When Brett Tucker was growing up as a country kid in Warburton, in Victoria, he would dream of acting in America.
But the reality of life in LA wasn’t what he expected when he moved there after drama school.
“I found LA quite overwhelming,” Brett admits to TV WEEK.
“There wasn’t a huge amount of work back then and I found it so full-on.”
Conceding defeat, Brett abandoned his dream of working in the States and retreated to Australia.
“I thought I’d blown it,” he reveals.
However, the universe has a way of throwing up opportunities just when you think your dreams are crushed.
Back home, Brett went on to land the memorable roles of Daniel Fitzgerald in Neighbours and Dave Brewer in local favourite McLeod’s Daughters.
It gave him enough traction to once again head to the US. And this time, things certainly worked out.
Brett won a leading role in US series Mistresses and featured in top-rating shows such as Castle and NCIS.
Now, he’s starring in Aussie show Newton’s Law, alongside Claudia Karvan.
“Working in your own country is kind of a relief, to be honest,” Brett says. “This show is uniquely Australian and I’ve missed being part of the industry.”
Despite enjoying his return to home soil, Brett was straight back on a plane to New York when filming wrapped on Newton’s Law.
He will next be seen in the popular US series The Americans, alongside Keri Russell.
Brett talks McLeod’s Daughters
“When I joined the show, there were already two big dudes – Myles Pollard and Aaron Jeffery. The show already had their leading men, and then I’m 188cm and I thought, ‘How is this going to work?’
So I tried to come in more as comedy schtick, which as a bit of an experiment. They already had leading men, so I was able to do it. I ended up on the show for a few seasons and I really enjoyed it.”
Brett with McLeod’s co-stars Aaron Jeffery (middle) and Myles Pollard.
