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This month’s Straight Mate loves Madonna, dancing at Mardi Gras and losing his shirt in gay bars! Meet Neighbours spunk, Benny Turland.
He loves Madonna, dancing at Mardi Gras and losing his shirt in gay bars! Meet the Neighbours young spunk.
DNA: Well done on your Neighbours role. How does it feel being on such an iconic show? Benny Turland: Surreal! I used to watch Neighbours after school and now I’m in scenes with Karl and Susan! I never even thought I’d be an actor. I get messages from my friends telling me they’re watching me on TV and how weird it is!
You play Hendrix Greyson, a rich brat! [Laughing] Who doesn’t love playing a brat and getting away with it? I have so much fun with the role because when you’re a kid you want to play up, but you’ll always get punished. Now I can do whatever I want!
What’s in store for Hendrix in 2020?
He goes from being a 17-year-old brat to almost growing up. He begins to come across, not so much as a spoiled rich kid anymore, but as kind-hearted and vulnerable. My mother also comes into the show [Jane Allsop] and down the track, a sister. It makes an impact on Hendrix and it’s been my favourite part of the storyline so far.
The spin off, Erinsborough High was intense. Did you enjoy working on that?
I can’t believe I was attached to the first spinoff series from Neighbours. I could relate to the topics they covered because I’ve seen a lot of my friends go through similar situations. Georgie Stone’s transgender character is an Australian TV first and we shared the first transgender kiss! I was asked if I’d be okay with it and I was like, “Are you kidding? It’s a privilege and an honour!”
Were the stories in Erinsborough High a turning point for Hendrix?
Yes. He realises that Jeremiah [Darius Amarfio Jefferson] has no friends and feels he has to be there for him. It was a really beautiful story. I’m hoping that Jeremiah will come back into Neighbours because at the end there was such a good foundation between him and Hendrix. I’d like to see their friendship continue.
Tim Robards, who plays your on-screen dad has also done this interview. How do you find working with him? Is he like a real dad?
Well, more like an older brother. In real life Tim and I are really close mates and train together at the gym every day. He pushes me hard and he’s so fit. He kicks my arse! We’ll also go to dinner at least once a week, have a laugh and a drink. He’s so much like a big brother.
I went to Stonewall with a group of straight footy mates. After a few drinks
I had my shirt off.
Tell us about your background in dance.
I grew up in a small country town called Bowral and started dancing when I was three. I was the only male dancer in the town and that in itself was quite a lot.
What do you mean?
People saying that dancing was for girls.
Were you labelled as gay?
Yes. I knew I wasn’t, and I had a lot of gay friends. I thought both boys and girls could dance… that anyone could. I’d say to them, “How can I be gay when you’re going into a football locker room and getting changed with all the guys? I’m getting changed with all the girls!”
Clearly it didn’t stop you!
The bullying wasn’t too bad, mainly because I had an older brother and sister who were quite popular. I’ve had mates from school who played football and have since come out and apologised for calling me gay. I’m just glad they found their path.
Your dance career, even for a kid, was very successful, wasn’t it?
I did the television show Young Talent Time with Rob Mills and toured Australia. Back home they all saw me on TV and that also made a difference. I went on to do X-Factor and The Voice, made really good friends and started choreographing for some of the artists.
You’ve also had roles in theatre.
I just finished Saturday Night Fever where I played Joey. We had the French production, which was completely remade with new choreography and won awards. I want to do another musical. I love everything about it – from the audience reactions to warming up beforehand.
In a way you are Billy Elliot!
Exactly! The story of Billy Elliot is very similar to mine. I’ve done ballet training my whole life, too. I never got the opportunity to audition for Billy Elliot because I was too young at the time. But two of my friends played Billy, with one going on to Broadway and performing for the Obamas at the White House.
Do you ever go out to gay bars?
I go to gay bars all the time, especially when I’m doing a musical. We have Mondays and Tuesdays off so Sunday nights we’re out and the best places open are gay bars. The whole cast would go, and I’d invite my friends. Sometimes
I prefer going to gay bars because there’s no big shot guys or people starting fights. It’s just love and good energy. And everyone knows how to party! When I was 18, I went to Stonewall [Oxford Street gay bar] with a group of my straight footy mates. After a few drinks I had my shirt off, swinging it around and going crazy. Being a dancer, I got inside the cage and just went for it. The place had great vibes!
You must have been hit on, too?
Oh, one hundred percent! I’d just tell them I’m straight and then become friends with them. Who’s your music diva?
I love Whitney and Janet Jackson, but I guess it would have to be Madonna. I love Vogue. Sometimes when I’m home alone, I’ll chuck it on and start vogueing! I’m trained in vogue dancing. I did an intensive with a vogue queen from New York who taught us how to whip our hair and everything.
Do you have a grooming tip?
Every morning I have a cold shower; as cold as I can go. I also do breathing techniques to wake me up. It’s mind over matter and puts me in a good mood. The shower gets the blood pumping and the breathing helps the diaphragm, especially if I have to start work at 6:30am with ten scenes ahead of me. I’m very particular. I even pluck my eyebrows.
Have you ever had an on-set wardrobe malfunction?
I’ve actually done a few dancing gigs at Mardi Gras and once I wore a white button-up shirt with no back. I also had short shorts and high heels and suddenly a few of my buttons popped so I just took it off. I thought no one would care. In fact, they’d probably like it even more. But the worst was when I was doing Saturday Night Fever and I had to do a round-off back flip with a slide. Just as I was sliding, my pants split up the middle. Luckily, I was wearing a support because my whole arse was on show to the audience. I got great reviews that night!
At the beach, boardies or speedo?
If I want a tan I’ll do speedos. When I go to the beach with Tim Robards he always wears speedos, and I think how does someone look that good in speedos? But I’m more a boardies person. I lived in Cronulla for three years and all my mates were chilled-out surfers with the baggy boardies.
Briefs, boxers or free-balling? Free-balling is awesome but I’d have to say fitted boxers. However, whenever I’m in boardies I don’t wear anything underneath.
Sometimes I prefer going to gay bars because there’s no big shot guys or people starting fights.