OUR SUMMER BAY HUNK COMES HOME
Matthew’s hit the acting jackpot
When Woman’s Day catches up with Kiwi actor Matthew Walker, it’s early in the morning, but already he’s in a cheery mood.
“It’s a good day to be a New Zealander,” declares the Hamilton native, who just watched his country win the America’s Cup and is relishing life back in his hometown. The 35-year-old former
Home and Away star returned to Aotearoa just over a year ago, after years of working in Australia and the US. He’s now joining the cast of Filthy
Rich for season two, starting this week on TVNZ 2.
While performing Shakespeare at the Sydney Opera House might sound to others like a major career highlight, Matthew assures us nothing can compare to coming home to work on a local TV series.
“It’s the best job I’ve done so far in terms of the production and the team,” tells Matthew. “It’s also been really great – all of my family are here. It’s so nice to have more than just a Christmas Day lunch with them. I can go have brunch with them on the weekends or grab a coffee with my dad, who’s now 70.”
His father was a big part of the reason Matthew decided to return. On one of his last visits back to Hamilton, his dad learnt he had cancer. Though he’s fully recovered now, it changed Matthew’s life.
“I decided to prioritise family time, so to also be working on a really cool show is something I’m enormously grateful for.”