Pirate, policeman, pop star … I recently discovered Luke Arnold’s latest role in The End reflects the man himself, a regular down to earth guy!
Can you explain a bit about your character in The End?
Luke Arnold: When we meet Josh, his wife Beth (Brooke Satchwell) has motor neuron disease and is reaching a point where communication will be impossible. With her quality of life taking a turn, she decides to end it on her terms. Josh acquires the drug Nembutal from the Internet and shows their doctor, who confiscates it. That sets off a chain of events between them all.
What did you draw upon to create Josh?
Compared to a lot of characters I’ve played, Josh is just ‘a guy’. I’ve played so many roles including fantasy and larger-than-life elements, but Josh is just a dude who fell in love with a beautiful woman, whose awful disease brings pain in so many ways. So it involved looking at the experience of people with motor neuron disease and their family members. It’s not something I know personally, but like any role, you turn to first hand accounts and draw on as much as possible.
Luke Arnold plays Josh in The End
It sounds an intense role?
There’s a lot of actual nudity in this production, but performance wise I don’t think I’ve ever felt as naked as I have in The End. It’s just pure acting, while dealing with some of the heaviest issues I’ve dealt with as an actor.
What about filming in the COVID-19 era?
We finished The End last year, so it was basically all done. I then went on to Home and Away, which was one of the only things still shooting in the country. The film and television industry are under a lot more scrutiny that others, but in a lot of ways that’s good. Everyone worked really hard to keep it all moving and to keep people employed during a tough time. Home and Away is now a fantasy, in that COVID didn’t actually come to Summer Bay! (Laughs).
“With Black Sails in particular, I do have a lot of LGBTIQ fans.”
You’re well known for playing Michael Hutchence in INXS: Never Tear Us Apart. Do people still recognise you from that?
It depends if my hair has grown out, but I do get recognised for the Michael Hutchence role, which I love. It also happens with my Black Sails character, Long John Silver. More and more people are becoming fans of that show!
Yes, let’s talk about Black Sails. It certainly has some gay overtones!
Oh, it’s the gayest show on TV! One of the greatest triumphs of Black Sails is its queer story and elements. Pirate shows so often have this idea of freedom, which is somewhat symbolic of being free of the shackles of king or queen. However, this was about the freedom to be oneself, and for a lot of the characters, sexuality and identity is tied up in that idea. They go to war to protect those freedoms.
Luke Arnold in a scene from The End
Have you ever played a gay role?
After drama school I did a ten-year remounting of the plays Like Stars in My Hands and Thieving Boy, by Timothy Conigrave who wrote Holding The Man. I also did an episode of the ABC’s Lowdown where I played the secret boyfriend of a footballer, struggling with coming out. Then of course the Black Sails fans have their forums about the sexuality of John Silver. I’ll leave that to them!
Have you ever gone out clubbing with gay friends or to the Sydney Mardi Gras?
I’ve never been to the Mardi Gras, but last year I got to party with the Dollar Bin Darlings at the Sydney Festival. Any straight person, who doesn’t take their shirt off at their dance parties, is missing out on one of life’s great joys! I’ll definitely get my shirt off at a dance party, no problem!
You do have a good physique. How do you keep fit?
I do my best to maintain it, knowing that it’s part of being an actor. It’s easier than going through a hellish boot camp before a project. Being a writer, I also spend long periods at my computer and I’ve learnt how to eat in relation to my energy output. If I’m working out I’ll eat heaps and smash the protein, but when I’m in writer’s mode I lower my calories.
You stood up for LGBTIQ rights on Twitter against a homophobic rant re Kevin Hart. Thank you for that!
Not being gay myself, I only get a passing glimpse of the homophobia that’s out there, but sometimes it will stray into my online feed. It’s important to be clear when it comes to something like that, because I know with Black Sails in particular, I do have a lot of LGBTIQ fans. Something like that is crossing into their feed as well as mine, and is associated to a show they have affection for. Giving a bit of a ‘fuck you’ like that helps remind them there are a lot more people on their side.
Luke Arnold as Michael Hutchence, and Samantha Jade as Kylie Minogue, in a scene from Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS
If you were gay, who would be your celebrity man crush?
Leslie Odom Jr. I’ve listened to the Hamilton soundtrack a lot, but after finally watching it online, he just blew my mind. He has a ridiculous stage presence too. If I’m not listening to Wait for It or Dear Theodosia, I’m dipping my toes into his two Christmas albums. I’m ready to be serenaded!
What’s your irresistible dance song?
Anything Motown. I like my soul, especially at the gym or while running. Songs like I Can’t Help Myself by the Four Tops. I also love Get Lucky by Daft Punk. It begins with a little groove beckoning you onto the dance floor, and builds from there!
Who’s your music diva?
I remember dancing around the house to Kylie before any other music in my life. Then to have Samantha Jade play her in the show with me … I know that Kylie’s watched Never Tear Us Apart, but we still haven’t actually met. I’m looking forward to meeting her, one day, but I’m also intimidated by the idea. Playing her ex-boyfriend on TV with someone also playing her … that’s weird! There’s no real blueprint on how to best handle that!
“I feel I’ve worn a cock sock more times than any other actor.”
Tell us about your writing
I’m writing a series of detective fantasy stories. The Last Smile In Sunder City and its sequel Dead Man in a Ditch were published last year. They are the first in what will hopefully be an ongoing series. From here on, I think I’ll write a book every year, some in this series, then spreading a bit wider.
Luke Arnold as John Silver in Black Sails
Who has been your biggest influence in the acting profession?
Simon Tate, who was the head of drama at my second high school. He really went above and beyond, creating opportunities for me. Simon gave me my first real acting training playing Romeo, and showed me how much work you can and should do, not just with Shakespeare, but with all acting. Being seventeen and having a teacher willing to push and not let me coast through on youthful energy, was the biggest turning point for me.
Do you have a grooming tip?
When it comes to hair, my thing is to jump in the ocean and leave it for as long as possible before washing it. I have curls and the more you try something with them, the more they’ll fight back! My usual routine is to wash it on Friday, let it be fluffy over the weekend and then don’t touch it over the week.
“Any straight person who doesn’t take their shirt off at their dance parties, is missing out on one of life’s great joys!”
Have you ever had an onset wardrobe malfunction?
I feel I’ve worn a cock sock more times than any other actor, and it’s the most unflattering thing. There’s a scene in Never Tear Us Apart where I jump out of bed naked and start marching back and forth. They had one camera focused from behind and another on my face, but the cock sock could still be seen between my legs. So I had to have the whole thing taped to my stomach! The cock sock is unflattering, but with a bunch of gaffer tape over it? I just hoped they would delete it once they got the bits they needed!
On that note, is it briefs, fitted boxers, freeballs – or cock sock?
(Laughing) A cock sock would certainly be a good way to trip out into the world! Boxers when I was younger, but now I’m more a briefs man. I think that’s because I started wearing tighter pants, which I think came from playing Michael Hutchence! I also lived in London and tight black jeans were part of the uniform. The tighter the jeans, the less material you need underneath!
The End screens Tuesdays on Foxtel’s FOX SHOWCASE, with all episodes available On Demand
