Guy Pearce's life – Neighbours return, tragic loss, famous partner and £20.8m net worth

Neighbours icon Guy Pearce returns to Ramsay Street tonight, as the final episodes of the soap air.

Guy played Mike Young in the popular Australian soap, and in tonight’s episodes, he reunites with former flame Jane Harris for a nostalgic journey through time.

Neighbours shot Guy Pearce to stardom back in 1986 – with the actor going on to achieve Hollywood success in the decades since.

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As Neighbours fans prepare to get their tissues at the ready, Daily Star takes a look inside the life of one of its original icons, as Guy Pearce steps onto the street one last time.

Tragic loss

Guy Pearce was born on October 5, 1967 in Cambridgeshire, England to parents Anne, who was a school teacher, and father Stuart, who was a plane test pilot.

Along with his eldest sister Tracey, the family moved from England and settled in Victoria, Australia when the star was three years old.

However five years later, Guy’s father sadly died in an accident while testing a plane, when the actor was just eight years old.

Guy has spoken openly about his father’s death in the years since, revealing to The Guardian that he thinks the intensity he brings to his acting roles has links to the loss when he was younger.

He said: “I think from losing my dad when I was young. It means I have this whirring sort of emotional story that I’m keeping contained all the time.

“I’m trying my utmost in my personal life to be relaxed, but the reality is I’m sort of tempering an intensity, and I think that’s probably something which translates on screen.”

Neighbours return

When Guy was 19 years old, he landed his debut role in Australian soap Neighbours in 1986 – playing Scott and Charlene Robinson’s friend Mike Young.

Viewers were gripped to the screen watching his chemistry with Jane, played by Annie Jones, before their romance blossomed – but sadly not for long.

Guy left the soap over three years later in 1989 – embarking on a successful film and TV career in the decades since.

However, fans were delighted though when the actor revealed he was making a return to the soap for its final episodes, due to air between July 25-29, 2022.

Speaking ahead of his appearance, he said: “I’m an incredibly nostalgic person anyway so I’ve always wanted step back onto the show at some stage and of course with the sad news that the show is finishing, it seemed like the appropriate time.”

Guy also added that he was grateful for the opportunities that the show gave him, saying: “There are certain moments in your life that are real markers. Being cast in Neighbours, the confidence it gave me and what I learnt being on the show were immeasurable qualities and benefits.

“Of course, there have been other moments when I’ve auditioned for roles and got them, but I can’t ever forget this.

“I always feel super lucky to have got on the show when I did and as we know, it just took off and became huge.”

Jason Donovan bond

Guy Pearce worked with a number of upcoming stars on the set of Neighbours, including pop sensations Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan.

Speaking ahead of their return to Neighbours, Guy revealed that he and the cast have kept in regular contact with each other – despite all leaving the soap and achieving huge success since then.

In a unexpected co-incidence, he and Jason have both appeared in The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of The Desert – with Guy taking on the role of Adam/Felicia in the 1994 film – and Jason taking on the role of Tick/Mitzi in the critically acclaimed stage production.

He also added that he and Jason still refer to each other by their character names, saying: “Jason and I see each other all the time, and we still call each other Scott and Mike which is a bit sad!

“Whenever I’m in London I’ll see Jason most times and I’ll see Kylie as well if she’s around.

“There are a few others I catch up with when I’m in Melbourne like Stefan (Dennis) and Annie of course, she’s been on Jack Irish with me.”

Hollywood fame and secret music career

After Guy’s breakout role in Neighbours, the actor also enjoyed success on rival soap Home And Away between 1991-1992 as David Croft – but Hollywood was calling.

After his critically acclaimed role in The Adventures Of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Guy landed a leading role in L.A Confidential in 1997, where he cemented himself as a huge A-list film star.

From there it was onwards and upwards, with the actor appearing in Christopher Nolan’s Memento, 2002 blockbuster The Time Machine, The Hurt Locker, The Kings Speech, Prometheus and Marvel’s Iron Man 3 as villain Aldrich Killian.

He has since made a return to TV too, appearing as Scrooge in the BBC drama series A Christmas Carol 2019, as well as award winning series Mare Of Easttown in 2021.

That’s not all, as Guy is also a talented musician – releasing albums including 2014’s Broken Bones and The Nomad in 2018.

It is no surprise then that with such a stellar career, the star has an eye-watering estimated net worth of £20.8m.

Family life and famous partner

Away from the limelight, Guy was married to his childhood sweetheart Kate Mestitz for over 18 years from 1997.

However, the couple divorced in 2918, with the star revealing to The Independent that his album The Nomad was a response to his break-up with Kate, calling the process of making the album “extremely cathartic.”

Guy is currently in a relationship with Game Of Thrones Melisandre actress Carice Van Houten, with who he has welcomed a son called Monte.

Speaking about his son, Guy told The Independent: “After Monte was born, someone said to me, ‘You realise you’re now living with your heart on the outside?’ And it really is true, isn’t it?

“When I started acting, I knew if I needed to cry that it could come out easily. Then after 15 years of therapy, I became a far calmer and more satisfied human being, but trying to cry in a scene became impossible.

“Since having my boy though, I cry at the drop of a hat again…”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk