Prior to your role on Neighbours, what sort of acting work had you done?
I've been working professionally as an actor since 1994, and had dabbled in Film, TV, Theatre, Ads, Voice Over, you name it. Anything I could my hands on basically, which is pretty much the only way a jobbing actor can survive here. I'd say the highlight of my career prior to Neighbours would have to be playing the role of 'Bob Geraghty' in the critically acclaimed ABC comedy series Lowdown for which I even earned an AFI "Best Actor In A Comedy Series" nomination. Okay so I didn't win, but it was still very nice to get a pat on the back from the acting fraternity.
What inspired you to pursue acting?
It's hard to say really. I just always had a yearning to perform and started at quite a young age. I was entertaining the people from my hometown of Allora (in rural QLD) each year at the annual community concert from the age of 11-12. I'd be up on stage doing magic acts and Monty Python skits, as well as performing in musicals like Fiddler On The Roof & Calamity Jane, and I still remember the thrill of adrenalin and excitement I got from making the audience laugh. I guess I was hooked from then on.
I've been working professionally as an actor since 1994, and had dabbled in Film, TV, Theatre, Ads, Voice Over, you name it. Anything I could my hands on basically, which is pretty much the only way a jobbing actor can survive here. I'd say the highlight of my career prior to Neighbours would have to be playing the role of 'Bob Geraghty' in the critically acclaimed ABC comedy series Lowdown for which I even earned an AFI "Best Actor In A Comedy Series" nomination. Okay so I didn't win, but it was still very nice to get a pat on the back from the acting fraternity.
What inspired you to pursue acting?
It's hard to say really. I just always had a yearning to perform and started at quite a young age. I was entertaining the people from my hometown of Allora (in rural QLD) each year at the annual community concert from the age of 11-12. I'd be up on stage doing magic acts and Monty Python skits, as well as performing in musicals like Fiddler On The Roof & Calamity Jane, and I still remember the thrill of adrenalin and excitement I got from making the audience laugh. I guess I was hooked from then on.
You appeared on the show in 2013 as Brian O’Loughlin, what was it like joining the cast at this time?
I grew up with Neighbours, and as a kid would watch the show religiously during the whole Kylie Minogue/Jason Donovan era. Once I moved to Melbourne from QLD in 2003, I always wanted to play a role in the series and although it took a few years for me to get 'my foot in the door' so to speak, I was fortunate enough to be offered a role in 2012. Obviously it would have been better to be a recurring character, but I was content to be naughty Brian for a few eps. Who knows? He may reform himself and find his way back into the show a changed man. Fingers crossed eh?
You worked closely with Menik Gooneratne who played Priya Kapoor, what was she like to work with?
I'm so glad you asked that question because I cannot speak highly enough of the lovely Menik. From day one she made me feel so very welcome and was always keen to rehearse any upcoming scenes prior to getting on set together. All of the regular cast were amazing in that respect, but Menik in particular made the job wonderful. It probably helped a great deal that she was a fan of Lowdown, which also elevated her in my esteem of course!
Brian was sexually harassing Priya, what was is like being a part of this type of storyline?
I agree that Brian wasn't the most pleasant of individuals, but an actor's job is to portray all sorts of characters regardless of how you may personally feel about their actions. Interestingly it's characters like Brian that are the most fun to play because there is a level of complexity there that isn't normally present in other types of roles. Why do they do these sinister things, and what makes them tick? These questions are a lot of fun to explore as an actor, and finding the answers is how you can make the performance truthful. I see Brian as a deeply insecure and lonely man, unhappy in his home life, and desperate for a deeper connection with somebody. I think his mother died when he was young as well, so he didn't have that maternal influence early on, which would have helped him with his relationships with women as an adult. Ah...poor Brian...
Are there any similarities between you and Brian?
When I watched the episodes go to air, I was very surprised to notice that Brian & I look almost identical! The only difference being our dress sense & hair styles really. I much prefer mine to his... Yuck!
I grew up with Neighbours, and as a kid would watch the show religiously during the whole Kylie Minogue/Jason Donovan era. Once I moved to Melbourne from QLD in 2003, I always wanted to play a role in the series and although it took a few years for me to get 'my foot in the door' so to speak, I was fortunate enough to be offered a role in 2012. Obviously it would have been better to be a recurring character, but I was content to be naughty Brian for a few eps. Who knows? He may reform himself and find his way back into the show a changed man. Fingers crossed eh?
