Cover Story Sunday Telegraph, 24 Dec 2000

League Star Off To Acting School Exciting: Ian Roberts is delighted at being accepted into NIDA By Phillip Koch (Sunday Telegraph, 24 Dec 2000) Back to Articles Rugby league hero Ian Roberts is set to stun his fans after being accepted into the National Institute of Dramatic Art. "It has come as a shock," Roberts told The Sunday Telegraph. "but then everything that has happened in my life led me to this point." The massive forward learned he had been accepted into the prestigious acting course last week. To be accepted into NIDA is an extraordinary achievement for anyone, let alone someone with limited acting experience. Looking For Alibrandi leading man Matthew Newton auditioned four times before he was accepted by NIDA, which also rejected Sarah Wynter, who went on to star with Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Sixth Day. Roberts was one of only 26 people to be accepted into the acting course. More than 1300 people from around the nation applied and the rollcall of famous graduates includes Mel Gibson, Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchett. "I decided it was what I wanted to do about 12 months ago, said Roberts, who has spent the past six months studying and taking acting classes. "The whole auditioning process is difficult. "There is a lot of work just getting ready for the auditions. I didn't think I was going to make it." Past life: Roberts on the field 13 Tests for Australia - English-born, Roberts made his first grade debut for South Sydney in 1986. - Without having represented NSW or Australia, he was signed by Manly in 1990 to a massive contract. - Roberts was one of Super League's prize signings in 1995, departing ARL-aligned Manly for North Queensland. - After an injury-plagued few seasons at the Cowboys, he retired at the end of the 1998 season. - Roberts played nine games for NSW and 13 Tests for Australia, including the 1994 Kangaroo Tour.   And Roberts, who retired from rugby league in 1998 after playing for North Queensland for three seasons, insisted that acting was even more rewarding than playing for Australia. "The last six months have been the most exciting in my life - bar none," he said. It's a huge declaration from someone who has represented his nation and in state-of-origin. Not to mention outing himself as a homosexual at the peak of his career and then exposing his life in a biography. But he said rugby league now seemed like a "past life", even though he spent 15 years in first grade. "Did it ever happen?" he asked with a distant smile. "I'm so far removed from it, but I still love the game and everything I have I owe to rugby league." Roberts said auditioning for NIDA had also taught him about courage, and insisted singing and dancing for an audience was more difficult than rugby league. "I'm not as brave as I thought, he admitted. "I was in total control of the way I played rugby league and 80 per cent of it was reflex." He said there were similarities between drama and rugby league. Challenge: Roberts rehearses his lines   "They are both forms of self expression," he said. Roberts said rather than rejecting league, he was acknowledging his maturity and immersing himself in something "exciting". "Acting is about truth. You have to be totally honest with yourself. It's about experience. It's about life. It's about looking into yourself. It's like continual therapy," he said. He said he felt far more exposed on the stage than he had at any point in his life, including divulging his sexuality to the world. "Getting up in front of people and exposing your emotions is very, very hard," Roberts said. "I have more fears than I initially thought. Even a simple monologue can be a challenge. To get it right is the most amazing adrenalin rush. "I can't explain it. When you do it right, it is so exhilarating. It's about daring to go that extra step. I've always wanted to do it. but it is having the balls to get up and do it" Roberts said football and the international attention his life attracted had given him the strength to pursue his childhood dream. When asked about his experience on the stage the 35-year-old gay role model said: "Well, I acted straight for 25 years." But he actually already completed one professional acting gig after being cast in a multi million dollar Hollywood blockbuster - even if he won't talk about it. The rookie actor was chosen from thousands for a bit part in Star Wars: Episode Two, but his role is still cloaked in secrecy. "I can't talk about that." Back to Articles