It’s safe to say Johnny Ruffo is a multi-talented star, with the titles singer, songwriter, dancer and actor all on his resume.
Now, he’s adding another iconic TV show to his credentials with a hot new role.
WATCH: Johnny Ruffo back in the spotlight.
After rising to fame on The X Factor Australia in 2011, Johnny landed a role on Home And Away as Chris Harrington, as well as taking out the title in Dancing With The Stars, 2012.
Not long after leaving Summer Bay in 2016, Johnny announced he had undergone surgery to remove a brain tumour. A week later, Johnny confirmed he had been diagnosed with brain cancer.
With major surgery and ongoing treatment, Johnny beat the disease. Now, three years later, he’s healthy and getting back to what he loves, starting with an exciting new guest role on Neighbours.
Playing a prison guard who is seduced by the infamous doppelgänger of Dee Bliss, Andrea Somers (both played by Madeleine West), things are set to get steamy.
Johnny chats to WHO about which cast member he’s in awe of, the state of his health and the brutal way stars learn their character is being killed off.
Johnny it’s so nice to hear you’re doing well and cancer free, how are you feeling?
I’m feeling great at the moment. The last few scans that I’ve had have all been positive, so that lifts your spirits when you get that positive news.
I’m just so grateful for everybody that’s been there for me through this entire experience.
It takes a little bit of time to get back to feeling the best you can. I feel great. I’ve been training a little bit as I’m trying to get fit, I put on a little bit of weight when I was on this particular steroid to help prevent swelling in the brain and it makes you eat so much.
At one point I was so chubby [laughs], I feel much better than now.
Tell us a bit about your Neighbours’ character, Owen…
He’s a correctional officer at a female prison and he’s a little bit mischievous, but at the same time I think he’s a tiny little bit naive as well.
One of Madeline West’s characters [Andrea] seduces him. It’s a completely different character to what I’ve played in the past and I really had a lot of fun doing it.
Was there anyone else on the cast you got to work closely with?
I got to work a little bit with Kerry Armstrong, and wow, she was so incredible. I mean, she’s done so much work, getting to work with her, it’s like a dream come true. She actually runs a drama course, which I really want to do.
You’re well known for your role as Chris on Home And Away, how different was working on Neighbours for you?
When I was on Home And Away I thought, ‘Wow they film so quickly’, they film five episodes a week. But, over at Neighbours they film six.
You absolutely, you have to go there fully prepared, you have to know every single one of your lines because it’s just go, go, go.
We heard from Ray Meagher aka Alf Stewart some actors don’t learn their character is being killed off until they see the final script…
Sometimes people aren’t told that they’re dying off until they read the script, like ‘Hang on a minute, is this wrong?’ Hopefully that doesn’t happen with my character Owen [on Neighbours].
I’m lucky enough not to be killed off anything I’ve been on so far.
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