Actors 0

Ben Hall

By Matt Myers · On September 2023

Having left Ramsay Street, Ben Hall’s latest role is Sam Phillips, the man who discovered Elvis! I caught up with the charismatic actor.

Tell us about your character Sam Phillips in Elvis: A Musical Revolution.

Ben Hall: He’s a lesser-known character from the Elvis Presley story, but he discovered Elvis. He was the owner and founder of Sun Records in the Memphis recording studio. Apparently, Elvis stumbled in one day to record a song for his mother’s birthday. Sam was trying to come up with a different sound. He had been primarily recording black artists but given the state of affairs with prejudice, he wasn’t getting very far. He wanted to find someone with the feel for rhythm and blues blended with a country sound. He ended up becoming known as the grandfather of rock n’ roll. He also discovered Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Howlin’ Wolf!

How did you prepare for the role?

I started with his biography, which was written by his friend Peter Guralnick, and is quite detailed. There’s also a lot of photos and recordings, but I started from a vocal perspective once I had some background of where he was from. He had a very particular accent and sound similar to Elvis. That also evolved with some physical traits. He was a workaholic and became dead broke with anxiety to match. He even took himself off to get electroshock therapy.

Ben Hall

Are you an Elvis fan?

While growing up, my first impression of Elvis was of his later years and the decline. The overweight and drug-affected Elvis was what kids talked about in the playground. It wasn’t until the recent film and doing this production that I gained a greater appreciation for just how incredible and unique he was – particularly throughout the late Fifties and early Sixties. And he was just so damn cool! What’s nice about this musical is that we focus on that part of his life. It’s his rise to fame rather than the decline, which is a joyous thing.

So, are you Elvis, Beatles or Sinatra?

Well, as I also play Frank Sinatra in the show, I probably lean towards him. But I do love elements of each. As Frank, I do a duet with Elvis from when he appeared on Sinatra’s television show in 1960 following his national service. Playing both characters is interesting as they have different accents and physical appearances. Sam has a more imposing and tense energy with a deep Southern feel, whereas Frank has a more transatlantic New York sound. I make sure they’re distinctive. Fortunately, they were anyway!

“I’m always learning something new from my gay friends, whether it’s a new dance move or something more important.”

You recently played cricketer Mark Waugh in the Shane Warne miniseries Warnie. What was that experience like?

It was a great and a real honour to play an Australian sporting icon, and one known for being such an elegant batsman. Plus, I got to work with friends and a lot of the crew had come off Neighbours. I’d worked with the director Geoff Bennett previously on the Brock miniseries and was at WAAPA with Alex Williams who played Shane Warne. So, it was a nice little reunion.

Ben Hall captured beautifully by Neighbours co-star Takaya Honda

You also had a regular role as Ned Willis on Neighbours and appeared in the final episode. What are your thoughts reflecting?

I really enjoyed being a part of the ‘final’ episode. I was meant to be a part of a larger storyline, but I was working on the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man at the time, so I only popped into Ramsay Street for a day. I loved seeing everyone. It was nostalgic but also bittersweet. They did a great job ticking all the boxes for the fans, wrapping it all up in a very succinct and honourable way. Over the years Neighbours has employed so many people and brought joy into millions of living rooms. It’s great to see it back!

“Neighbours was a real party period and we’d usually hit the Sircuit Bar in Fitzroy.”

Tell us about working on Better Man.

I initially auditioned for Robbie but was outgunned by the incredible Jonno Davies from the UK. Fortunately, they asked me back in to help read with the audition process and that led to understudying Jonno and shooting all the second unit motion-capture footage which included a lot of the special shots and sex scenes. It turned into a bigger role than I expected, and I loved being involved in the making of the film.

On Neighbours, your character Ned’s mother was played by singer Natalie Imbruglia! That’s a bit trippy!

Yes, it’s a nice lineage to come from! She must have had me quite young (laughing). There was a moment in the final episode where we speak to each other. I wish we’d been able to do a bit more with it. I love her music, particularly Torn which I grew up listening to.

Ben Hall as Mark Waugh in the Warnie mini-series

On that note, who’s your ultimate music diva?

When I was young it was Christina Aguilera and then it became Beyonce. My favourite Beyonce song would be Love on Top.

What about your irresistible burn-the-floor song?

I’m a sucker for Gold Digger by Kanye West. I like a bit of R&B on the dancefloor. It’s got to have a bit of a lyric too as I like to sing along.

Ben Hall as Mark Waugh in the Warnie mini-series

Have you been out clubbing much with your gay mates?

My time on Neighbours was a real party period and we’d usually hit the Sircuit Bar in Fitzroy and it’s still my go-to on a night out. While working on Better Man the ‘Take That’ boys and I went to a gay club, and they just happened to be playing a remix of Relight My Fire! That was pretty coincidental! Those clubs are always wild, but I’m trying to reign it in a bit these days.

You’ve played gay roles a couple of times now, such as in Falsettos and Only Heaven Knows. Have such roles given you a deeper insight into the LGBTIQ+ world?

Definitely. Particularly with Only Heaven Knows where I made great friends. In fact, I think I was the only straight cast member there. I’m always learning something new, whether it’s a new dance move or something more important.

“The ‘Take That’ boys and I went to a gay club, and they just happened to be playing a remix of Relight My Fire!”

At Only Heaven Knows you stood at the doorway collecting money to help support victims of the anti-gay purge in Chechnya. In our books, that’s a true straight mate!

Thank you! That was an important cause at the time and still is. We wanted to do as much as we could. It was a small way to help, but worthwhile to contribute in some way. That’s what’s great about the Arts and theatre world. We can do just that.

The last time we interviewed you, you said you’d turn for Justin Trudeau. This is our sexiest Men Alive edition. Anyone to add to Justin?

Justin was an easy one! I’m currently working with Rob Mallett and I’ll say him. He’s pretty damn incredible as Elvis. Maybe it’s that tight leather onesie? (Laughing) You’ll have to come to the show to see what I mean.

Rob Mallett as Elvis in Elvis: A Musical Revolution

Well, Justin Trudeau went viral in 2017 all because of his butt.

Now that would be some great publicity for Rob!

Who’s your current inspiration within the theatrical world?

A did some work the other day with Deborah Mailman on the third season of Total Control. I’m just amazed by her work. What she does is incredible, including what she does for her community. It was such a pleasure to work and chat with her on set.

Do you have a favourite quote?

One from Year Twelve drama always comes back to me: “There are no small roles, only small actors.”

What has been your biggest onstage or onset wardrobe malfunction?

I once did Xanadu with Matt Verevis and funny enough Rob Mallett too. We were doing a corporate promotional gig where we were all in roller skates and something happened where Mat took a dive, grabbed onto Rob’s pants, pulling them down to flash the entire crowd! (Laughing)

Ben Hall

Do you have a grooming tip?

I make a point to have good equipment for facial hair. I have a lovely old-school razor complete with timber handle and some particularly good electric razors. In theatre, I’m always tweaking between being clean-shaven to having a beard or moustache. It’s worth having good gear handy.