Ben Turland Explained

Ben Turland
Other Names:Benny Turland
Birth Name:Benjamin Turland
Birth Date:13 July 1998[1]
Birth Place:Mittagong, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:Actor, dancer
Years Active:2012–present

Benjamin Turland (born 13 July 1998) is an Australian actor and dancer. Turland won the grand final of the revived Young Talent Time series with his dance group Lil' Banditz Krew, before going onto the semi-final of Australia's Got Talent. He later appeared as a dancer on The X Factor Australia and The Voice Australia. In 2014, he made a guest appearance in the drama series Love Child and played Jordan Walsh in Home and Away during 2016. From 2019 until 2022, Turland portrayed Hendrix Greyson in fellow Australian soap opera Neighbours. He also appeared in the spin-off Erinsborough High, and was nominated for Best Daytime Star at the Inside Soap Awards. After leaving Neighbours, Turland appeared in the television miniseries Riptide as Ethan Weston. He filmed a role in the 2023 thriller 13 Summers and joined the supporting cast of Paper Dolls. The Casting Guild of Australia named Turland as one of its 12 Rising Stars of 2023.

Early life

Turland grew up in Mittagong and Bowral in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.[2] [3] He has an older brother and sister.[3] Turland began dancing when he was three years old, and experienced some bullying as he was the only male dancer in his town.[3] He attended Bowral High School, where he became interested in acting.[2] He later studied performing arts.

Career

In 2012, Turland appeared on the revival of Young Talent Time with the all boys dance group Lil' Banditz Krew when he 12 years old.[4] The group won the grand final and then toured Australia.[5] Two years later, Turland made it to the semi-final of Australia's Got Talent. He later admitted that his experience with the show made him want to pursue an acting career.[5] He also appeared as a dancer on The X Factor Australia, and he choreographed a tour for the series winner.[6] In 2014, Turland guested in the first season of Nine Network drama Love Child.[7] He joined the recurring cast of soap opera Home and Away as foster child Jordan Walsh in 2016.[7] [8] Turland later appeared on The Voice Australia as a dancer.[6]

Turland appeared as Joey in the 2019 production of Saturday Night Fever at the Sydney Lyric.[3] [9] That same year, he joined the main cast of soap opera Neighbours as teenager Hendrix Greyson, the son of established character Pierce Greyson (Tim Robards).[7] His manager had asked him to send in a self-tape, but did not tell him that he was not what the producers was initially looking for.[10] Turland received an invitation to audition for the role and was flown to Melbourne for a chemistry read with Robards and Jemma Donovan (Harlow Robinson). Three days later, Turland was informed that he had the role.[10] Hendrix was described as an entitled brat with a "bad attitude".[7] Turland also appears as Hendrix in the online spin-off Erinsborough High.[11] In 2022, Turland received a nomination for Best Daytime Star at the Inside Soap Awards.[12]

Turland quit Neighbours in 2021 in order to pursue new roles and work overseas.[13] His decision came just months before the show was cancelled in early 2022.[13] Producers chose to kill his character off, and Hendrix dies after a failed lung transplant.[14] Turland described his last few weeks on set as "intense" and he was left exhausted.[13] Turland briefly appears as Hendrix in the serial's then-final episode broadcast on 28 July 2022.[15] After leaving Neighbours, Turland filmed the television miniseries Riptide.[16] He plays Ethan Weston, whose father dies in mysterious circumstances. It was filmed in five weeks at the Neighbours studios, Mount Eliza and the Dandenong Ranges.[16] Turland said his "troubled" character needs "validation and love" from his father, adding "I think it's a good way to tell stories, especially for young men who don't know how to process their emotions."[16]

