Home and Away icon Stephanie Panozzo almost missed out on her huge acting break due to a huge health issue during her audition.
Panozzo, 32, found her big break into the industry when she landed the role of Eden Fowler on the show, which airs on Channel 5 in the UK. Living in the southern Aussie city of Melbourne, she was forced to relocate to the sandy beaches of Sydney in order to secure the role.
However, after applying for the role and getting an interview booked in, Stephanie was hit with a huge blow that almost ruled her out. Having officially joined the soap on July 4, 2022, her first scenes were filmed months in advance as Australia continued to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle, Panozzo admitted that she almost did not get the role, after she had tested positive for the virus. What was worse was that she found out the day before she was meant to fly to the Aussie metropolis for her interview.
(Image: Channel 5)
Looking back on how she discovered she was ill, she explained: “A couple of days prior I was starting to get a little bit of a niggle in my throat. I tested on the day before the audition and I tested positive to Covid.”
Stephanie revealed that instead of flying out to Sydney as originally planned, she was forced to do her callback interview over Zoom. As she battled the symptoms of the virus during the interview, she admitted she did not think she would get the role.
Luckily for her, there was instant chemistry between her and the bandmates she would be working with on the show and they were able to get on like a house on fire. As a result, it came as a shock when she got the call back saying she had indeed bagged the role.
“I was trying to heal from Covid and basically feeling sorry for myself because I thought I didn’t get it,” she recalled. “And I got the call, was so shocked, so excited.
“I just kind of started screaming on the phone with my agents. I think my sister came over and we just started dancing… it was a great moment.”
It comes as Eden’s band Lyrik are set to be arrested as a terrifying drugs storyline airs in the UK next week. In tense scenes that are set to air over the coming days, Theo Poulos, played by Matt Evans, continues to fall down the drug rabbit hole with bad influence Valerie Beaumont.
This spills over into Leah Patterson and Justin Morgan’s wedding, when Theo lets Valerie know of Justin’s knowledge of their habits and wants her to move out. In an effort to save the pills and keep Theo in her life, Valerie shoves the drugs in the band’s guitar cases, leading to disastrous consequences.
The band will be arrested after a heated argument with their bandmates leads to them being pulled over for speeding. But despite Theo’s insistence the drugs are his, police officer Rose Delaney takes no chances and arrests the entire band and puts them in jail.
Home and Away airs weekdays at 1:45pm on Channel 5.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
