He comes from showbiz stock, has toured with the Bangles, loves hanging in gay clubs, is on telly with Jessica Mauboy and loves wearing Speedos and being a new dad.
Tell us about how you fit into The Secret Daughter
The show is set between the country and the big smoke, and I play the hometown boyfriend of Jessica Mauboy’s character Billie Carter. We live in a small country town where everyone knows one another, and is very close. We’re in a pub band together and are artistically and romantically involved. I’m the lead singer and Billie’s the backup, but there are things that happen to change all that!
You cut your teeth on Neighbours as Taj, was that a good grounding for acting?
Yes, that’s where I learnt my trade. I had previously hosted shows like Kids WB Go! and Postcards and dabbled in a few films, but they were short spells. So being on Neighbours for quite a long period was perfect because you can learn everything about how to work on TV. You also get to work with amazing actors who have been in the job a lot longer. I started when I was about sixteen. Time flies when you’re having fun!
Your dad, James Reyne, is famous as the lead singer of the classic band Australian Crawl. A lot of children with famous parents often grow up in their shadow. Was that ever an issue for you?
Honestly, it wasn’t at all. My father always encouraged me to do whatever it was I chose to do. There was always music in the house and I’d always pick up the guitar, or drums or whatever was around, from a very young age. I think it was in my genes. Growing up I was always told I could do whatever I wanted to, as long as it brought happiness to myself and didn’t bring unhappiness to anyone else. Funny enough, for the majority of my high school years I was a swimmer. That was where I wanted to go until about the age of fifteen, when I decided to focus on music and acting. So I never felt the pressure of having a famous father and I love his music and recognise his songwriting capabilities. I’m a fan! I’ve also never compared or felt it weighing over me, which I’m pretty happy about. I’ve had discussions with other people whose parent may be a doctor, and they feel some sort of pressure to enter the medical profession. But I never felt that.
Does your dad give you advice on working in the industry?
Yeah, whenever I’ve asked, he’s more than happy to give it, but our relationship is very much that we’re close friends. We have the father/son relationship but we’ll always have a very close friendship and he’s always there for me when I have a question. Since I’ve been in the public eye and doing professional music, we’ve definitely been conscious to make them two separate things. I’ve never wanted it to look like I’ve bankrolled off anything, and if anything, it sometimes closes more doors than opens them, because if you are coming from a showbiz family, there are certain expectations, or people might think there is nepotism involved, but funnily enough there’s not. So if anything, it’s taught me to do more of what I want to do.
Whenever I’m at Sydney’s Circular Quay, I always get his song Reckless in my head.
Oh of course, because of Manly! It’s funny because I used to play a lot at Manly and that was always the number one request. I never actually did play it, but even when I catch the ferry to Manly from Circular Quay it pops into my head!
You fronted Rushcutter and The Paradise Three and pretty much toured the world, what was life like on the road?
Looking back in retrospect, it was probably too much fun. It was carefree and with my closest friends in the world and a never-ending holiday. Then we would come back to record, and then off again. There are times when it will seem tough because we’d miss our partners or family, but looking back it was an absolute blast. Just last year I did a European tour with Venus and the Moon, a band from Los Angeles. It was very different to touring with my Aussie bands, because we’d hop into a tour bus and go from town to town. But I absolutely adored touring like this and plan to do it when my next record comes out.
Tell us about the Paul Kelly musical Deeper Water
I was asked to play the lead, and we did a showcase performance, which included Missy Higgins in the cast and a bunch of other great actors and singers. I believe it’s starting next year, but it’s still in the informative ‘under wraps’ stage. But it was amazing. I think it will lead off in Melbourne, being the spiritual home of Paul Kelly and there’s talk of a national tour. Plus it may go to New Zealand where Paul also has a big following. I love my musical and acting endeavours, but when putting them both together…well it has to be the right project for me. For instance, the thing I love about shows such as Glee or even The Secret Daughter, is that they not only have fantastic drama, but also fantastic music, and that’s what I liked about Deeper Water. It’s a great theatre play but also incorporates Paul Kelly’s songs in the characters and script.
What do you do to keep fit?
