'An amazing ride': Daniel MacPherson reflects on his career as he stars in a thrilling new theatre production
Aussie actor Daniel MacPherson has come a long way since his days on Neighbours.
The star, 44, is currently appearing in Susan Hill's The Woman In Black, a thrilling Stephen Mallatratt stage adaptation of the classic ghost story, opposite acclaimed actor John Waters.
The show is coming to theatres across the country, and is currently showing in Adelaide, before coming to Sydney in July and August.
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For MacPherson, he's back doing theatre for the interim, a form of acting he loves, after last year's 2:22 A Ghost Story.
In the early 2000s, he left Neighbours and his role as Joel Samuels to move to the UK, where he worked on the production Godspell and even landed a role in the show The Bill.
Since then, he's appeared in shows and films including Infini, Wild Boys, Strike Back and Poker Face and has had considerable success in Hollywood.
But MacPherson still feels like he's at the start of his career and being ever so humble, says he's still "learning" things on the job.
"I still feel like I am at the very beginning. I am still learning," he tells 9honey Celebrity.
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"I still have so much I want to do and explore... I do pinch myself when I turn around and realise that my most recent co-stars have been the likes of Jared Harris, Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth.
"For a kid from Cronulla who was picked off the side of a road at 17 by an acting manager, its been an amazing ride, but I am still just in love with the craft and the adventure of it all," he says.
Reflecting on the appeal and success of Aussie stars in Hollywood, he says that we all have the likes of Nicole Kidman and Heath Ledger to thank.
"We have a generation of trailblazers to thank for that," he says.
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"We [Aussie actors] have for the most part a great positive attitude, a great work ethic, and most of us in LA are there because we really really want to work hard, at the highest level, and those in LA see that."
MacPherson says that moving to the UK in his 20s and doing theatre honed his skills, saying it was his own "version of drama school," and something he'll always be thankful for.
"Neighbours was my first acting job ever, and I had had no training. I didn't even do drama at high school!" he says.
He says he "learned first hand from working opposite great stage actors like Edward Woodward."
"I have so many wonderful memories of that time in my life and the friendships that I made."
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He also says he will always be grateful for getting his start on the iconic soap, Neighbours.
"I will always be so grateful for what that show taught me and the opportunities that came from it," he says.
"I have been recognised as Joel from Neighbours by people like Lewis Hamilton, Frank Lampard, Prince William and a couple of Spice Girls. It's crazy!"
Speaking about his new show, MacPherson said he accepted the role after doing 2:22 as he was "itching to do more" theatre.
"It was my first time back on stage in almost 20 years, and I fell back in love with it," he says.
"The Woman in Black was a no brainer – an incredible show that has stood the test of time in London's West End, working opposite John Waters, with a script that is an actors dream. I have been very excited to get started on this tour."
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