Turland filmed a role in Jeremy Stanford's thriller film 13 Summers, which was shot in Hervey Bay in late 2022. Turland plays a "mysterious backpacker" who encounters the film's protagonists Ben (Nathan Phillips) and Vee (Hannah Levien).[17] He joined the supporting cast of the Network 10/Paramount+ series Paper Dolls as Eli in March 2023. The drama was filmed in Sydney.[18] [19] The series follows fictional girl group Harlow, who are formed on a reality television show.[18] Turland is also filming a role in Rebel Wilson's directorial debut feature The Deb.[20] In November 2023, the Casting Guild of Australia named Turland as one of its 12 Rising Stars of 2023.[21]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013ThreadedJasonShort film
2014Love ChildRonnieEpisode: "#1.2" (as Bennie Turland)
2016Home and AwayJordan WalshRecurring role
2019–2022NeighboursHendrix GreysonMain cast
2019Erinsborough HighHendrix GreysonMain cast
2022RiptideEthan WestonMiniseries
2023Paper DollsEliRecurring role
202313 SummersAlexFeature film
The DebFilming

Notes and References

  1. NeighboursTV. 1282578005383053312. 13 July 2020. Happy 22nd Birthday Benny Turland!. 15 November 2023.
  2. News: Southern Highlands Neighbours' cast member gets stamp of approval. Meyers. Jackie. 28 April 2020. Southern Highland News. 13 November 2023. Benny Turland, who grew up in Mittagong and went to Bowral High School, is now featured on the $1.10 stamp..
  3. Myers. Matthew. 1 February 2020. Love thy Neighbour!. DNA. 241. 44–45.
  4. News: Krews' control. Biscoe. Emma. 13 November 2012. Southern Highland News. 13 November 2023.
  5. Web site: Neighbours star Benny Turland talks Hendrix's clash with Nicolette. Julians. Joe. 31 August 2020. Radio Times. 14 November 2023.
  6. News: Ben Turland reflects on his time on Neighbours and what's next for him. Devlin. Briannah. 27 July 2022. Lismore City News. 14 November 2023.
  7. Web site: Neighbours – who is newcomer Hendrix Greyson and actor Benny Turland?. Kilkelly. Daniel. 13 September 2019. Digital Spy. 14 November 2023.
  8. Web site: Neighbours star Ben Turland teases new role after emotional soap exit. Mitchell. Harriet. 13 August 2022. Digital Spy. 12 November 2023.
  9. Web site: Lachlan Dearing grateful for Hi-5 days but career has changed since landing musical role. Moran. Jonathon. 18 April 2019. The Daily Telegraph. 15 November 2023.
  10. Web site: How to Get Cast on 'Neighbours'. Norrish. Tahlia. 20 January 2022. Backstage. 15 November 2023.
  11. Spilsbury. Tom. 9–15 November 2019. Flying High!. Inside Soap. 45. 22–23.
  12. Web site: Inside Soap Awards announces nominations and new category for 2022 event. Harp. Justin. 18 July 2022. Digital Spy. 15 November 2023.
  13. Ellis. Sarah. 11–17 June 2022. Farewell, Hendrix!. Inside Soap. 24. 51.
  14. Web site: Neighbours announces huge new Hendrix Greyson storyline. Kilkelly. Daniel. 24 April 2022. Digital Spy. 15 November 2023.
  15. Web site: 'How do you begin to describe a street?': Neighbours bows out in nostalgic hug. Knox. David. 29 July 2022. TV Tonight. 15 November 2023.
  16. News: Ben Turland brings the struggles of young men to life in the drama Riptide. Devlin. Briannah. 27 June 2023. The Canberra Times. 15 November 2023.
  17. Web site: Wolf Creek star Nathan Phillips talks about new film 13 Summers. Walker. Carlie. 26 November 2022. The Courier-Mail. 12 November 2023.
  18. News: More cast join Paper Dolls. Knox. David. 1 March 2023. TV Tonight. 1 March 2023.
  19. Web site: CGA names 2023 Rising Stars. 13 November 2023. If Magazine. 15 November 2023.
  20. Web site: CGA names 2023 Rising Stars. 13 November 2023. If Magazine. 15 November 2023.
  21. Web site: Casting Guild of Australia: Rising Stars of 2023. Knox. David. 12 November 2023. TV Tonight. 12 November 2023.
  22. Web site: Ben Turland. Showcast. 15 November 2023.