Interview
Courtesy of Ozemag - view website.

STAR PROFILE with Home And Away star and recent It Takes Two finalist, Paul O'Brien
By Evette Henderson

He's the copper in Summer Bay but more recently, Paul O'Brien, has probably never put himself on the line more seriously than by showing the rest of Australia his singing talents (still a working progress according to him).   I say that with the most respect because I don't know if I could have done it. Week after week, put down after put down and still Paul soldiered on! The results ended up speaking for themselves though as he made it to the quarterfinals.   So why does a busy and successful actor take on such a public singing challenge when they've never had any lessons before? Would you be able to see yourself through such a vulnerable situation?   Paul gives us a total 'behind the scenes' look at It Takes Two and opens up about why he took on one of his bravest creative challenges so far.

Congratulations on making it to the quarterfinals of 'It Takes Two'. How did that feel?

It felt great.   I was really stoked.   It was very exciting.   I was kind of delirious heading to work today. I have so many mixed emotions.   I guess it was definitely my turn to go because the other guys are fantastic singers.   I was only learning to sing on the show but at the same time there's now time for other parts of my life.   New adventures.   It's pretty much who I am really.

Did you expect to make it that far?

In my head I really wanted to make it to the finals but then when I realised the competition I was up against I was stoked that I got that far.   I was happy and I couldn't ask for anything more - especially the way the dynamics of the show worked out. I also decided to do the show to learn how to sing and get my profile out there.   All of those aspects came into it when the judges gave me low scores because the public got behind me with the mental trauma I faced when I tried to build myself up as I was put down.   It was my goal to get out 'there' and slowly get better and improve.   Just being able to sing my final song and smile at the same time was one of my biggest conquests. It worked out well.

Why do you think the public got behind you so much?   Was it because of your Home And Away profile?

I think there were a few elements and that was certainly one.   The other one was that they wanted to see me do well and pick myself up and not be affected by the judges and their torments.   I worked for the people and that got me through.   In my eyes I was thinking why do I even want to do this?   Trying to bounce back from humiliation and working an everyday job can be a lethal combination.

It ended up being a bit like people barracking for the underdog.

Yeah I guess it was and it was great to be a part of that.   I had people at the airport approach me and text messages every night encouraging me to keep going on the show.

So you took the singing challenge on to learn singing and increase your profile?

Yeah.   For the experience as well.   When you do an everyday job as well you think wow that's a lot of work.   I mean I've been on Home And Away for three years now. It's really added up.   And because I do a lot of story lines that are heavy I haven't been able to get any time off work.   After a year it's nice to do something else as well, like a film for a week or two.   So I haven't been able to do that and to do the show was cool.   It was another creative field that was challenging me to the edge.

Is that what your always looking for, something to push you to the edge?

Always.   I love the idea of doing things that scare the hell out of me and then it's mission accomplished times ten.

You have a weekly send off party for the show when someone exits, is that right?

Yeah, we have one after each night.

How did you feel at the party?   Was it relief?

I was actually smiling all night, even on stage when it got down to the bottom two.   By then I was just so relaxed and thought whatever happens, happens.   By then I was so relieved.   It's been quite stressful trying to learn lines every day and then going on stage to try to sing.   To keep up was difficult.   I'm pretty tired at the moment.   I need to catch up on sleep.   I've been living out of a suitcase in and out of hotels, it definitely takes its toll on you.   All the guys are feeling it, without a doubt.

Tell us more about what your schedule is like.

On the Wednesday I wake up about 7am then go to the recording studio to put down your songs for the next week. We had a CD where Jade's voice would change and I'd practise with her.   Then record that.   That's one of the first time I am actually looking at the song.   It feels very exhilarating.   All of our songs are then fine-tuned.   I'd have to learn my lines for the next morning.   Then I'm straight on a plane and there's a tight turn around.   Then I would go straight to work.   Working to 8pm finishes or even 11pm finishes.   All around there.   Then it's usually back to work at 7am on the third day, which is the Friday.   I got to a point where I was doing 16-hour days consistently.   That was even on weekends.   I tried to relax while still doing 4-8 hours of work.   I had to organise my car and washing my clothes around that.   Then I'd have to pack my bags again.   Sometimes I didn't even have time to unpack my bag, it was from one week to another.   I was just recycling my clothes.   I had to reinvent myself.   My idea of a weekend was reading a book.   That was my time out.   And that's how it goes.   That's my life.   It inspired me to read to do something like I've always wanted.

So you were getting flown around to other place?

Yeah.   I was doing publicity stuff in between.   The Good Friday Appeal was one of them.   I was flown back to Melbourne.   By the time you do one of those it's Saturday.