You worked closely with Menik Gooneratne who played Priya Kapoor, what was she like to work with?
I'm so glad you asked that question because I cannot speak highly enough of the lovely Menik. From day one she made me feel so very welcome and was always keen to rehearse any upcoming scenes prior to getting on set together. All of the regular cast were amazing in that respect, but Menik in particular made the job wonderful. It probably helped a great deal that she was a fan of Lowdown, which also elevated her in my esteem of course!
Brian was sexually harassing Priya, what was is like being a part of this type of storyline?
I agree that Brian wasn't the most pleasant of individuals, but an actor's job is to portray all sorts of characters regardless of how you may personally feel about their actions. Interestingly it's characters like Brian that are the most fun to play because there is a level of complexity there that isn't normally present in other types of roles. Why do they do these sinister things, and what makes them tick? These questions are a lot of fun to explore as an actor, and finding the answers is how you can make the performance truthful. I see Brian as a deeply insecure and lonely man, unhappy in his home life, and desperate for a deeper connection with somebody. I think his mother died when he was young as well, so he didn't have that maternal influence early on, which would have helped him with his relationships with women as an adult. Ah...poor Brian...
Are there any similarities between you and Brian?
When I watched the episodes go to air, I was very surprised to notice that Brian & I look almost identical! The only difference being our dress sense & hair styles really. I much prefer mine to his... Yuck!
Are there any cast member you wished to have worked with more?
Menik obviously, for the reasons listed above. But I would have loved to work with all of the regular cast more because I found them all to be such wonderful people, as well as the fact that more scenes equals more work for an actor. Always a good thing, believe me!
You have also appeared in films. How does working of a film compare to working on a TV series? Which do you prefer?
I don't really prefer one over the other. They each come with their own different sets of challenges and positives. Having said that, I would love to get more work in film simply because I don't get as many opportunities to do so. Film roles come along far less often than TV roles do, for me anyway.
You’ve also done a stage production, Johnno, how does theatre compare to film and television? Which do you prefer?
Actually I've done over 50 theatre productions in my career so far, I suppose Johnno being the most high-profile one as I was playing the title character and it was an internationally touring show. The best way for me to answer your question would be to say that I love theatre for the immediacy of the actor's relationship to the audience, whereas I love film & TV because my performance doesn't disappear into the ether after I've done the work. Also, TV & film pays a hell of a lot better than theatre does and is far less demanding of your time, which are very important considerations now that I have 2 kids and a mortgage. Having said that I will always return to the theatre if a role interests me enough, because I love live performance. After all, that's where it all began for me.
How has Neighbours compared to other show you’ve been on?
It's so fast! But in a good way. Most people working on the show has done so for such a long time, that everything runs so much more smoothly and rapidly than I've experienced on any other production.
You left Neighbours over a year ago, what have you done since leaving the show?
Apart from having another beautiful baby daughter, I've been kept busy with my voice overs for TV & radio, appearances in Fat Tony, Howzat: Kerry Packer's War, two theatre shows (one of which I produced along with my wife Bec), lots of TV ads, and a few TV pilots. I'm hoping that one of these pilots might go to series and reach an audience cause they're very good and I love my role in each of them. Apart from that, I'm doing the audition circuit and starting to practice writing my own work. I'd love to get my own show up one day!
Menik obviously, for the reasons listed above. But I would have loved to work with all of the regular cast more because I found them all to be such wonderful people, as well as the fact that more scenes equals more work for an actor. Always a good thing, believe me!
You have also appeared in films. How does working of a film compare to working on a TV series? Which do you prefer?
I don't really prefer one over the other. They each come with their own different sets of challenges and positives. Having said that, I would love to get more work in film simply because I don't get as many opportunities to do so. Film roles come along far less often than TV roles do, for me anyway.
You’ve also done a stage production, Johnno, how does theatre compare to film and television? Which do you prefer?
