Matthew Werkmeister
Encyclopedia
Matthew Werkmeister is an Australian stage and television actor. He is best known for his role as Zeke Kinski
in the soap opera Neighbours
which he joined in 2005. Werkmeister has admitted that he nearly did not get offered the role in Neighbours as his father refused to drive five hours to the audition.
. and did most of his schoolwork by correspondence due to his acting commitments. In 2010 he attended his Débutante Ball
. His hobbies include skimboarding
and eating.
and is represented by the Talent Company of Australia.
Prior to appearing in Neighbours, Werkmeister appeared in a stage production of The Full Monty
. It was for this portrayal that he was nominated in 2005 for a Music Theatre Guild of Victoria: Awards for Excellence award in the category of Junior Performer (Male). The award was won by Daniel Todd for the stage production of Kiss Me Kate.
It was whilst he was appearing in The Full Monty that Werkmeister landed the role of Zeke Kinski in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. He almost missed out on the role when his father took the call about the audition and refused it because it was a five hour drive to there. Werkmeister has said that he was "horrified" when he found out and called his agent back to find out if he could still attend the audition. He joined the cast in 2005 initially in a recurring
role before becoming a regular cast member. His portrayal of Zeke Kinski led to a nomination in 2008 for Best Young Actor at the Inside Soap
awards alongside fellow cast member Fletcher O'Leary
(Mickey Gannon).
In 2008, he joined the judging panel of the Inkys, Australia's only teenage choice book award judged by people under 20 years of age. The aim of the reward is to encourage young people to read. Of his judging role Werkmeister said "Finding the time is the difficult part but some of the books are great so the reading part has been fun."
In 2009, Werkmeister was shortlisted for two Logie Awards. He was nominated for "Most Popular Actor" alongside fellow cast members Steve Bastoni
(Steve Parker
), Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy
), Ryan Moloney
(Toadfish Rebecchi
) and Ian Smith
(Harold Bishop
). He was also shortlisted for "Most Popular Personality on TV" alongside fellow cast members Pippa Black
(Elle Robinson), Carla Bonner
(Stephanie Scully
) and Tom Oliver
(Lou Carpenter
). 2010 saw Werkmeister shortlisted for "Most Popular Actor" again.
In October 2010, it was announced that Werkmeister was to leave Neighbours along with Jane Hall
(Rebecca Robinson) and Erin Mullally
(Declan Napier
). Speaking about his decision to leave, Werkmeister said "When I started on Neighbours I was only thirteen, I didn't shave or drive a car so I really have grown up on the show, I've learnt so much, worked with some great people who are now some of my closest friends."
Werkmeister has said that he "would love to be a part of Doctor Who
" as it is "such a great show!" He has also said that he would like to star alongside Hugh Jackman
. If he could play any other Neighbours character he has said it would be Paul Robinson
played by fellow cast member Stefan Dennis
.
Zeke Kinski
Ezekiel "Zeke" Kinski is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Matthew Werkmeister. He made his first on-screen appearance on 22 August 2005. Zeke is the son of Alex Kinski and the younger brother of Katya and Rachel...
in the soap opera Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
which he joined in 2005. Werkmeister has admitted that he nearly did not get offered the role in Neighbours as his father refused to drive five hours to the audition.
Personal life
Werkmeister was educated at St Peters College in Cranbourne, VictoriaCranbourne, Victoria
Cranbourne is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 43 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Casey. At the 2006 Census, Cranbourne had a population of 14,750....
. and did most of his schoolwork by correspondence due to his acting commitments. In 2010 he attended his Débutante Ball
Debutante
A débutante is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal "début" presentation. It should not be confused with a Debs...
. His hobbies include skimboarding
Skimboarding
Skimboarding . is used to glide across the water's surface. Unlike surfing, skimboarding begins on the beach by dropping the board onto the thin wash of previous waves. Skimboarders use their momentum to 'skim' out to breaking waves, which they then catch back into shore in a manner similar to...
and eating.
Career
Werkmeister began his career with the Children's Performing Company of AustraliaChildren's Performing Company of Australia
The Children's Performing Company of Australia, or CPCA, is a Melbourne-based performing arts training provider for young people, established in 1984 as the Victorian Children's Theatre. It notably encompasses the Young Australian Broadway Chorus and the Victorian Youth Theatre...
and is represented by the Talent Company of Australia.
Prior to appearing in Neighbours, Werkmeister appeared in a stage production of The Full Monty
The Full Monty (musical)
The Full Monty is a musical with a book by Terrence McNally and score by David Yazbek.In this Americanized musical stage version adapted from the 1997 British film of the same name, six unemployed Buffalo steelworkers, low on both cash and prospects, decide to present a strip act at a local club...
. It was for this portrayal that he was nominated in 2005 for a Music Theatre Guild of Victoria: Awards for Excellence award in the category of Junior Performer (Male). The award was won by Daniel Todd for the stage production of Kiss Me Kate.
