From beginnings in ballet to television hunk, Kip Gamblin is now suited, armed and dangerous! Matt Myers spent thirty minutes with his own Bodyguard.
What kind of research did you do for The Bodyguard’s Frank Farmer?
Well, I didn’t want to watch the film, because I didn’t want to be influenced. I’ve made that mistake before in watching someone else’s interpretation and, whether you choose to or not, it kind of sinks in and you end up taking on stuff. To me, Frank is a very grounded person who’s used to protecting politicians, but he’s dropped into an entertainment world equivalent to the likes of Kim Kardashian. He winds up working for people with enormous egos and at first he’s not comfortable, but through the relationship with Rachel (Paulini) he’s absorbed into it, sees the romanticism and basically falls for her.
Did you hang out with actual bodyguards?
No, but I did watch documentaries on bodyguards, and I know someone in the military, so I wracked his brain and did research into the physicality of guys in those sorts of roles. Frank is not your classic big beefcake bodyguard, and there’s actually a stillness and confidence in a lot of those guys, where they’re not showy. It’s almost a bit of a disguise where they can look like the banker down the road, but are also very disciplined, almost to the point of OCD. They’re very observant and trained to be on the game, but there’s a particular scene in the show where he lets that down and you see more of his human side.
What about fire arms training?
Yes, we had a professional guy show us what to do, and not to do, when holding guns, just in case some police or military come to the show. We have to get that part right! It was a lot of fun, because he brought about five handguns and all the guys were picking them up and playing with them. In fact I got a photo with three beautiful young dancers all holding their guns! I was going to put it on Instagram captioned ‘dancers with guns’ but thought maybe not a good idea. Dancers with guns? How hot can you get!
Who’s your diva?
I absolutely love Nina Simone, Eartha Kitt and Janis Joplin. I also love Courtney Barnett. When I was living in Melbourne she lived near me and I got into her before she exploded onto the American scene. I used to turn into a real fan-boy when I’d see her at the local Thai restaurant!
In 1999 you got to work with one of the biggest music divas of all, playing Brother Time in the Barbra Streisand Timeless Tour. What are your memories of that?
My memory of that was how all of my gay friends wanted to kill me, because it was the job that every dancer wanted! They were so pissed off because we were all up for it, and I was the lucky one who got to do it. But they’ve forgiven me since! It was actually a phenomenal experience to work with someone like her. There aren’t too many people these days who’ll come to Australia just to do a couple of concerts with 80,000 people at each. In fact, in terms of bodyguards, that was probably my first introduction to someone who had an entourage. When I think about it now, that was the first time I’d seen guys with earpieces who’d walk into a room three minutes before her. She had two bodyguards, two dressers, two makeup artists and so on. That was the enormity of her celebrity. Her husband James Brolin is a very salt-of-the earth bloke and when they finished the concert he wanted to drive to Melbourne and so they got a four-wheel drive and did it. They wanted to experience Australia as tourists, which I thought was fantastic. I can see why she’s drawn to someone like him, because her world would be so heightened every where she goes, and he’s the sort of polar opposite, ‘boots up on the table’ cowboy sort of guy.
How did you find Barbra personally?
There was a side to her that was really personal. When you meet someone with that exposure, you’re automatically thinking ‘Oh my god, how do I communicate with her?’ But once you get past the assistants and she’s staring you in the eye, she’s one hundred percent there, and that was really nice.
Have you ever had an on-stage wardrobe malfunction?
When I was a Kylie Minogue backup dancer for the 2000 Olympics, I completely ripped the crotch of my pants while doing a split jump. Thankfully a lot of it was not ‘rear’ to the audience, so not that many would have known!
There’s a stereotype that ballet dancers must be gay. Have you ever copped that?
I did when I was younger, but we’ve come so far, and male dancers are now much more exposed, where people have a better respect for the demands of what they do. Early on when I was about fifteen it was different. Even nowadays I may get the occasional ribbing from mates, but half of it is banter. People often ask if most male dancers are gay, but the fact is, in most companies I’ve worked, it’s about fifty-fifty.
Who’s your man crush?
Michael Fassbender! He’s an incredibly versatile actor, so strong and intense, and was so still in The Light Between Oceans.
We recently interviewed your Neighbours ‘screen son’ Ben Hall, who speaks highly of you. Was he like a real son?
Yeah he was! A lot of people said we passed very well for father and son. He was just a prince. This industry is full of egos and people trying to do their thing, but it was so nice to have a friendly chap, who was beautiful in every sense of the word.
Your mother Maxine was in the original Australian production of Hair. Was she an influence in you entering the business?
Oh definitely. That was the same production with Reg Livermore and Marcia Hines, and we always had the vinyl soundtrack at home, which was fantastic. I wasn’t born when mum was doing it, but my parents are a bit alternative with a lot of close friends from that period. So in some sense, I feel I’ve grown up around a lot of hippies. It could have been worse!
As The Bodyguard, you get to wear some sharp looking suits. Do you have a favourite look?
The three-piece suit that I wear is tailored to fit me and I feel a million bucks in it. I definitely embody the bodyguard in that outfit! It’s so good wearing those suits because I’ve been on Neighbours for the last four years wearing board shorts and other cheesy outfits. And of course I also get to carry a gun. I’ve got to say packing a pistol feels really good, especially around Darling Harbour, because I sense there’s a bit of an underworld hidden there!
What advice can you give to people wanting to study the theatrical arts?
Don’t ever stop dreaming and don’t listen to people who tell you that you can’t. Unfortunately there’s a lot who will, particularly in Australia. I’ve had so many people over the years say ‘Are you mad?’ But if I’d listened to that…well, I don’t know what I’d be doing now. I’ve seen so many talented kids who have self-doubt and wonder how they’re going to make it in the world, little alone this industry. I tell them don’t ever stop believing, and follow your dreams, because people are so quick to crush them. So many go to nine or ten auditions and give up, but it could be the eleventh one that gets you in the door.
All the dancers I’ve interviewed have odd stories about wearing dance belts. Do you relate?
(Laughing) I still have a couple of my dance-belts, because I’m hoping that one day I’ll get to wear them again! But, oh man, the funny thing is, when I first started ballet, I was actually told which way to ‘wear myself’ inside the dance belt! I was tucked the wrong way around for about a year before I got to Melbourne, where it was pointed out to me. You can either be north or south, and you’re actually meant to be north!
Jocks, boxers or freeballs?
I would be a freeballer if I could, but for me it’s boxers. At least with boxers it’s all about whichever way it falls!
The Bodyguard is playing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.
For more: thebodyguardmusical.com.au