Actually I've done over 50 theatre productions in my career so far, I suppose Johnno being the most high-profile one as I was playing the title character and it was an internationally touring show. The best way for me to answer your question would be to say that I love theatre for the immediacy of the actor's relationship to the audience, whereas I love film & TV because my performance doesn't disappear into the ether after I've done the work. Also, TV & film pays a hell of a lot better than theatre does and is far less demanding of your time, which are very important considerations now that I have 2 kids and a mortgage. Having said that I will always return to the theatre if a role interests me enough, because I love live performance. After all, that's where it all began for me.
How has Neighbours compared to other show you’ve been on?
It's so fast! But in a good way. Most people working on the show has done so for such a long time, that everything runs so much more smoothly and rapidly than I've experienced on any other production.
You left Neighbours over a year ago, what have you done since leaving the show?
Apart from having another beautiful baby daughter, I've been kept busy with my voice overs for TV & radio, appearances in Fat Tony, Howzat: Kerry Packer's War, two theatre shows (one of which I produced along with my wife Bec), lots of TV ads, and a few TV pilots. I'm hoping that one of these pilots might go to series and reach an audience cause they're very good and I love my role in each of them. Apart from that, I'm doing the audition circuit and starting to practice writing my own work. I'd love to get my own show up one day!
Are you still in touch with any of your former co-stars?
Occasionally I hear from Menik via Twitter, and I run into other cast members at voice over sessions or at auditions. It's always great to catch up with them again.
Would you ever consider returning to the show as Brian or another role?
Absolutely! My agent is waiting for the call...check out pauldenny.com for my CV, showreel & contact details guys. Couldn't resist a bit of harmless self-promotion ; )
Were you a fan before joining the show? Do you still watch these days?
Definitely a fan in my earlier years as I mentioned earlier, and I do catch the occasional episode when I'm flicking through the channels these days, but to be honest I'm kept so busy with the demands of work, kids and home that by the time I put my feet up at the end of the day I usually pop in a blu-ray and watch a movie. I'm sure once my daughters are a bit older, they'll be tuning in regularly to the show along with all their school friends so I'll get drawn into the world of Neighbours again. It'd be so cool to be back in the show at that time, cause it would be like a badge of honour for my girls to say that their Dad is in Neighbours (and hopefully not stalking somebody this time round)!
Finally, for a show that nearly didn’t make its first anniversary, it’s amazing to see it approach 7000 episodes and a 30th anniversary. What do you think is the secret of the ongoing success of Neighbours?
Its constantly changing story lines, the familiarity of its setting & characters to its audience, and the likeability of the regular cast, all add up to make Neighbours an enduring success and more like a good friend than just a TV show... That's how I responded to a very similar question I was asked in another interview a few years back, and I still feel the same way. Congrats Neighbours! Here's to many more wonderful years of drama in your special little cul-de-sac. I hope I get to visit again someday.
Occasionally I hear from Menik via Twitter, and I run into other cast members at voice over sessions or at auditions. It's always great to catch up with them again.
Would you ever consider returning to the show as Brian or another role?
Absolutely! My agent is waiting for the call...check out pauldenny.com for my CV, showreel & contact details guys. Couldn't resist a bit of harmless self-promotion ; )
Were you a fan before joining the show? Do you still watch these days?
Definitely a fan in my earlier years as I mentioned earlier, and I do catch the occasional episode when I'm flicking through the channels these days, but to be honest I'm kept so busy with the demands of work, kids and home that by the time I put my feet up at the end of the day I usually pop in a blu-ray and watch a movie. I'm sure once my daughters are a bit older, they'll be tuning in regularly to the show along with all their school friends so I'll get drawn into the world of Neighbours again. It'd be so cool to be back in the show at that time, cause it would be like a badge of honour for my girls to say that their Dad is in Neighbours (and hopefully not stalking somebody this time round)!
Finally, for a show that nearly didn’t make its first anniversary, it’s amazing to see it approach 7000 episodes and a 30th anniversary. What do you think is the secret of the ongoing success of Neighbours?
Its constantly changing story lines, the familiarity of its setting & characters to its audience, and the likeability of the regular cast, all add up to make Neighbours an enduring success and more like a good friend than just a TV show... That's how I responded to a very similar question I was asked in another interview a few years back, and I still feel the same way. Congrats Neighbours! Here's to many more wonderful years of drama in your special little cul-de-sac. I hope I get to visit again someday.
Interviewed June 2014