It was whilst he was appearing in The Full Monty that Werkmeister landed the role of Zeke Kinski in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. He almost missed out on the role when his father took the call about the audition and refused it because it was a five hour drive to there. Werkmeister has said that he was "horrified" when he found out and called his agent back to find out if he could still attend the audition. He joined the cast in 2005 initially in a recurring
Recurring character
A recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a prime time TV series, who appears from time to time during the series' run. Recurring characters often play major roles in an episode, sometimes being the main focus...
role before becoming a regular cast member. His portrayal of Zeke Kinski led to a nomination in 2008 for Best Young Actor at the Inside Soap
Inside Soap
Inside Soap is a weekly UK magazine, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas shown in the United Kingdom....
awards alongside fellow cast member Fletcher O'Leary
Fletcher O'Leary
Fletcher O'Leary is an Australian child actor. He is best known for playing the role of Mickey Gannon in the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 19 June 2007 to 14 July 2009.-Biography:...
(Mickey Gannon).
In 2008, he joined the judging panel of the Inkys, Australia's only teenage choice book award judged by people under 20 years of age. The aim of the reward is to encourage young people to read. Of his judging role Werkmeister said "Finding the time is the difficult part but some of the books are great so the reading part has been fun."
In 2009, Werkmeister was shortlisted for two Logie Awards. He was nominated for "Most Popular Actor" alongside fellow cast members Steve Bastoni
Steve Bastoni
Steve Bastoni is an Italian Australian actor. He is best known for his role in Police Rescue as Constable Yannis 'Angel' Angelopoulos and as Steve Parker in Neighbours.-Television:...
(Steve Parker
Steve Parker
Steven "Steve" Parker is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Steve Bastoni. In 2007, Neighbours decided to return to focusing more on family dynamics and the characters of Steve and his family were created and introduced to help boost falling...
), Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy
Karl Kennedy
Karl Raymond Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Alan Fletcher. The character and his family were created by storyliners in an attempt to bring the show back to its roots. Karl made his first on-screen appearance on 20 September 1994 along with his...
), Ryan Moloney
Ryan Moloney
Ryan Moloney is an Australian actor best known for his portrayal of the fictional character Jarrod "Toadfish" Rebecchi in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Before Neighbours:...
(Toadfish Rebecchi
Toadfish Rebecchi
Jarrod Vincenzo Rebecchi is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Ryan Moloney. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 8 February 1995....
) and Ian Smith
Ian Smith (actor)
Ian Smith is an Australian soap opera character actor and television screenwriter, best known today for his long-running role as the caring, kindly coffee shop owner Harold Bishop in the soap opera Neighbours....
(Harold Bishop
Harold Bishop
Harold Bishop is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ian Smith. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 January 1987. Smith was offered a role by Neighbours creator and executive producer Reg Watson...
). He was also shortlisted for "Most Popular Personality on TV" alongside fellow cast members Pippa Black
Pippa Black
Pippa Black is an Australian actress. From 2005 to 2009, Black played Elle Robinson in the soap opera Neighbours. Black played Tonya in the NBC series Outsourced from 2010 to 2011.-Career:...
(Elle Robinson), Carla Bonner
Carla Bonner
Carla Bonner is an Australian actress best known for playing the role of Steph Scully in the soap opera Neighbours, a role she played from 1999 to 2010...
(Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Jo "Steph" Scully is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Carla Bonner. She made her first on-screen appearance on 21 October 1999. Stephanie is the eldest daughter of Joe and Lyn Scully and the mother to a son, Charlie...
) and Tom Oliver
Tom Oliver
Tom Oliver is an English television, film and theatre actor best known today for playing the role of Lou Carpenter in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Career:...
(Lou Carpenter
Lou Carpenter
Louis "Lou" Carpenter is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Tom Oliver. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 March 1988. Lou appeared for a brief time, before leaving and later returning in January 1992 as a regular cast member. He is the longest...
). 2010 saw Werkmeister shortlisted for "Most Popular Actor" again.
In October 2010, it was announced that Werkmeister was to leave Neighbours along with Jane Hall
Jane Hall (actress)
Jane Hall is an Australian actress and comedian.-Biography:Born in Melbourne, Hall grew up in the Dandenong Ranges....
(Rebecca Robinson) and Erin Mullally
Erin Mullally
Erin Mullally is an Australian actor and model best known for playing the role of Declan Napier in Neighbours. Mullally was cast in the role after original actor, James Sorensen, left the show. The character of Declan is Mullally's first major television role...
(Declan Napier
Declan Napier
Declan Napier is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Erin Mullally. The character first appeared on-screen on 25 July 2007. In January 2010 it was announced that original actor James Sorensen had quit the role of Declan and the decision to recast...
). Speaking about his decision to leave, Werkmeister said "When I started on Neighbours I was only thirteen, I didn't shave or drive a car so I really have grown up on the show, I've learnt so much, worked with some great people who are now some of my closest friends."
Werkmeister has said that he "would love to be a part of Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
" as it is "such a great show!" He has also said that he would like to star alongside Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor and producer who is involved in film, musical theatre, and television.Jackman has won international recognition for his roles in major films, notably as action/superhero, period and romance characters...
. If he could play any other Neighbours character he has said it would be Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson (Neighbours)
Paul Stewart Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, a long-running serial drama about social life in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. He is played by Stefan Dennis. Paul debuted in the serial's first episode in 1985 and appeared on a...
played by fellow cast member Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis is an Australian actor, best known for playing the role of Paul Robinson in the soap opera, Neighbours, from its first episode in March 1985 to the present day...
.