Matthew Werkmeister (Neighbours' Zeke Kinski) Interview

You are often referred to by your cast mates as one of the funniest people on set, but which of the cast members makes you laugh most?
Kiki, St Kilda

The top three funny people at work: Sweeney Young (Riley), Caitlin Stasey (Rachel) and Benjamin "Chewbacca" Lawson (Frazer). All these guys come in and play practical jokes on eachother - great fun as long as you're not involved. (Lawson is called Chewbacca cos he laughed like him one day and we tease him for being hairy, haha).

If you were given complete control over your character’s storylines and the show’s budget for one month, what would you have in store for Zeke?
Sinkingradio, South London

Zeke would become an agent for Torchwood, who also becomes the fourth member of Muse as a disguise. He'd get into lots of gun battles, fast car races - lots of explosions!

Was it harder or easier than normal to act the scenes when Zeke refused to speak after his father's death?
Brina, Sheffield

I'm glad that story is over, it was annoying trying to find those damn cards with words! Although it was nice doing something different for a while.

Can you give us any hints about what's coming up for Zeke over the next few months?
Carly, Portsmouth

Hmm, illegal dance parties, new love-life, death...

Did you really have to eat a raw egg in the episode where Grandpa Tom had made breakfast? Is that the worst scene you’ve ever had to film? Is there anything that you would refuse to do?
Newtfish, Leeds

Haha, I ate about three raw eggs that day, and on the last one the yoke broke in my mouth. Yummm! Well, of course the red lemonade episode was interesting - I love wearing dresses and singing to people all over the world. Haha, no, if I have a storyline in the script I'll be happy. I dont have the power to change storylines, but I change my lines all the time.

How much fan mail do you get?
John Loony, Croydon

I get a couple a week. I have just received some Christmas cards, so that was nice!

We've been loving the shirtless scenes with Ringo and Declan in Speedos at the swimming pool lately, will we see Zeke there too soon?
Keira, Dublin

Haha, there's a couple of swimming scenes coming up, yeah.

Do you have a girlfriend at the moment? What qualities do you look for in girls?
Sophie C.F.L, Melbourne, Australia

YEAH, I have a girlfriend - love her. I like a girl who is easy to talk to and funny.

How did you get into acting and when did you first start?
Sophie C.F.L, Melbourne, Australia

I started dancing at 5, then got over that cos I was the only guy doing it, so I started to do acting a couple of years later. I went overseas with my performance company, then a year later I was in the Melbourne production of 'The Full Monty' - (I didn’t strip naked!). Then I got the role of Zeke the geek and that’s that.

If you could play any other character in Neighbours, past or present, who would it be?
Jane Baker, Nottinghamshire

Paul Robinson - I love his evil ways! I would love to play him so I could do some bad stuff.

From an actor’s point of view, how is filming the show different since the revamp?

Well, the revamp is more technical, but the new stuff for the 2008 season in Australia looks amazing.

Will you miss Ian Smith when Harold leaves Neighbours next year?

Smithy will be missed as one of the most well-known characters from a television show, of course. He has also been a great mentor, he will be missed.

Your MySpace says you’re forming a band - how’s that going? What sort of music do you play?

Yeah, I’m learning bass at the moment which is fun. We hope to play indie rock stuff and soft acoustic stuff.

Is being in a band something you’d like to leave Neighbours to do fulltime one day or just in your spare time?

I was talking to someone the other day and they said "you going to release an album?". My reply was "I'll leave that to people with talent". Me and my mates just do it as a bit of fun.

If you could play a gig with any three bands, who would you pick?

Muse, Queen, and Death From Above 1979.

Last film you saw at the cinema:

The Heartbreak Kid.

Last CD you bought:

'Paper Walls' by Yellowcard.

Last DVD you bought:

Scrubs Season 7 & 8.


29th November 2007.

> Find out the latest Neighbours spoilers.

> Read our April 2007 interview with Matthew Werkmeister.

> Read our February 2008 interview with Matthew Werkmeister.

Written by Will Martin.