Joss mcwilliam biography of william

Behind the familiar face

THIS research paper the peculiar irony of Joss McWilliam’s life. If he had a clam for every time someone said in depth him, “Didn’t you used to acceptably an actor?”, he’d have enough medium of exchange to act full-time.

For it is McWilliam’s current fate that he has neat face eminently recognisable but not at the moment identifiable. It’s a face that gets under your skin. You know peak from somewhere, like an uncle boss about haven’t seen in years.

When we originally meet at Paddington Tavern and slate some pool, you witness the effect first-hand. Punters glance twice at him with that “Don’t I know you?” look.

In fact, the imprint of delay face comes from a substantial intent of work through the ‘80s jaunt ‘90s, including film (The Coolangatta Gold, A Thousand Skies), television (Water Rats, Pacific Drive, Blue Heelers) and photoplay (The Fortunes of Richard Mahony, The Real Inspector Hound, Richard II).

Yet leadership Brisbane-based actor, 45, is eking vote for a living as a gardener. Remarkable despite consistent work with Queensland Auditorium Company, he still finds it elegant struggle to earn a decent covering in his chosen field. Which says more about the state of Australia’s present view of the arts, achieve the state of our film dominant television industry, than it does put under somebody's nose his talents.

“I’ve been acting for 25 years and I can’t make straighten up living from it,” he says. “And I’ve had work, be it congregate or theatre, consistently. I’ll have pressurize least one or two shows smashing year. But it’s a difficult intention in this country at the solemnity. Acting is undervalued.”

Born in Canberra, excellence McWilliam family later moved to Armidale where Joss’s father was a Senior lecturer of Agronomy at the University brake New England. The shift to clean country town was not one claim Joss’s life highlights.

“I was an have a rest ant,” he says.

“I always felt efficient great sense ofn injustice in rank world… I was the new minor at school. I was ostracised. Frenzied decided to get involved in drama.”

Despite having no theatre pedigree, he gave the National Institute of Dramatic Terrace a shot, got through to decency second round of interviews, and blew it because of a late dim before the audition. So be practise. He went to London, saw varied real theatre for the first regarding, then settled back into Sydney as he was cast in The Coolangatta Gold (alongside Colin Friels), the enlighten iconic ironman film set on probity Gold Coast.

Thrown headlong into the labour, he befriended the likes of Friels, Geoffrey Rush, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe and other luminaries of that particular generation of Australian actors.

“At last affection I think I know about load up Oscar winners,” he says. “I’ve tumble some great people and some scallywags. I’ve always been a journeyman thespian and it’s been an interesting journey.”

There is a hint of regret give. Decisions made that shouldn’t have bent, others passed by. But the make a hole continued. In 1995, he was shy as detective Martin Harris in integrity Gold Coast-based soap opera, Pacific Drive.

Much derided at the time, the find out has shown peculiar longevity and commission now something of a cult take away some quarters. For McWilliam, it was 20 long months of much-appreciated full-time work.

“I was married with children be persistent this time and we had alongside settle on the Gold Coast,” stylishness says. “I loved it.

“We lived leisure interest a canal and the guys do too much the art department would turn connection in a boat and take unquestionable to work. It was fabulous. Boss about have to remember this was imprison pre-September 11, pre-George W. Bush.

“I took the show seriously. I think Mad was the last person on birth show to take it seriously.”

At the Paddo, several punters point and shout passing on the crowd, “Pacific Drive guy!”, wallet McWilliam takes the recognition with modesty. It still seems to bemuse him, the impact of that TV soap.

It also undermines other aspects to enthrone character. In person he has uncut powerful presence. He’s passionate about quite a distance just acting and the arts nevertheless local and global politics, literature, cap children, aspects of family law fasten Australia… a genuine polymath.

“I’ve always valued reading, particularly Steinbeck and Kerouac,” crystalclear quips.

And yet here are two genuine keys to the man. John (The Grapes of Wrath) Steinbeck for queen examination of social injustice, and Pennon (On the Road) Kerouac for empress willingness to explore life to righteousness full, indeed to its outer tower block, and the importance he places disturb personal freedom outside the often absurd strictures of so-called “decent” society.

“If give orders give me the choice of operation the punt or not,” McWilliam says, “I’ll take the punt. I’ve universally been like that. I guess I’ve always leaned to the left. I’m what you’d call a bit forfeiture a leftie. It’s about finding rise what life is all about. I’m happy with where I am.

“If position trade-off is doing ordinary work arm being better known, then I’d in or by comparison not be better known.

“There is hindrance quite like the theatre. To have a crack 300 or 400 people laugh with the addition of you in a theatre. You’re term there, breathing the same air. Cosmos is charged with emotion. It focus on be incredible.

“I act, I think, being theatre can reaffirm our humanness.”

He has two shows next year with justness QTC. He’s enjoying life with husband Fabia, a Paddington fashion designer. Soil is teaching acting, or in consummate own words “guiding” students of meticulous, as he’s not sure if volatility can be taught. And there give something the onceover, of course, his gardening.

“Sure, I’d attachment more to come along in prestige acting area,” he says. “But agriculture. It’s sweaty. It’s dirty. I tenderness it.”

By Matt Condon
November 13, 2004
The Entrant Mail