hi chitty chitty bang bang fan,
here's an interview with the latest addtion to the cast
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(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)Jason Donovan
by James Ellis, January 12th, 2004
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: In the late 1980s, Jason Donovan could have been dusted with gold: Neighbours TV star, perennial chart-topper and boyfriend of Kylie. But fame had a high price; he had drug problems and sued The Face for claiming he was gay. In the late 1990s he bounced back with The Rocky Horror Show. He is now appearing as Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: How's things?
Very happy. It's a good place in my life. Coming back to play the Palladium is amazing. My reputation is still very much intact here.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Do you think it's not elsewhere?
I'm just having a laugh. It's not an easy show to do - I've probably taken on a little more than I thought I'd taken on but I'm going to be OK.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Any nerves about going back on stage?
I figure that whatever happens, no one is going to die. There's a certain apprehension about being right back in the West End - it doesn't get more West End than being at the Palladium, but no one is going to get seriously hurt. I'm just going to enjoy it.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: You're replacing Gary Wilmot. I'm sure you'll add a few ladies to the queues.
Gary's been gone for a while so essentially I'm replacing his understudy - but mate, you know I can't really answer that question.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Was doing Joseph all those years ago a help or hindrance?
A help. The show was amazing - they had to block off the streets outside the Palladium, there were so many people wanting autographs. For a year there wasn't an unsold seat in the house. I'll tell you what though, by the end, I was sick to death of it. I needed some real time out.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Can you justify the Beatlemania scenes around Neighbours?
Not really. The core of the craziness was the whole thing. A TV show with 22million viewers mixed with pop culture. It was a very potent cultural moment, but to try and explain exactly what the mix was? I'd be a very rich man if I could do that.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: What did you think of Dominic Mohan's Sun campaign two years ago to get you re-signed to a label?
I take my hat off to The Sun, Dominic and his team. It was a very nice gesture but it's one of those things you just can't take too seriously. No disrespect, but if my career depended on a newspaper campaign, I may as well be doing something else.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: A change for a red top to be positive though.
Yes, but I think that's because I've always been very honest about what's happening in my life. If I'm wandering in the wilderness, I'll tell people, as I will if I'm doing well.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Have you been too honest with the cocaine and grass revelations?
Perhaps I have, but life is a pretty rich tapestry. You shouldn't be condemned for being honest. I don't know how much it hurt my career but the opportunities I've had are not things I dwell upon. The one thing that I have never ever done is actually advocate the use of drugs.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: When you sued The Face, you returned the money to stop it folding. Why?
It was never about money. It was about an issue and the right to be interpreted in the right way. I think I made my point clearly.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: You sold more records than Jimi Hendrix in the UK. Why do people only remember Especially For You?
That record sold more than a million copies which is pretty much up there with the best selling singles in the world. It was with Kylie - an artist who is now incredibly successful, so it's an easy one for people to pin on me remembrance-wise.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Would you like to go back in the studio?
I do record a lot of music it just doesn't get commercially released. I can't focus all my energies on just getting a recording contract; there are things like Chitty and I've just finished a very successful TV series in Melbourne. If I were just to sit around and wait for the perfect opportunity for my music career I probably wouldn't have worked for the last ten years. In music, you're either incredibly fortunate or driven. My career has taken me to musical theatre and back to acting - had I had the opportunity to concentrate on music and maybe have more creative control earlier, it may have been more fruitful for me now.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: You seem very happy. What's the secret?
At the age of 22, my dreams came true. The bottom line is I was smart enough to invest a bit of money and be able to say to you, at 35, that I'm not panicking that I haven't achieved enough or that I'm not comfortable. I have beautiful houses both here and in Australia, I can travel well, I have two wonderful kids, what more could I ask for? Achieving a certain level of fame is great, but it also has big trappings with it. I've been through all that. Sure, I'd love to work on an A-list film in Hollywood and if it came about then great, but it's not something that I'm going to chase.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Could you not get Guy Pearce to put in a word for you?
Er, well no. I see Guy quite a bit and he's a great person but it's not my style to beg for favours.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: You, Kylie, Guy, what was it about that talent pool?
Australians have a raw ability to be different and we're not this little country at the end of the earth any more. We're a serious player in the world. Does that explain why we all did well? No. I think we were young and very enthusiastic. Also, in the UK, people crawl over each other to get where they want. In Australia there's a lot more loyalty.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: If you were doing it today, would you stay at home and not come over here?
I don't think you can. What you still need is something under your belt from home that does well. Mel Gibson had Mad Max, Guy had Priscilla, Kylie and myself had Neighbours. You need something to get you in there. I'd love to say to you that I love my job but I'm very rich as a family man -I'm quite happy growing vegetables in the back garden at home.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: What veggies do you have in the patch?
It's a turn of phrase - you know what I mean. It's just that I am not obsessed with the celebrity behind it all. Being a father changes you totally. You become a less selfish person who is much more dedicated.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Would you encourage your children to go into entertainment?
This business has made me happy and wealthy - I couldn't turn around and say: 'Don't do it.' It's their decision. If they want to, fine, but I won't be dropping them off at auditions. They can find their own way there. I can only tell them my experiences and then they can work it out for themselves.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Given the career ups and downs, ever thought about writing a book of advice?
I have thought about it. I was going to call it Pop Stars and Prop Stars but I finally decided people would figure it out for themselves.
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: What would Pete Waterman say if a young Jason auditioned for Pop Idol?
I've no idea. I wouldn't go on Pop Idol. I was asked to do Reborn In The USA and turned it down flat. I don't need to do that stuff - I'm not the sort of person who is still in search of celebrity.
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