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I see you were cast in another of Jane Hewland's projects, "Daylight Robbery" during your time on Dream Team. I assume that was filmed when you were on a break from the show, during the time Luis was away in San Diego receiving treatment for his injury?
Jane Hewland had to perform some amazing scheduling gymnastics to get me on the show so that most of my scenes were shot right at the end of filming, after we’d finished shooting the FA Cup Final stuff for Dream Team. I owe her a lot!
You acted across several other British TV shows ("Bad Girls", "Mile High", "Heartbeat", "Casualty" to name a few) throughout the rest of the 2000's. Do you think we'll see you back over here sometime in the future on our screens?
Never say never! I didn’t think I was ever going to come back to Australia to live and that happened, so you never know. Obviously if I was offered a big enough role back in the UK I’d be on the next plane.
One far-reaching and popular film you were cast in was of course "Resident Evil" playing Chad Kaplan. Was this a great experience and would you say this was the job you most get asked about, being a big science fiction horror film?
Resident Evil was like a schoolboy’s dream come true. We shot it in Berlin and the day I arrived I was taken straight to a gun range to shoot live rounds for an hour, then we went to a gym for a couple of hours of combat training. I was in heaven. It is probably the job I get asked about the most and, once again, it was an amazing experience with a really great bunch of people.
"The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular" sounds like it was a special project for you. Was it true you were inexperienced in horse riding when you took on the job, but it was important for you that you'd get to perform your own stunts?
Yes. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the story of “The Man from Snowy River” but it is an iconic Australian poem by Banjo Patterson who wrote “Waltzing Matilda”. It tells the story of a posse of riders who gather to chase down a priceless thoroughbred racehorse that has escaped and joined a herd of wild horses. The posse catch up to the herd only to lose them when they flee over the edge of what is essentially a cliff that is manageable for a horse on its own but suicide for a horse and rider. Everyone chickens out except “The Man” who plummets over the edge and manages to stay in the saddle, catch up to the herd and “alone and unassisted brings them back”. If you’re playing The Man and you’re surrounded by a bunch of amazing horsemen and women, you can’t really hand over to someone else to do the dangerous bits. I had learnt to ride as a kid in England but had probably been on a horse less than ten times since. However I had some amazing teachers and I wasn’t scared, which I think is a key factor in learning anything. We performed to about ten thousand people per show around Australia. It was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever been involved in.
Having returned to Australia for your next stint in both musical and regular theatre there, you began to get some serious recognition. The Green Room Awards named you Best Male Artist in a Leading Role for the Melbourne Professional Production of Hair. While the Australian premiere of Doctor Zhivago in which you originated the role of Pasha/Strelnikov saw you receive the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Those must be some proud accolades?
It’s always great to be recognized for what you do and I am proud of those awards, but there can be such politics involved. Nothing beats honest, heartfelt feedback from fans who have been touched by your work in some way. That’s when you really feel like it’s all been worthwhile.
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