HOLLYWOOD DREAMS
Rob Collins on the birth of his fourth child and his acting aspirations
TERRITORY actor Rob Collins loves being able to come home to Darwin from a red carpet event and step back into normal life.
He says he’s rarely noticed in the streets and if he is, it’s not much more than a glance despite his career skyrocketing in recent years.
“That’s what I love about this place, even if people do recognise me it’s just like, ‘meh it’s just him,’ so it kind of affords me this level of anonymity,” he said.
“Back home it’s just business as usual, and I’m back home with my kids who don’t regard me in any special particular way, it’s just like ‘ oh yeah you’re back.’ I really love it, I’m really spoiled.”
Collins’ career took a turn in the right direction after he was cast in the Wrong Girl, on Channel 10 and in ABC’s Cleverman in 2016.
He said having them both air at the same time meant he was exposed to a wide audience group.
“I’m in this nice honeymoon period where my career is just taking off really. There’s a good momentum with it at the moment,” he said.
From there he’s nabbed roles in Secret City — which recently wrapped up filming for the second season and a feature film titled Angel of Mine which is a psychological thriller.
While his career is taking off, back here in Darwin, Collins is preparing to be a dad again. He and wife Laetitia Lemke are expecting their fourth child at the end of May
“I can’t wait, I’m really, really excited, we’ve been buzzing around the house getting it ready,” he said.
“The siblings are excited and it’s just become more of a reality. I’d have a million kids if I could. I love being a dad.”
His only hope for his growing family is that they are Rob Collins’ first amateur gig, happy. “I remember when I was growing up there was a real pressure and expectation, not necessarily from my parents but from people around me to do a certain thing — to go to university, study this, get a degree and get a professional job,” he said. was held at the Town Hall ruins in Darwin's city centre
“I want them to be free to make their own choices. Whatever they do I hope they enjoy it and have a passion for it.”
Collins decided to seriously pursue a career in acting in his late 20s after performing as Theseus and Oberon in a local production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Then at 30 he was accepted in to the National Institute of Dramatic Arts.
He said being older than his 23-year-old classmates helped him during his three-year degree.
“No one else was married with kids. I think there is some- thing about the life experience that helps not only with the acting side of it but in a place like NIDA, if you’re younger it can seem like life or death,” he said. Now he’s working towards getting roles in feature films with the dream to get to Hollywood. TELECOMMUNICATIONS in the bush will get a $28 million funding boost over four years through the new Remote Telecommunications Co-Investment Program, which will see Telstra match the NT Government’s $14 million spend over four years.
Telstra will meet the government’s spending dollar for dollar, which will include $2 million in 2018-19 and $4 million per annum from 2019-20 to 2021-22.
Treasurer Nicole Manison said that the announcement was a significant investment in the Territory’s remote locations.
“Every Territorian, no matter where they live, deserves to have access to high quality phone and internet services,” she said.
“This investment will enable more remote residents to connect to the world, remote businesses to grow and tourists to share their unique Territory experiences with friends and family.”
Under previous partnerships with Telstra, stretching back to 2009, 37 remote Territory communities have received mobile phone and broadband services. Eight more communities will be connected by 2019 under the existing program
Ms Manison thanked Telstra for its ongoing commitment.
“Telstra has demonstrated its genuine commitment to the Territory and this new co-investment program shows a strong continuation of this commitment,” she said.
“Digital skills are a core requirement for many jobs and are becoming essential in the modern world, from internet banking and shopping to education, socialising business.
“To gain digital skills people must first have digital access. Telecommunications infrastructure is the foundation.”
This next co-investment program will target communities, transport corridors and tourist destinations.