Few people can say that one of their most memorable life experiences happened when they were newborns. But for 18-year-old Zara Harrington, it’s her fascinating reality.
The Melbourne teenager, who has just completed her final year of school, has landed a coveted role in australian tv at three months.
Harrington once played the adorable Epponnee-Rae Craig, the granddaughter of fictional Australian royalty Kim and Brett Craig from Kath and Kim.
In her first-ever media interview, Harrington tells 9Honey that she’s extremely proud of her small but memorable role on the beloved 2000s series.
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“I really had no choice, I was kind of put there,” Harrington laughs, adding that she’s “so happy” it happened.
“Years later my parents told me and that’s how I found out.”
Harrington played Epponnee-Rae from three to six months, before being replaced by an older actress for season four of Kath and Kim.
It was a lucky twist of fate that she was used to play the Craig family’s adorable bub.
Her mother took her to the baby shower of a friend, who happened to be the aunt of the first Epponnee-Rae, who was introduced to fans in the second season.
Producers were looking for another newborn to play Kim and Craig’s daughter – and that’s where Harrington came in.
“They told my mom they were looking for a baby that could be in season three like [the other baby] had grown too much at that point,” she explains.
“Fortunately, I met the criteria they were looking for – the right eye color, dark hair and dark skin tone. So my mom did a little photo shoot and sent them to Gina [Riley] and Joan [Turner]and they were impressed.”
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She adds: “From there, they decided pretty quickly that I would be the perfect baby to play Epponnée-Rae.”
Harrington and her mother spent three months on set at the Day-Knight house in the Melbourne suburb of Patterson Lakes.
The teenager was the adorable baby in a pink jumpsuit in the iconic scene where Brett carries Epponnee-Rae during a shift in the fictional town of Computa.
Harrington says she watches her scenes with a mixture of bewilderment and pride.
“Years later my parents told me and that’s how I found out.”
Since she was a newborn, it’s hard for her to remember being on set with the hilarious cast of comedians. But sometimes, when she watches the series again, it awakens a deep memory.
“It brings back memories. Not all of it, but I remember doing Christmas scenes and after seeing pictures, I remember them,” Harrington said.
“It’s really special, not many people have something like that and I think I’m very lucky.”
Harrington doesn’t want to shy away from talking about his connection to the much-loved sitcom. She even posted a ICT Tac video from earlier in 2020 that went viral this year, joking about being “recognized” on the streets for her role as Epponnee-Rae.
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The ensuing news articles and messages from strangers spooked Harrington, who quickly deleted the clip and decided not to publish it again.
“I’ve never really been sure about telling people because I’m nervous about the reaction,” admits Harrington.
But as Harrington — who is wise beyond his years — tells 9Honey, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. “Why should I hide it?” she asks.
“I’ll have two reactions. One is, ‘Oh my god, that’s amazing,'” she adds. “And the other is a bit of a backlash, like, ‘You were just a baby, nobody recognizes you’.”
Of course, Harrington doesn’t expect anyone to recognize her from her time onscreen. But she likes to laugh at herself, that’s what Kath and Kim was all about.
“Really, this is just one example of the big poppy syndrome,” Harrington says of online trolls.
Season three of Kath and Kim aired in late 2004, so it’s been almost 18 years since Harrington graced Australia with his screen presence.
She did not continue acting, but instead did some modeling when she was younger.
Her dream now, however, is to work in the medical field. And Harrington has a very surprising fun fact to tell his new college mates when it’s time to show up to class.
“When I watch the show, it brings back memories.”
“I have friends who tell people when we go out, they say, ‘Zara was Kath & Kim’s baby’,” she says.
“I never try to brag or impress people, but it’s fun to talk about. I love answering questions and seeing their intrigue and wondering how I managed to land this job.”
When asked if she would ever participate in a reboot or reunite with every Epponnee-Rae cast over the years (including Kylie Minogue), the answer is a resounding yes.
“I would be so excited to do a reboot of the show, I think that would be really cool,” she says.
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“We’re a whole bunch now that’s played her. People sometimes ask me where Epponnee-Rae would’ve ended up, and I say, well, that was Kylie Minogue as an adult!”
And now Kath and Kim landed on streaming services, Harrington loves the idea of millions of people watching his scenes from 2004.
It’s a weird but wonderful thought, she thinks happily. The young student is happy to have played a small role in a show that has entertained so many generations.
“I think the way Kath and Kim approach comedy, furiously mocking themselves, that makes them appealing to all ages and types of people,” Harrington says.
“It’s a remarkable satire, which is why it has this lasting impact.”
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