Saskia Hampele is an Australian actress. She began her acting career in 1997 with an appearance in children's television series The Gift. Hampele worked as a counselor at The Reach Foundation and the Royal Children's Hospital, while pursuing her acting career. She appeared in the 2008 mockumentary Mark Loves Sharon and the two feature films Arctic Blast and Blame in 2010. The following year, Hampele made a guest appearance in City Homicide and began starring in an online series called Shutterbugs. Hampele played Georgia Brooks in Neighbours from 2012 until 2016. She stars in 2019 serial drama The Heights.

Saskia Hampele
Born
Perth, Western Australia
OccupationActress
Years active1997–present
SpouseKayne Tremills (2008–present)

Early and personal life

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Hampele was born in Perth.[1] While her main focus is acting, she also writes her own songs and plays the guitar and piano.[2] Hampele's mother is a musician and she revealed that she had access to "every instrument under the sun" when she was younger.[2] She stated that she would like to make a solo record in the future.[2] Hampele's hobbies include cooking and travelling.[2] Hampele is married to television presenter Kayne Tremills.[3]

Career

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Hampele began her acting career in 1997, while she was in primary school.[2] She appeared in children's television series The Gift as well as other local television productions.[2] Hampele qualified as a social worker and worked as a counsellor at The Reach Foundation and the Royal Children's Hospital cancer ward, while continuing with her acting career.[2][4] Hampele told Gary Dudak of Mandatory.com "The psychology aspect of my studies has actually been a massive help when it comes to analyzing and exploring new characters, so even though I'm not using my degree directly anymore, it's still really helpful."[2] Hampele's next television role occurred in 2008 when she appeared as Beth in the six-part mockumentary, Mark Loves Sharon.[5]

Hampele appeared in two Australian feature films in 2010. She played Dr Zoe Quinn in Brian Trenchard-Smith's disaster film Arctic Blast.[6] She then appeared as Alice in Blame, which was shown at the Melbourne International Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival.[7][8] 2011 saw Hampele appear in a supporting role in crime drama City Homicide.[9] The actress also became involved in an online comedy Shutterbugs.[10] The series, which focuses on a photographer and her best friend trying to get the perfect shot, was showcased at the LAWebFest in Los Angeles.[10] In 2012, Hampele starred in the film 6 Plots as Sophie Halms, which had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.[2]

On 1 August 2012, it was announced Hampele had joined the main cast of Neighbours as Georgia Brooks, the cousin of established character Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney).[11] Hampele was in the Kakadu National Park with her boyfriend when her agent called her about the role.[4] She was asked to record an "impromptu" audition tape to send to the Neighbours producers, and did so in the park.[4] Hampele made her first appearance as Georgia in October.[11] In 2013, Hampele recorded and released a song called "Letting You Know", which was featured in the show. She decided to leave Neighbours in early 2015 to pursue new acting roles in Los Angeles.[12] Hampele made a brief return in 2016.[13]

Hampele appears in the 2017 film A Few Less Men.[3][14] In the same year, she launched Gift Box, an initiative that provides homeless women with sanitary products. A crowd funding campaign raised $45,000 to start up the enterprise.[15] In October 2017, Hampele won the Judges' Choice award at the Women of the Future Awards for Gift Box.[16]

Hampele appears in the 2019 serial drama The Heights.[17]

In 2021 she appeared as Laura in "This Little Love of Mine".

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 The Gift School Girl
2008 Mark Loves Sharon Beth
2008 The Countdown Natalie Short film
2009 Döbereiner's Lamp Susie Short film
2010 Arctic Blast Zoe Quinn
2010 Blame Alice
2011 City Homicide Tahnee Majors
2011 Twentysomething Sally
2012 6 Plots Sophie Halms
2012–2015, 2016 Neighbours Georgia Brooks
2017 A Few Less Men Angie
2019 The Heights Renee Davies
2021 This Little Love of Mine Laura

References

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  1. ^ Bradley, Hazel (14 June 2013). "TV's very messy obstacle course". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Dudak, Gary (12 June 2012). "10 questions with Saskia Hampele of '6 Plots'". Mandatory.com. AOL and BermanBraun. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  3. ^ a b Hampele, Saskia (9 February 2017). "Homeless women in Australia are going without tampons? Appalling". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  4. ^ a b c "Toadie's cousin Georgie hits Ramsay Street". Channel 5. Northern & Shell. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  5. ^ Knox, David (13 June 2008). "Airdate: Mark Loves Sharon. Bumped: Big Mouth". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  6. ^ Martain, Tim (14 December 2010). "The big chill". The Mercury. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  7. ^ Lee, Phoebe (30 May 2012). "New Aussie flick's got everybody to Blame but themselves". Australian Times. Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  8. ^ Bannister, Brooke (9 June 2011). "Perth Hills is the setting for new Australian film 'Blame'". 720 ABC Perth. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  9. ^ "From the Outback to Ramsay Street". Press Association. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.[dead link]
  10. ^ a b "Shutterbugs shuffles off to LA". Melbourne Times Weekly. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  11. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel (1 August 2012). "'Neighbours' casts Toadie Rebecchi's cousin Georgia". Digital Spy. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  12. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (18 May 2015). "Neighbours: Georgia Brooks to move away to Germany". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Saskia Hampele returns to Neighbours". Tenplay. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  14. ^ "A Few Less Men (2017)". Screen Australia. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  15. ^ Cracknell, Eliza (15 February 2017). "'I never thought I'd be the tampon girl'". Bodyandsoul.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  16. ^ Hornery, Andrew (7 October 2017). "Private Sydney: Prince Andrew not so pitch perfect". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  17. ^ Burrell, Zoe (14 February 2019). "Saskia Hampele reveals the real reason she quit Neighbours". New Idea. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
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