Tim Phillipps

From award winning films to Aussie soaps, Tim Phillipps has earned a few notches to his acting belt. He’s currently residing on Ramsay Street as Neighbours’ Daniel Robinson. He tells Matt Myers about playing a character spawned from legendary TV characters.

On Neighbours you play Daniel Robinson, the son of iconic characters Scott (Jason Donovan) and Charlene (Kylie Minogue). How did you prepare for that role?

Tim Phillipps: Basically, the same as I would playing any character. I didn’t let being Kylie and Jason’s son get in the way too much. It’s kind of nice knowing they are such an iconic couple, and to come onto the Neighbours set as their offspring was certainly a nice start. But as far as preparation goes, I focused on what I wanted to bring to Daniel, and the producers said feel free to go with it.

Have you met your on-screen parents?

No, but the closest I’ve got is with The One Show in the UK, who asked me to record a message for Kylie who was a guest. They played it for her and I’ve seen her seeing me! I think they sprung that on her, and she was freaking out a bit. Jason Donovan’s father Terence has recently been working on Neighbours, so I asked him to say hello to ‘my dad’!

What’s your favourite Kylie song?

I’d have to say Spinning Around!

So where is Daniel Robinson’s character heading in 2016?

He’s heading down a very professional path. Daniel’s made a lot of mistakes along the way and he’s been aimless. But the biggest thing learnt from his relationship with Paul (Stefan Dennis) is to be serious about life. Daniel’s holding on to his good nature and positive side, but he’s figured out that if he want’s to live out of home and be responsible, then he needs a career. So he’s heading down the ‘hotel’ path like his uncle.

You also had a role in the critically acclaimed Australian film Animal Kingdom.

Oh that was awesome! It was during my first few years of acting, so I wasn’t really aware of how hard it can be, and how to handle auditions. It kind of just evolved and then the film turned into something massive. I’m glad I didn’t know that before hand, otherwise I would have been putting way too much pressure on myself! David Michod was such a calm and considering director, and the whole experience was really cool. Animal Kingdom is certainly a handy thing to have on my CV!

You’ve done a few television shows in the US too. How does working on American television compare to Australian?

It’s definitely on a much bigger scale over there, which I don’t necessarily like. It’s very separate where everyone, for example, has their own trailer. I also found that by the time you get on set, you’re not as familiar with the cast, whereas here we’re all in the one greenroom where there’s a lot of bonding. Here we get to know each other a lot better and quicker. But apart from that, in America everyone is so professional and hardworking just like here.

Who’s the biggest star you’ve come to meet in the industry?

I’d say Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting) when I worked with him on the series Once Upon a Time. He was probably the one person I knew the most out of everyone on set, and he was such a lovely guy. He was both excited and humble to be working on the show.

Who’s your best gay mate?

Probably my brother! He’d be my closest gay mate. His community and friends up in Sydney are just awesome. He had his thirtieth birthday a couple of weeks back, and we were all partying up there.

Growing up as a Gen Y’er, did you ever see homophobia or discrimination toward gay people?

Yeah, at school the term ‘gay’ got thrown around a lot, and in a bad way. I think that always made it hard for young kids to come out. I don’t know what it’s like now, but I feel the more that people come out, the more likely we won’t be hearing that phrase anymore in schools. I’d notice it particularly when people would say it to my brother. Even friends would say it as a joke, but I would cringe thinking ‘something’s not right here’. Many don’t even mean it to be offensive, but it still becomes very awkward.

Have you ever been mistaken as gay?

I guess sometimes, when I’ve been out with my brother some guys will have a try (laughing). I’m not sure if that’s really mistaken or more of an assumption because I’m at a gay club!

Who is Tim Phillipp’s diva? Perhaps Kylie?

(Laughing) Well, I might have the category wrong, but I’m a bit of a fan of Christina Aguilera. Does she fall into the diva category?

She sure does!

I had the Stripped album, I think, because the video for Dirrty was just so hot! I went to her concert with my sister, and it wasn’t as good as I expected because she was pregnant and it just didn’t quite have the pizazz. But it was still cool and fun.

What’s the campest music on your iTunes?

Well, as kids, we used to all share a computer, which meant shared music. It may be one of the first telltale signs that my brother was gay, but he had this song Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy! I remember him playing it and thinking, “Josh! Josh! Just come out!” (laughing). It did have a pretty good beat!

You’re in great shape. What do you do to keep fit?

Thank you! Well I go to the gym, and I play mixed netball, which is so much fun. Recently I also joined a Pilates studio with my girlfriend. With gym it’s just weights, but Pilates is more about resistance and high reps. It’s very different training and I’m really enjoying it.

This is our underwear issue. Are you a jocks, fitted boxers or commando kinda guy?

Fitted boxers. No particular reason other than they are comfortable, and on the beach it’s boardies for me. I know my brother’s in the Speedos club, but I’m not there yet. They don’t leave much to the imagination and I’d feel more comfortable leaving it to the imagination!

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

Two names come to mind. My agent Aran Michael and in the early stages my first drama teacher Ann Peters. Ann’s always helped with my acting and Aran helped me sculpt my career.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to break into the entertainment industry?

The beautiful thing with actors is that we don’t have a shelf life like, say a musician does. They have to hit it quickly, whereas actors can do it forever and you might get your break at twenty, forty or sixty years of age! So if you want to act, just do it. Go to classes, read scenes with other actors, get involved with films and keep doing it. If you keep at it, it’ll keep evolving into something bigger and better.

What has been the weirdest moment or situation for you on the Neighbours set?

Just the other day Daniel was lying on a gurney in an ambulance going to hospital. I don’t want to give too much away, but that was certainly surreal. I also think working with Ian Smith (Harold Bishop) is kind of surreal too, because he’s such a specific character with his little mannerisms that are so unique to him. It’s all ingrained as his performance as Harold. I used to watch the show as a little kid and then here I am doing this scene with him, playing his grandson. It’s bizarre!

Maybe one day Kylie will return to the show and that would really be bizarre!

Oh that would be totally surreal! Fingers crossed!

Neighbours screens weekdays on Network Ten