1. Why did you audition for the new series of Sea Patrol? When did you find out you’d got the job? What do you hope to gain from this opportunity?

Who wouldn’t want to audition for Sea Patrol!? It really is one of the best shows to be working on in Australia. We shoot in a paradise location with some of Australia’s finest actors and crew. Work never feels like work… we all have a ball. I was given the good news in July this year while I was working in a theatre production. I’m hoping to further my experience in the action/drama genre where I feel most at home on screen.

2. You’ll be replacing some much-loved characters. Are you worried about trying to live up to fans’ (or others’) expectations?

I’m confident fans of the show will grow to love Dutchy. He’s a well written character and a strong presence in the show.

3. How does Sea Patrol differ from previous acting jobs you’ve had?

Water makes a massive difference. Being confined to boats makes the logistical aspects of shooting difficult and the action sequences are much harder to orchestrate. It’s been a big challenge and a steep learning curve to tackle, but every second has been extremely enjoyable.

4. How are you settling in on set? What are the challenges of joining the cast of an established show?

There are always intense moments of apprehension for an actor when creating a new character and these are often magnified when joining an established group of cast and crew. Everybody else is already up to speed, comfortable working with each other and looking to you to come up with the goods. In essence, every show is a particular breed of animal with its own set of idiosyncrasies. There are lots of unfamiliar faces and its important to get to know everyone personally since you work so closely together. On top of this, getting your head around the character and successfully looking like you’ve been performing a particular job (in this case that of a navy buffer) most of your life, is definitely a massive test of your ability to learn quickly and cope under pressure!

These challenges become much easier to handle when you have a very supportive team behind you, a team that allows you to make some mistakes in the beginning and helps you to find your feet with understanding, forgiveness and an encouraging attitude.

5. Are you able to tell us a little bit about your character?

Dutchy’s a mysterious and complex character. At the core he is a lone wolf. He doesn’t seem to need any one else’s approval or friendships to survive and is seemingly confident and comfortable in his own skin. Interestingly, he also displays a great understanding of people’s behaviour and the forces that drive them as individuals. Which arms him with a good sense of humour, great social skills and the qualities of a leader. However there is definitely a vulnerable side to Dutchy that few people get to see. He is a perfectionist and sets the bar extremely high for himself and does not deal well with failure.