The Aussie actor tells Craig Bennett he’s glad his career never reached the dizzying heights of his 80s co-star
Back in 1983, James Lugton had his first taste of stardom. Playing Goose in iconic Aussie movie BMX Bandits, he and his co-star – a fresh-faced, frizzy-haired Nicole Kidman – were both just starting out.
Almost 30 years on, Nicole is Hollywood royalty, while James has kept a low profile. Now, at 45, the actor insists he’s happy to forgo Nic’s fame… if not her fortune.
“I’d love the fortune!” laughs James, “but not that degree of high-intensity fame. She’s in the spotlight 24/7. That kind of unrelenting attention is not for me.”
Since BMX Bandits, James has appeared on TV in All Saints, A Country Practice, Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo, and will soon be seen on Home And Away. He’s also worked steadily on stage, in short films and TV ads. But he’ll always cherish the memories of his first big gig, and “terrorising” Nicole between takes.
“Nicole was great to work with. She was 15 and I was 16 when we made Bandits,” James recalls. “We mucked around a lot between takes – she was very sweet with a great sense of fun.
Read more fascinating true life stories in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale Monday May 28, 2012.
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