JAMES STEWART ‘I’VE GOT THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD’
James Stewart – or Jimmy, as his close friends call him – reveals how important the company you keep is. Working on a show that airs throughout the year, with only a few short breaks, your cast and crew become family.
‘On set, we are a team. When you’re working 10 to 12 hours a day, and on the odd occasion, 20-hour days, you need to be surrounded by people who are “match fit” as I like to call it,’ the father-of-one adds. ‘Jake and Rohan are two examples of the calibre of talent on this show. They set the benchmark for everyone else – they’re just absolute legends.
‘Rohan and I are the same age, we have such similar taste, and the same goes with Jake. We’re just that bit more grown up than some of the other members of the cast, so it’s nice to have that common ground.’
Admitting that this is ‘the best gig in the world’, Jimmy also notes that with the demanding schedule, it can be tricky to take care of yourself.
‘There’s no show like this. No other show in the world shoots as much as this, so it’s really important to take care of yourself,’ Jimmy admits. ‘I try to go for a dip every now and then. I’ve noticed in this gig it’s important to look good, but I think of my brain as a big muscle and that’s the one that matters most.’
Working with your friends is something the actor doesn’t take for granted, and often when the director calls ‘Cut’, the Summer Bay gang can be found at a local haunt.
‘After a long day... we all love to have a beer and chill out,’ the 41-year-old says. ‘We have so much fun spending time together.’