soon get an appraisal from my family back home as to how I'm doing.
"They will all be tuned in for my debut."
Cramond appears for the first time on Tuesday, 6.30pm, on TV2.