Home and Away's 'bad boy' Sam Atwell is unrecognisable now

Home and Away star Sam Atwell, who famously played bad boy Kane Phillips between 2001 and 2009, has changed a lot in recent years with the actor now working on an Irish soap called Fair City as a producer.

The 42-year-old has adopted a more rugged look since leaving Australia with the star now unrecognisable with a shaved head and long beard.

Sam has appeared in one episode of Fair City as 'Barbie Man' and told The Irish Sun he wasn't sure Irish viewers would remember him from the Aussie soap.

"We'll see if they remember [me from Home and Away]," he said. "It was a different era, a different beard as well.

RELATED

• Home and Away fans share theories on mid-season finale tragedy 

• Home and Away viewers outraged over risqué storyline: 'Not a fan' 

• Home And Away heart-throb Luke Mitchell unrecognisable in selfie

"I don't know if I was ever a heartthrob, I think I was the bad boy. It was really fun."

However, he did add that he does remember some negatives about the show, "I remember reading some unkind things about my age at the time and receding hairline."

The actor added that he's got "tough enough skin" to deal with comments such as those nowadays.

Sam recently took to Instagram to share a sweet snap of himself and his dog, he wrote, "Summer in Dublin. We had an ice cream."

Fellow former Home and Away star Christie Hayes commented, "Can't handle the cuteness!"

In another photo, Sam is described by one follower as a "total bushranger" with his new look, another user wrote, "There's a bushranger film in you yet."

"Perfect movie title and poster," someone else said in reference to the caption that read, "Man and Winnie."

Controversial storyline

Christie Hayes starred as Kirsty Sutherland, who married Kane on the show in what was a very controversial storyline.

Kane sexually assaulted Dani (Tammin Sursock), Kirsty's sister, and despite the attack, Kirsty began secretly dating him and married him two years later.

Speaking to Digital Spy, Kirsty said she doesn't believe a storyline like that would work these days.

"I don't think they would be getting away with something like that in this day and age," she said. "Hell no. I can't imagine a lot of that stuff going down now – not at all. It wasn't even that long ago, but I look back on storylines that we did on Home and Away and I think: 'That would never be okay now!'"

For sexual assault and family and domestic violence support you can call 1800respect on 1800 737 732.

Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyle’s daily newsletter.

Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.