Neighbours’ Hannah Martin star unrecognisable after quitting acting to become a news journalist in Germany

NEIGHBOURS star Rebecca Ritters rose to fame as Hannah Martin on the Aussie soap in the 90s.

The young actress spent seven drama-filled years in Erinsborough that saw her come close to being abducted, overcome a bitter family feud with her dangerous half-brother and narrowly avoid burning to death in a cottage fire.



Neighbours’ Hannah Martin star unrecognisable after quitting acting to become a news journalist in Germany
Rebecca Ritters looks very different to her days on Neighnours

Neighbours’ Hannah Martin star unrecognisable after quitting acting to become a news journalist in Germany
She is now a newsreader in Germany

She recently poked fun at her styling on the soap after being sent a throwback interview featuring her and parents Beth and Jurgen.

Rebecca shared a picture of the magazine on Instagram and wrote: “Someone sent me this blast from the past on Twitter. Why were the 90s so unkind? Mum and dad looking cute, though.”

Her early soap career is very much worlds apart from her current role as a news anchor for German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

One of the bilingual star’s news colleagues admitted he was a big Neighbours fan growing up and couldn’t believe he now worked with one of its stars.

He posted: “I would have never thought watching you on Neighbours that I’d end up working with you.”

Other followers simply appreciated the dose of nostalgia.

One wrote: “This is how I remember you from when I watched Neighbours.”

Another said: “Omg this is amazing!”

Rebecca left Neighbours in 1999 and had a minor three episode stint in Coronation Street in 2002.

Her final acting role came in Melbourne cop drama Rush in 2010, before she turned her focus to journalism.

The broadcaster recently told us that Neighbours helped prepare her for her current career.

She said: “I think the show helped me to be confident in front of the camera and also taught me how to tell stories in an interesting way.”

While she loved being on set, life away from Ramsay Street wasn’t always easy.

Rebecca said: “I had a great time while I was on the show, my happiest memories are with the wonderful cast and crew.

“I spent seven years on the show until 1999 and it changed the course of my life. I have a lot to thank Neighbours for but it was also difficult.

“At school, it was hard being famous because I was teased and laughed at by the other kids.”

But when she visited the UK, she felt nothing but love and warmth.

She said: “When I came to London I was treated like a celebrity, it was a completely different world.”



Neighbours’ Hannah Martin star unrecognisable after quitting acting to become a news journalist in Germany
Rebecca found fame in the early 90s

Neighbours’ Hannah Martin star unrecognisable after quitting acting to become a news journalist in Germany
Her character, Hannah Martin, had some tough storylines