You might have seen Chris Broadbent on your TV screen recently. The Tasmanian-born actor has starred in A Place to Call Home and Australia: The Story of Us. Next up the Alexandria local will appear in Australian sci-fi feature SFv1 and has his sights on a role in long-running soap Neighbours.
How did you become interested in acting?
When I was still living in Tasmania I was surrounded by actors and musicians but my career was heading towards professional soccer. When I was 18, I broke my leg and could no longer pursue soccer so I decided to move to Sydney. About six months later I was scouted at a bar on Oxford Street and the agent said I should give acting a go and gave me his card. I didn’t follow it up but it got me thinking about the idea of becoming an actor. I soon enrolled in classes at the Actor’s Pulse in Redfern and took it from there.
What steps did you take to get to this stage of your career?
I studied the Meisner Technique at the Actor’s Pulse and graduated last year. In my last year of study, I focused on my acting craft but also made it a priority to learn as much as I could about the industry, particularly film and TV, so that by the time I graduated I knew the steps to take to get myself in the business. Soon I was doing a lot of work on projects like short films and student films.
It can be tough though. Sometimes I would have to get up at 5am and drive out to Richmond to film a scene and I wouldn’t be getting paid for it but I take everything as a new experience that I can always learn from. With a lot of graduates it can take time to get your foot in the door but I’ve been very fortunate to have had consistent work so far this year.
I’ve just wrapped filming a new Australian feature film with Hollywood actor Kellan Lutz, called SFV1 and directed by Shane Abbess. Other film and TV projects I’ve been fortunate enough to work on recently have been: A Place to Call Home, Australia: The Story of Us, The Spirit of The Game and Catching Milat. I also had a role in Slut: The Play by Patricia Cornelius for the Sydney Fringe Festival, which wrapped two weeks ago.
Why are you so passionate about acting?
I like the idea of storytelling and the opportunity to be able to give something to the audience. People watch theatre and films to see themselves and it’s great if they can relate to the character in the story you are telling because it will leave an impression in them.
What do you find is the biggest challenge when you are preparing for a role?
I guess it would be building the foundations for a character and figuring out who they are – how they think and act – and embodying that character. It is challenging but very rewarding.
Have you found it a challenge to establish your career?
There are always tough moments. You have to be realistic that there will be difficult times but if you are serious about becoming an actor, you don’t even allow the idea of giving up as a possibility.
Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?
Be prepared to work hard. There are a lot of people who want to become actors but you need to realise it takes a lot of commitment and hard work to make it in this industry.
What is in the pipeline for next year?
I am currently focusing on securing a role in Neighbours, which is really exciting. I am also focusing on the American market and am currently building contacts within their industry. My mentor and I are also developing the script for a crime genre feature film set in Tasmania. We have just sent off the first draft to a writer in New York to read over so that’s another exciting project we are enjoying working on.
What is it that you love about living in Alexandria?
It’s a great culture – it feels like home. I can walk down my street and have at least six people say hi to me. It’s really nice to have that relationship with your neighbours. And when I go to Social Laneway Espresso in Redfern and they don’t even need to ask me what I want – they know me that well there. It’s nice to have that.
