12 Questions
Mark Hadlow has picked up his dancing shoes for Shortland St — The Musical. The star of screen and theatre is annoyed by the treatment of Sir Peter Jackson’s World War I exhibition
You’re about to appear in
St — The Musical. How have the rehearsals been going?
I’m knackered. I last danced in a show nine years ago, in Oliver, so it takes me a bit longer to pick up the steps. Chris Parker is my mentor. I stand beside him, trying to copy what he’s doing but there’s a problem: he’s nearly a foot taller. I’m playing Sir Bruce Warner and Michael McKenna but I won’t be doing an homage to the original characters. It’s more a pastiche of the 90s, soap operas and iconic moments from the show.
Which role are you most wellknown for?
Willy Nilly or the Billy T James Show. I played Ilona Rogers’ Australian brother, Greg. I watched the Christmas episode last year and was surprised to find it wasn’t bad at all. I think it was ahead of its time.
You were Dori the dwarf in all three Hobbit films. What was your favourite fan moment?
We went to all these wonderful conventions filled with Tolkien fanatics from every country possible. My favourite moment was at the first Hobbitcon: as the lights went down all the dwarfs sang Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold. When it finished, you could’ve heard a pin drop. We
You played a soldier in Sir Peter Jackson’s Great War Exhibition in Wellington. Are you concerned about its fate?
I find it unbelievable that it’s all going to be dismantled. There was so much work involved and what he’s created is world class — the diorama of Gallipoli and the trench experience. It’s all coming out because organisations couldn’t collaborate
and keep it going. I cannot believe how dumb we are sometimes.
5 Most of your work has been in Wellington and Christchurch, yet you live in Martinborough?
We left Christchurch after the quake. My wife Jane was right in the middle of it. She had to walk home through chaos, tragedy and disaster. It affected her considerably. I was on the set of The Hobbit, so my family flew up to Wellington to live with me and I went down with a truckload of supplies donated by Peter, Fran, Philippa and the production team.
6 You’ve worked with Jackson several times. Is he unfairly maligned?
Very much so. It’s easy to pick on successful people. Hello — welcome to tall poppy syndrome! By jingo, it annoys me. We have so many talented New Zealanders and we’re so good at tearing them down. The actors union? No, I’m not going to talk about that because I have friends on both sides. I will say that I care immeasurably about the protection of my craft and the next generation of actors.
7 Your 21-year-old daughter Olivia does film and TV work. How did you feel about her entering the industry?
I didn’t want to encourage her too much because it is such a hard graft. I’ve been doing it for 40 years and it doesn’t get easier. Starting out now is even harder because you come out of drama school with a huge debt. For me, it’s a craft you learn through experience. I learnt the ropes from being in a theatre company.
8 Have you always been able to support yourself as an actor?
Yes. I did work as an event manager for five years but still acted during that time. I was creative director of the Navy’s 75th anniversary. I got to direct their complete history abridged on HMNZS Canterbury. It was fantastic.
9 Growing up, when did you first become interested in acting?
Dad was a chaplain for the Missions to Seamen. When he was posted to Madras I was sent to an Indian boarding school at age 6. We didn’t have TV but we went the cinema a lot. I saw Battle of the Bulge 18 times. We’d stand and sing the Indian national anthem before it began, and I still know it. I found a record of the comedy duo Wayne and Shuster and listened to it over and over until I’d learnt the sketch Rinse the Blood Off My Toga by heart. At 11, I got to perform it in front of 100 people in a church hall.
10 Did you always prefer comedy acting?
When we moved to New Zealand, I boarded at Christ’s College. The prefects caned and you had to find a way to survive. Mine was by performing and being funny. “Do something funny, Hadlow, or I’ll punch you,” they’d say. I had this little flicky-finger thing I’d do. My heroes were David Jason and later Robin Williams.
11 How did Robin Williams’ death affect you?
Hugely. I was opening my one-man show, MAMiL, in Auckland at the time. After that night’s performance, an audience member said the way I played all nine characters was reminiscent of Williams. Perhaps I was channelling him that night. I’d seen him perform in Christchurch. His energy and passion was mind boggling. It’s a great, great loss.
12I How did you meet your wife?
met Jane in the driveway of our apartment block. She was putting the rubbish out and I was taking the mower out of the car. I had tickets to the races and invited her, not knowing she was actually a thoroughbred trainer. We’d both married previously, so are a blended family with three kids. We’re good friends with our ex-spouses. I’m actually staying with mine and my daughter while in Auckland for Shortland St — The Musical. It’s perfect.