Making it in Blighty

Shooting the final episode of '30 Seconds' brought me in contact with Peter O'Brien who has an unusual trajectory in his career. Deciding in the early 90's that the scene in Australia was too small, he headed to the vast market of London and slowly made his way up the acting ladder there. Its a tough move and his salary often fluctuated wildly.

Playing at a tiny theatre for 120 pounds a week he found himself transferred overnight to the West End earning one thousand and twenty pounds. The size of the audience had ballooned and with it his salary which in London can make a great deal of difference to an actor's life.

Talking of an actor's life in England, playwright Ron Blair tells of going to the Royal Shakespeare at Stratford and watching spellbound as the history of England was performed with flair and brilliance but, on the way home driving past three of the 'Kings' he had watched in ermine and armour flashing about the stage, lined up at the bus stop in raincoats!

In a report put out by Equity - the actors union, it was said that at the time Peter went to England, there were 75000 actors out of work at any one time. So to make it there is a mark of great strength as well as talent.

Still, whilst he was not playing an angel in '30 Seconds' it was a shock to see Peter in 'Underbelly 2' this week with white hair and steely heart as 'George Freeman.'

To see more of Peter O'Brien and the cast of Underbelly 2, click here.