Martin Henderson was 17 when he joined the Shortland Street cast, kicking off his role as Stuart Neilson in the show's debut episode with a high-drama teen pregnancy story. His three years on the medical soap clearly paid off, as these days he can be found playing Dr. Nathan Riggs on the hit US series Grey's Anatomy.
Here he reflects on the good (and bad) habits he picked up on the Street, and how he'll always be grateful to the show for "strengthening his acting muscles".
• Martin Henderson returns to Shortland Street tonight for the official 25th anniversary special. Read our exclusive interview here.
See more great Shortland Street moments here, in NZ on Screen's collection.
Are you a Shortland Street superfan? Take our quiz and put your knowledge to the test.