How nervous were you singing in front of so many people?

Terrified.   Even on the last night when I sang my first song I was nervous.   The rehearsal was great.   But on the night it came out totally a different way to what the rehearsal.   It was funny.

I guess you've got to just keep going.

Absolutely.   I'd find myself at home exhausted thinking I can't do this.   But then I'd think I've got to do it.   Regardless of who you're going to be on stage trying to sing, I had to find motivation.   I might go down terribly but at least have a go.

How was it singing songs you didn't have a musical interest in?

Hard.   Not having the knowledge of the song was hard.   It was hard to sing.   Then finally to get the song sounding great and singing it in front of people I was thinking was okay.   But to sing it on live television was pretty average.  

It must be frustrating.   Are you hard on yourself or do you try to be kind?

I was terribly hard on myself.   But then towards the end it was getting easy.   We were singing songs in my key.   There were certain styles that suited my voice, so I was getting educated in the end.   It made me come to terms with a lot of it and so I stopped beating myself up.   I was learning a song in four days and thought it's easy for it not to sound so good.   I said to myself I can do it.   It was above board but I'd know in myself what was wrong with it.   Preparation is everything.   When I did so much preparation I was 50% better.   I just had to relax.   And the day before you'd have to learn dance moves as well.   You'd go through it five times.   But that's the nature of this industry I guess.

You probably have a new respect for singers now?

Absolutely.   I'm passionate about music now.   There's so much to it, it's beautiful.

And you have your second Logies nomination this year?

I do.   A Silver Logie.

That must be exciting for you.   Do you think this competition will affect the outcome of that?

I thought that yes it would.   But the voting had stopped a month ago.   If the voting was still going like previous years the voting gets down to the final five and the audience gets to vote again.   If it had happened that way this year I think it would have been a real driving force.   But unfortunately this year was different for It Takes Two so it's anyone's trophy really.

Does that play on your mind when you're working?   To aim towards a Logie win?

It does, yeah.   It's my motivating force.   You get worn out with Home And Away.   Being the only copper in the Bay I tend to find myself quite busy.   So it's about trying to find that extra edge in learning that scene and making it even better.   I'd say to myself I know it but let's nail it.   I actually had 'Silver Logie' written on my mirror.   And 'It Takes Two final' as well.   I had all these plans set up.   So having a nomination really helps.

So you're a believer in Law of Attraction?

Absolutely.    It's what's got me to where I am.

Your life sounds really intense.   How do you cope?

It is.   I'm not going to lie to you.   It's just one step at a time.

It's not always glam is it?   It's not always red carpet parties and so forth?

It's not much of that at all.   Even if it is a red carpet party it's almost like going to a fancy restaurant but you're actually in the kitchen.   You're at a fancy restaurant but it's the nuts and bolts.   It's drama; quick you've got to be here, look pretty in a photo there, interview here, and signing this and that.   It's really tiring.   The best way to get through it is to look at what you have and be appreciative.   It's crazy.   There's so many things happening.

What's on your career agenda?

I have a plethora of things that I want to give a go.   A few business ideas, finish my body boarding DVD, and at the moment I had a t-shirt competition where girls design a logo and I had to sell the singlet and make money for the charity who I sponsored for It Takes Two.   Then to do another panto in the UK in December.   So I'd like to catch up on all of those things.   Then continue working on my acting; do some acting classes, cooking classes, and keep surfing.   And reading books is my new thing.   So I'd like to read more.  

What do you like reading?

This is the first book I've ever bought in my life.   I've only ever bought two books in my life and that was for school.   I usually buy books on CD.   I'm reading Richard Branson's autobiography.   It's a good read, I'm about half way through.

What was your first pantomime?

Aladdin.   Now I've been offered Robin Hood.   Another company has offered me Jack And The Bean Stalk.   We're at negotiating stages.

Is doing a pantomime an inevitable step having been on Home And Away?

It kind of is and it isn't.   You tend to have to fight for it.   Work towards it.   Even the one I did last year was really hard work.   I walked away from it wondering why did I want to do that?   That's in addition to learning my lines for Home And Away.   It was a massive story line at the time and someone had to die in it.   I had to cry every night.

You were rehearsing to cry?

Yeah.   Then I flew over and was doing the panto but I didn't get time off work.   I did the play the next day.   I landed and then went straight on stage.   I had to self learn it.   It felt impossible but I got there and achieved it.

Typically, Paul then had to quickly end the conversation because he had to work.   He was ever so obliging as to fit our interview in when he had 20 minutes to chat while making his way over to the studios.   THANK YOU PAUL!