.
 Main Pages

Home
News
Spoilers
Features
Comment
Reference
Interactive
Neighbourhood
Actors & Crew
Characters
Year by Year
Magic Moments
Episodes
Interviews
Articles
Multimedia
Galleries
Music
Links
Search

Message Board

.
Interviews > Ryan Moloney

Kent resident James Elliott caught up with Ryan Moloney (better known as Toadfish Rebecchi from Neighbours) in his dressing room at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, where he is currently playing Buttons in the pantomime Cinderella.

Is this your first visit to the UK? Have you seen the sights?
I’ve been here once before but it was only overnight so I just wandered around the cathedral the next day but it’s really nice here, I love it. I’ve been to London a couple of times but haven’t really done a whole lot in the way of sightseeing.

With a name like Ryan Moloney, could it be you have Irish connections?
Somewhere there, a long way back though – no idea where (laughs). [So you’re a true Aussie at heart?] Yeah, well and truly. One of our ancestors was the Roses and they were one of the first free settlers to buy land.

How did you first get into acting, Ryan?
Umm, I’ve been acting since I was eight doing musicals and comedies - there was a musical company that came to our school – they wanted to use it as a rehearsal base doing Oliver and they needed kids so asked if we wanted to audition, so that’s what I did – it was great fun. [And it went from there to Neighbours?] Yeah. Pretty much!

What would you have done if you hadn’t been an actor?
I wanted to be a fighter pilot, but I’m a bit old for it now, I don’t think they’d let me in! (laughs)

What would you definitely not want to do?
Probably work at the sewage farm!

What advice would you give to young people wanting to pursue a career in acting?
Most important, enjoy it, have fun and don’t take it too seriously. I don’t know what it’s like here – it’s more of an industry and I think there’s more chance to get work. Normally in Australia I’d say get another job as 90% of actors are out of work so you just do it for fun – you’re very lucky to make a living out of it, but I think it’s different here.

You certainly have made a living out of it and been a huge part of Neighbours since 1995 – what storylines have you enjoyed most?
I actually like the wrestling storyline we’ve just done – that was heaps of fun, every boyhood dream – to be a wrestler. [And the tragic death of Dee Bliss, your on-screen wife?] Oh yeah, off the cliff. That was great – I loved that, it gave me an opportunity to sink my teeth into something really decent – haven’t really had anything like that since! I’m living on the glory days aren’t I!

Most viewers can relate to Toadie, his sense of humour and straightforward character – how different is Ryan from Toadie?
We’re fairly similar I dare say, though my sense of humour is far more warped than his. But when he’s messing around that’s me seeing what I can get away with. We have a great laugh. [Are you allowed to improvise with the script?] We do that all the time – its wonderful and the writers think they wrote it! (laughs)

Who do you get on best with on set?
Blair and Paddy, that’s Connor O'Neill (Patrick Harvey) and Stuart Parker (Blair McDonough) - we’re like brothers.

How long are you written into Neighbours for?
Well, the contract’s up for another year and a half - two years or so. At the end of that time I’ll have a crack at something else. I never wanted to be an actor – it’s just something I’ve always enjoyed but we’ll see what happens at the end of Neighbours.

Is panto a refreshing change from Neighbours?
It’s completely different and I love it. It’s a new challenge so I’m really relishing the opportunity to improvise on the stage and learn from the other actors too. Although there are very long stints - sometimes with up to three shows a day, it’s great.

Where’s home in Australia?
I come from Melbourne, in the Yarra Ranges.

How do you think Australia compares to here in the UK?
I like being in pretty places like Canterbury but not a concrete jungle. This is a great place to wander around, take it easy and go for a nice walk. [Do you like the buzz of the City of London?] Well I haven’t much experience of it yet but from what I’ve seen it’s a great place.

You’re married now. How did you meet?
We met through friends of friends in Sydney – she was living there and is actually a Kiwi, and I just travelled back and forth from Melbourne to Sydney every weekend for eight or nine months, before she moved down. [She’s not an actress?] No, I wouldn’t go out with an actor, they’re insane!

Do you have any brothers or sisters? Have they led your way into acting or did they do something different?
I’ve got one older and one younger, and the younger one is in stand-up comedy.

Your star sign is Sagittarius, which indicates that you’re loyal, ambitious, intellectual and jovial. Would you say that’s about right?
Well there you go! I’d say that’s roughly about it … yeah! Not sounding up myself but that about sums me up! (laughs)

It was a pleasure to meet Ryan, who lives up to his on-screen character for being a thoroughly likeable character with a great sense of humour.

Interview by James Elliott. Added on 17th January 2006

Back