Home and Away’s ‘bad boy’ Sam Atwell is unrecognisable as he takes up a surprising career change

Sam Atwell doesn’t look like this anymore! Home and Away star is almost unrecognisable as he embarks on a surprising career change

Sam Atwell is best known for his role as ‘bad boy’ Kane Phillips on Home and Away.

However the actor, now aged 41, looks completely unrecognisable in new images posted on his Instagram.

The clean-shaven boy who once had a full head of hair, is currently sporting a bald head, and an overgrown, bushy beard.

Sam Atwell doesn’t look like this anymore! Home and Away star is almost unrecognisable as he takes up a surprising career change

Years after appearing on Aussie TV, Sam packed his bags and is pursuing new opportunities in Ireland, according to Yahoo. 

Sam recently resurfaced with a more rugged look in the Irish soap opera Fair City. 

It is believed that Sam grew out the bushy beard to play the role of Barbie Man. 

Bearded bloke! The clean-shaven boy who once had a full head of hair, is currently sporting a bald head, and an overgrown beard

Bearded bloke! The clean-shaven boy who once had a full head of hair, is currently sporting a bald head, and an overgrown beard

Who's that guy? Aussie actor Sam is best known for his role as 'bad boy' Kane Phillips on Home and Away. Years after appearing on Aussie TV, Sam packed his bags and is pursuing new opportunities in Ireland as a producer, it has been reported

Who’s that guy? Aussie actor Sam is best known for his role as ‘bad boy’ Kane Phillips on Home and Away. Years after appearing on Aussie TV, Sam packed his bags and is pursuing new opportunities in Ireland as a producer, it has been reported

Now: He recently resurfaced with a more rugged look as 'Barbie Man' in the Irish soap opera Fair City

New look: Sam is unrecognisable as ‘Barbie Man’ in Irish soap opera Fair City (pictured)

Fans of Home and Away will remember Sam as the villainous Kane, a role he played from 2001 to 2009.

According to The Irish Sun, Sam has mostly stepped away from acting to focus on directing and overseeing scripts for the past six years. 

Sam made his debut in the Fair City holiday special just before Christmas.  

He said: ‘This year I think it was full throttle fun – as much fun and as much heart as we could pack into the show.

‘I think I come into the fun category really, my character anyway. [Barbie Man] is an Australian barbecue chef, who wears a kind of cowboy hat.’ 

New direction: According to The Irish Sun, Sam has mostly stepped away from acting to focus on directing and overseeing scripts for the past six years

New direction: According to The Irish Sun, Sam has mostly stepped away from acting to focus on directing and overseeing scripts for the past six years 

Back in the day: Sam is pictured with his co-star Christie Hayes while filming scenes for Home and Away at Sydney's Bondi Beach on May 3, 2004

Back in the day: Sam is pictured with his co-star Christie Hayes while filming scenes for Home and Away at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on May 3, 2004

Sam also spoke to The Irish Sun about his time on Home and Away.

‘It was such a great show to work on… It is amazing because I’ve been on the other side of [the cameras], and you’re suddenly thrust into the limelight.’

Kane was involved in one of Home and Away’s most controversial storylines.

The party boy character raped high school student Dani (Tammin Sursok) at her family home in a scene that aired in 2001.

Two years later, Dani’s sister Kirsty (Christie Hayes) married Kane in a twisted storyline that would spark outrage today.

Shocking: Kane was involved in one of Home and Away's most controversial storylines. The character raped student Dani (Tammin Sursok) at her home in a scene that aired in 2001

Shocking: Kane was involved in one of Home and Away’s most controversial storylines. The character raped student Dani (Tammin Sursok) at her home in a scene that aired in 2001