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.

Be Yourself

I have always been an Enough Rope fan and recently heard Andrew Denton was making a new comedy about advertising. Over the last month I found I had a part in it and started the usual visits for hair and makeup. The Fox studios production office had a gallery of mugshots of the cast members for '30 Seconds' including Peter O'Brien, Gyton Grantley and Stephen Curry. After a quick discussion with director Shawn Seet, Mr Denton came out and had a few laughing words and then it was time to try and weave my way out of the labyrinthine Studio complex again.

A couple of weeks later, I went to the '30 Seconds' location in Ultimo to try on a some wardrobe and walked past a trestle table set up for cast and crew. There was the horrific 'Carl Williams' having a quick cup.

It seems ridiculous to say it but Gyton's face is baby like in its innocence and charm. His photo on the wall beams down with great sweetness and so it is incredible to think he is able to summon a character of so much threat and violence. His face broke into a smile ..."I know you...you're the 'Dog Lady'."

I am not sure I dreamt of being 'The Dog Lady' but Chandon Films sure did get the face out there! Gyton might have dreamt of being a famous actor but is he a bit 'over' being 'Carl Williams' of Underbelly. And to emphasise this, he and a friend Abe Forsyth made a Tropfest short film called 'Being Carl Williams'.

Abe is the son of veteran actor Drew Forsyth and is also part of the 30 Seconds cast. Just to be totally confusing, Abe is playing the part of 'Carl'!


To see 'Being Carl Williams' click here.