In the midst of all the explosions, car chases and shootouts that make Tomorrow, When the War Began one of the biggest Australian films in years are two emerging  Melbourne actors, Caitlin Stasey and Deniz Akdeniz.

Stasey, the 20-year-old actress who is best known as Rachel Kinski on TV’s Neighbours, stars as country teenager Ellie Linton in this adaptation of teen fiction author John Marsden’s best-selling novel. 21-year-old Akdeniz, who played Raff in Disney Channel’s As the Bell Rings, stars as Ellie’s rebellious close friend Homer. Along with five other mates,  the story follows Ellie and Homer as they go camping in the mountains for a week-long getaway. While they’re away, however, Australia is invaded by an unknown foreign force. It’s only when they return home and witness the devastation first-hand that they realise they must fight back if they want to live freely ever again.

While on a whirlwind national tour promoting the film last month, Stasey and Akdeniz sat down with me in their Adelaide hotel room to talk about Tomorrow, When the War Began. Slouched well into the sofa, the always-polite Stasey was [...]