1. You played ''The Kid'' in the Matrix movies, you've been in two Stephen King films, now you're playing cricket captain Ian Chappell in Howzat! Kerry Packer's War. Is it intimidating playing an Australian legend?
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Actually sitting down with Ian took away the intimidation factor. It was great to speak to him on a normal level, and then I was able to focus on mannerisms, voice patterns and, of course, his on-field showmanship. It was great preparation, fuelled by hours of footage and sitting in front of a mirror, as well as hitting balls in the nets.
2. You were born around the time the Howzat! story took place. Which aspect of 1970s fashion do you love the most?
The bowl cut. My mum used to stick a bowl on my head and cut around it. When I first put that wig on, I had flashbacks.
3. What drew you to the Howzat! project? What looked exciting in the script?
The whole piece. It's such an exciting story all around, and getting paid to play cricket with a baggy green on … who wouldn't!?
4. At age 18, you launched your first club, Voodoo Blues, in Queensland. Now you're running wine tours in the Daylesford region. Have you always had a knack for hospitality?
I also ran a car-detailing franchise on the Gold Coast for a couple of years, so I have ventured away from hospitality. But I love entertaining people in any capacity, and there is something that always brings me back to hospitality. My fiancee and I recently bought a house up near Daylesford and we just love the people, the area and the local produce - I noticed a real lack of services for winery patrons up here, thus Daylesford Wine Tours was born. The idea of … showing people the area and telling them about the history and showing off our great local produce excites me. And we have more than 35 medal-winning wineries up here that easily compete on the world stage, dating back to the 1850s.
5. What's your favourite tipple at the moment?
It's hard to knock off an old-world barolo, but Cam at Passing Clouds, about 15 minutes from here, has produced a world-class cab sav with a small touch of merlot/[cabernet] franc called The Angel. It is heavenly.
6. Your next role is as legendary Australian artist Sidney Nolan. What are the main similarities and differences between Ian Chappell and Sidney Nolan?
Their ideology and trailblazing qualities set them apart from the field. They both had such strong personalities and freakish talents. I'm so honoured to play two Australians who have shaped our history - two Aussies who had a big swath of … tongue-in-cheek humour.
Howzat! Kerry Packer's War premieres on Channel Nine tonight.