As a teenager, I was a national swimmer and that was what I loved doing until I woke up and thought I wanted to do rock and roll. But the swimming definitely stayed within my DNA. I wouldn’t call myself a gym-junkie, but everyday I try to swim and to eat pretty healthy. My fiancé is a bit of a health nut. Everything is organic and green and she definitely helps me with that. I try to do some type of exercise everyday, but I don’t follow a strict regime.
Do you have gay mates?
Very much so, in fact most of my friends are gay. I just saw on Facebook that The Colombian Hotel is shutting down, which is sad. And old flat mate and I used to have many a great night there. In fact Stonewall is one of my favouite clubs in Australia. So I’m always having fun with those guys.
Do you get hit on in the clubs?
I have. I’ve had a night or two at Arc where I’ve definitely been hit on, which is always a big compliment. But I think that was more in my younger years. Now when I go out, I think I have that ‘dad’ energy. It’s only been four months, but I think I’m already like it.
You do realise that JR was very famous for JR Ewing from TV’s classic Dallas?
Of course, very much so! I would even take a cowboy hat when I was visiting America, so I was asking for it!
This is our Sexiest Man Alive edition. Who do you think is the sexiest man alive?
I’m on the spot here, because I have quite a few. I should have made a list! (laughing). Actually, I’ll say Bruce Springsteen. I caught some footage of him recently where he was on holiday with his family and wearing board shorts. The man’s in his sixties and still fit as a fiddle. I’d definitely try The Boss!
Growing up in the music scene did you meet many famous rock stars?
Yeah I did. Dad was always about, but also often touring, so I was mainly brought up by my mother and godmother who were best friends. My mum was a model and my godmother Katrina was an agent, so I was always around the Chadwicks models. I was baby-sat and taken to parties where there were a lot of interesting people.
You also toured Australia with Pat Benatar and The Bangles. That must have been an interesting experience?
That was amazing. Rushcutter had come to a bit of a fizzle and I was planning to move overseas, when the next day I got a call saying they wanted me to open for Pat Benatar and The Bangles. Being an Eighties baby and really loving Susanna Hoffs and The Bangles and of course Benatar, it was pretty amazing. Then a week later we were touring Australia, playing the entertainment centres. And I’m not just saying this to be a suck-up, but they were the nicest and coolest bunch of women you’d ever come across. They were divine.
Gay men love their divas. Who is yours?
Oh that’s a good one! I love these sorts of questions. Hmm…I’m going to say Bjork. What a cracker! She is unique to say the least. Also Koko Taylor. What an absolute force. She’s such an extremely powerful performer and person.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
There are many, but pretty much anyone who has done something their own way. Off the top of my head, people like Freddie Mercury to Bob Dylan to Christopher Walken. Someone who has completely stood on their own two feet. Look at someone like David Bowie, and I don’t think many can come close to him. You often hear a lot of ‘you can’t do this’ and ‘you can’t do that’, and ‘you can’t make that choice’. I really admire anyone who says ‘fuck you, I’m going to do what I want to do, and if you like it you like it and if you don’t you don’t’.
What advice would you give to people wanting to enter the industry?
Make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. What I love about being in the creative industry is that when it’s great it’s great and sometimes it’s not. I personally thrive off that. I love the excitement of not knowing what’s around the corner, but I know a lot of people who don’t enjoy that. So make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons, and if you really are doing it for the right reasons, and it’s your passion, then never give up.
Are you a jocks man, boxer briefs or free-baller?
I’m a boxer briefs man. I was a free-baller for quite some time and then found out that it might not be ideal for many a different reason, and I might have offended a few people in my skinny jeans days! So I thought I had better stop doing that. I tried everything and came across a really good brand of boxer briefs that have a good link, and I’ve stuck with them ever since.
And is it Speedos or boardies.
I mix it up. I love Speedos. It harbours back to my swimming days. I used to love sporting a good tight pair of Speedos. In fact I wore a pair of Speedos today! I was at the gym and needed some sauna time afterwards! But it depends. If I’m in a social environment like a pool party, I’ll wear some short-shorts and if I’m down the beach I’ll definitely rock a pair of Speedos.
The Secret Daughter screens on Channel Seven
No Comments