Rebecca & Harry HAPPINESS IS WORKING TOGETHER!

Playing mother and son was pure joy for the co-stars, who'd had their eyes on

- Catherine Milford

Learning they'd be co-starring as mother and son in Happiness, actors Rebecca Gibney and Harry McNaughton couldn't hide their delight. Appearing in the local musical comedy together meant the firm friends would finally meet for the first time.

“It was a bit ridiculous,” explains Harry, 37, who returned to acting for Happiness after spending much of the past few years writing and producing.

“Bec and I had known each other for about three years as I'd been scriptwriting for her since season one of Under the Vines, but we'd never actually been in the same room.

“We had this crazy online relationship where we'd comment on each other's social media photos. Once I posted from Fiji on holiday and she messaged me, saying, 'Harry! Put some clothes on!' But even though we got on brilliantly, we'd never physically met. It felt a bit like online dating!”

Adds Rebecca, 60, “Because Harry was in the creative team for Under the Vines, we'd talk on Zoom and it was actually bizarre how we bonded straightaway. I knew he was a brilliant writer - he has a brain the size of a small planet - and he has so much energy. He's very clever and he's funny. We very much share the same sense of humour.”