You Ask… Orpheus Pledger (Mason)
Home and Away’s Mason Morgan ...faces your questions!
Home and Away’s Mason has just gone back to uni to resume his medical degree – and star Orpheus has been studying hard to answer our reader questions…
“What was your first day on Home and Away like?”
Not like I thought it would be! It was on location, in the middle of nowhere, and it was about 40 degrees. It was amazing, but it didn’t feel like I was introduced to Home and Away properly, as I wasn’t on the set. It took a few weeks to meet the other cast members.
“Be honest – do you just spend all day on set surfing and sunbathing?”
Absolutely not! I used to have a tattoo on my arm – I’ve had it removed now – but the make-up department would take 45 minutes each morning covering it up. That meant there was no swimming or going near the water for me in between scenes. There are times where you can have long, stretched-out days – but you are in one of the most beautiful places in the world, so there’s not much to complain about.
“Which of your screen siblings is most like their character in real life?”
Olivia Deeble is quite like Raffy in real life – she’s pretty bubbly and in tune with the character. But it’s a hard one because everyone brings an element of themselves to the people they play. Luckily we all get on so well, which is great – it was nice not to have to come into the show alone. Our friendship is pretty unbreakable now.
“Do you spend as much time in the gym as Mason?”
I do like going to the gym – but not as much as Mason! For me it’s a way of life, so it’s not just about going to the gym, it’s about being active in general, and being tuned in to what things are good for you. I have such a crazy schedule, so sometimes it can be hard to fit in a training session every day.
“How did it feel to be nominated for Cosmopolitan’s Bachelor of the Year?”
It was a bit of fun, wasn’t it? I just try to be myself, and if someone wants to nominate me as Bachelor of the Year for doing that, then that’s something I can be proud of. There was a ceremony at a nice venue in Sydney – it was a great night out. It was definitely a positive thing and good publicity, so I was honoured to be in the running.
“Be honest – do you spend all day on set surfing?”
“What was the best thing about being in Neighbours [Orpheus played Noah Parkin in 2011]?”
Just being in Neighbours, I would say. It’s the same attitude I have towards being in Home and Away – they’re both shows with such raw histories, they’re the two most successful soaps in Australia.
“Do you prefer your hair when it’s longer or shorter?”
Well, it was long when I came into Home and Away, but I needed a bit of a change – and I thought going shorter was best for my character at that point. But now I’m getting to the point with Mason where I’m going to grow it a bit longer. It’s a long process, though, so it’ll take another seven months, I’d say.
“What’s your favourite thing to do when you’re not at work?”
I don’t get much downtime, so I like to utilise my days off to go and do things I haven’t done before. I’ll go rock climbing, or pick up a skateboard. It’s all about feeding the inner child for me, that’s what keeps me happy.
“Who have you learnt the most from at Home and Away?”
I’d say my screen family. Individually they are at different stages in their lives. They all bring strong characteristics to the show, and I’ve learnt a lot from all of them.
“Is it true that you started to act when you were just eight?”
Yes, I just decided it was what I wanted to do, and I was so lucky to have my mum on board. I stopped for a while after doing [kids’ TV show] Silversun, when I was 11 or 12. But acting has given me a great outlook on life.
“Who’s the biggest prankster on the Home and Away set?”
Probably me! I don’t like to be in situations where there’s tension, so I try to relieve things by having some fun. We’re all weird and crazy in this job anyway! I’ll tell you who else is a joker – Ray [Meagher, aka Alf]. He’s always so quick and witty, but he does it in a professional way. He’s on form!
“Do you fancy moving to the US like a lot of your former co-stars?”
It sounds a cliché – but when I look at my entire life and the depth of my dreams, that just seems like the best thing to do. It’s going to happen regardless, because that’s what I want more than anything. There’s no reason why I won’t do it; it just so happens that that’s what others have done as well.
“How was visiting London for Home and Away’s 30th anniversary?”
I’d always wanted to go to London! I was brought up watching The Bill on ABC, as it was my dad’s favourite TV show – so to get to go to London was amazing.
“What’s coming up for Mason?”
There’s a coming-of-age story in the pipeline. We’ve been throwing little bits in over my two years on Home and Away, all the ingredients – and now it’s time to cook. It’s going to be big!
“Is it true you started to act when you were just eight?”