Child abuse exposed
GYTON Grantley shot to fame in the first series of Underbelly, playing the role of one of Australia’s most infamous men, Carl Williams. As an actor, he loves to be challenged, and that was certainly the case when he took the role of another vile character, that of paedophile Kevin Guy in the new Australian film Don’t Tell which opened on Thursday, May 18. Filmed in Toowoomba and Ipswich, it tells the story of Lyndal (Sara West) who spoke up about the abuse she suffered as a boarder at a Toowoomba school.
“Just like Lyndal spoke out and took on the church, we hope this film will encourage others to talk to friends and family, and speak out.”
As someone who grew up in Brisbane, Gyton has friends from the area, so the movie was close to home for the former Anglican Church Grammar School student. “I’m a Brissy Boy and went to ‘churchie’ as a student,” Gyton says. “Lots of my friends were Toowoomba boarders,” he says. “My age group was a little after the events of the movie, but I do know lots of people from that time, and it was close to home for me. “It was important to tell this story.” However, Gyton says it wasn’t the main motivation, as there’s many reasons. “I’m also an ambassador for an organisation called The Polished Man, which raises awareness and revenue to stop abuse against children,” he says. “It fits in perfectly to play this part and help stop the abuse out there.” Gyton has been heavily involved in a few children’s charities over the years, and wanted to be a part of this project in the hope that it encourages other victims to come forward and speak up against sexual abuse. “It’s still happening today but what is changing is that people are having the courage to speak out…that’s why it was hidden for so long, nobody would speak up,” he says. Playing the role of a paedophile may not be to every actor’s liking, but Gyton says it was an honour to be involved with such a cast. “On any given day there’s a whole variety of scenes to be shot, and I knew most of the cast already,” he says. “I didn’t get to work with Jack Thompson but I did meet him at a recent film convention, that was such an honour,” he said. Don’t Tell is in selected cinemas now.