<\/p>\n
Henrietta Graham, centre, on the set of Neighbours, with actors Rebekah Elmaloglou and Stefan Dennis.<\/span>Credit:<\/span>Scott McNaughton<\/cite><\/p>\n The article, about Graham\u2019s enrolment in a new filmmaking course for people with disability, caught the eye of publicist Kelly Davis from Fremantle, the production company that makes the long-running series.<\/p>\n Davis thought it \u201ca lovely story\u201d and showed it to Neighbours<\/em> producer Andrew Thompson.<\/p>\n They invited Graham on to the Neighbours<\/em> set, which led to her auditioning then being hired last month as one of the last new characters on Neighbours<\/em>, the much loved 37-year-old drama series whose very last episode will screen on August 1.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s absolutely loving it,\u201d says Henrietta\u2019s mother, Natalie Graham. \u201cWe drive her to the set and the grin from ear to ear is just priceless.<\/p>\n Henrietta Graham, right, prepares for a scene at Neighbours\u2019 Lassiters Hotel with Stefan Dennis, left.<\/span>Credit:<\/span>Scott McNaughton<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cShe says, \u2018I can\u2019t believe I\u2019m in my favourite show\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Graham plays Sam, an assistant to the manager of the fictional Lassiters Hotel.<\/p>\n It means she works with her Neighbours<\/em> acting idol, April Rose Pengilly, who plays the manager, Chloe.<\/p>\n Thompson said Graham\u2019s presence was an opportunity to promote inclusivity on screen. \u201cAnd not just in a one-off scene \u2014 it\u2019s a character that becomes part of our community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Henrietta Graham photographed for the Sunday Age last December for an article about a new film course for young people with disability.<\/span>Credit:<\/span>Simon Schluter<\/cite><\/p>\n Last week Graham, who has Down syndrome, was shooting scenes at Fremantle\u2019s studios in Melbourne\u2019s east with Neighbours<\/em> veterans Stefan Dennis and Rebekah Elmaloglou, who play Lassiters co-owners Paul Robinson and Terese Willis.<\/p>\n Elmaloglou said it\u2019s been \u201csuch a delight\u201d to work with Graham. \u201cShe\u2019s so gorgeous, and so excited to be here, which is what it\u2019s all about, really,\u201d Elmaloglou said.<\/p>\n Graham said acting in the series \u2014 which helped launch the careers of actors including Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce and Margot Robbie \u2014 made her happy and the other actors \u201care helping me all the time\u201d.<\/p>\n She said Dennis was \u201camazing and funny\u201d and Elmaloglou was \u201cfun and cool\u201d.<\/p>\n Graham said she was \u201cso excited\u201d to learn she got the role and loved working with \u201call my favourite characters\u201d.<\/p>\n Thompson said he would love it if Graham\u2019s role led to her getting other acting opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cIf that\u2019s what she enjoys doing, then that would be a wonderful thing,\u201d he said. \u201cIf her career goes beyond Neighbours<\/em>, then that\u2019s what we all hope for.\u201d<\/p>\n With less than a month of shooting remaining for Neighbours<\/em>, Thompson said \u201cemotions are starting to amp up\u201d among cast and crew.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s certainly a celebration as well. I think everyone\u2019s really proud of what we\u2019ve achieved here and the stories we\u2019ve told. We\u2019re definitely going out on a high.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n