California Crooner – Hugh Sheridan
“Music is the best way to communicate; it’s the most powerful tool, and makes people feel things. People hear songs and cry. There’s something so special about music” – Hugh Sheridan
Sitting in the hotel lobby, the time getting closer and closer to what we agreed, I remember feeling nervous. This wasn’t like my other interviews; it wasn’t me behind my keyboard analysing and converting an email correspondence. And while this was far from my first face-to-face interview, this time I was sitting down with four-time Logie Award winning Australian actor, musician, and television presenter Hugh Sheridan.
Every time one of the four elevators opened, I knew it was going to be him, except when it was a family of five, an elderly couple, some teenagers, another elderly couple, and a lady preparing for a presentation up stairs (I know this because she asked if I was attending. I was not, but we still had a nice chat.)
The elevator on my right opened and there he was in a long trendy jacket and hair that looked ready for a photo-shoot. I remember thinking, “wait this isn’t a prank? Scotty and the ninjas aren’t going to jump out?” (Australian kids television joke. Don’t worry about it.) “How’s it going?” he asked. Yep, same voice as TV Hugh.
“Yeah good, how’re you?”
“It’s been a hectic few days, but good.”
We walked along the strip to find a restaurant, discussing how the dark and rainy weather was not ideal for his outside performance of the 50th anniversary of HAIR The Musical that evening, and decided on fish and chips. Hugh ordered crumbed snapper and a salt-less margarita, I chose sliced bread with olive oil mixed with balsamic vinegar and a glass of water, which he jokingly made fun of me for. (Jokes on you Hugh, it was great.) Once the food was on the way, I began recording and we jumped right in:
Hugh was born in Adelaide on the 30th of June 1985, the second youngest of seven children. At five, Hugh had already decided that he wanted to be an actor. While in primary school he trained locally at Terry Simpson Studios and Unley Youth Theatre, after which he went on to study Music at the Victorian College of the Arts and Dance at The Australian Ballet School. He left ABS when he was accepted into the Bachelor of Dramatic Art actor course for the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
“I never thought I’d get into Television, it wasn’t the plan. I was training for theatre, and they didn’t teach how to act on TV at NIDA, so it was a bit ironic the first big role that I got was one on television, and subsequently most of the work I got since has been on television.”
- So how did Packed to the Rafters come about?
“It was a full on time. I was going through NIDA, which was tough. We found out that mum actually had a brain tumour. It had been benign since before I was born but it had begun to push on the back of her spine. It was such a tough time. And as it turned out the final audition for Packed to the Rafters was the same day mum was having her operation. I wasn’t going to go, she was in Adelaide and I thought to myself ‘what the hell am I doing? Going for an audition while mums in hospital’ but she just said, ‘I don’t want you here – what are you going to do? Sit around for nine hours while they operate on me? I won’t be able to see you until tomorrow anyway. Go do something. Don’t just sit around here being gloomy.’ So I went, and thank god I did because I did get the role, and mum made it through her surgery, but it was still tough.”
- How was life after joining Rafters?
“It was tough for Jessica (Marais) and I. We went from complete unknowns to household names overnight. It was intense. It was scary. Neither of us even had our drivers license, so we’d go from catching the train to work, to catching the train while being approached by hundreds of school kids. Literally overnight. The media was tough too, because the show was such a hit, they were out to get us.”
- Out of Film, Television, and Theatre, is Theatre still your favourite?
“They’re all different, but I’m loving singing right now. I started the California’s Crooner’s Club over in the States, in LA. I love singing my own songs and having control over what I do. I just want everyone to leave my shows happy and positive. When I get to sing and put it together, I want people singing and dancing on the tables, I encourage it. Music is the best way to communicate; it’s the most powerful tool, and makes people feel things. People hear songs and cry. There’s something so special about music.”
- So doing that in America, in LA, was easier than Australia?
“Oh yeah. I did start singing in Australia. I was discovered by Sony Music at the height of Rafters, but people thought it was just another actor trying to make it, which was quite embarrassing and not the case, seeing as I come from such a musical family. So I put music off until my contract with Rafters was completed and then I moved to the States with the intention of becoming a singer. It was what I needed. Cool thing about America is the music scene is so huge.”
- Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
“I always want to be working. I actually have a few projects and I’m even writing a film. I’m also looking at producing, not because I don’t want to be in it. I intend to still be in the productions, but there are so many actors I know and love who aren’t being utilised, so I’d love to be able to cast them and help them.”
- What is some advice that you would give to young actors trying to get out there?
“Just keep going. People were always telling me to shut up when I was young, but I just kept singing. I really believe that everyone can learn to act and sing, for some it comes easier, but I don’t believe I was born naturally talented, I just knew what I wanted to do. Lots of parents ask me what to do about their kids wanting to be actors, and what they really mean is how do they stop them from wanting it, and I just think – well hang on, why don’t you get them into some classes, support them, there’s a chance they’ll make more money than you! There are so many more opportunities now with streaming sites like Netflix, give it a go! You’re the only person who can make it happen.”
“But real advice is be kind to yourself. Some advice for myself is learning to say no, which I am getting better at, but it takes years.”
-
By Erikson Nygaard -
By Erikson Nygaard -
By Erikson Nygaard -
By Erikson Nygaard
Best thing in ever read. Incredibly written.