Stavva is the lovable joker of the group. At school he was the one with the whoopee cushion and the cheeky grin, and got away with it most times because his intentions were always good.
In Year 7, Stavva came to realise that his Italian heritage and unusual European-influenced packed lunches stood him apart from the rest of the kids – something he immediately embraced. He stopped using his real name, Ian, and adopted his mum's much sexier maiden name, Stavva. He developed a real passion for food and women and nothing much has changed since he left school.
Completely genuine and cheerful, Stavva has also morphed into a true "Italian stallion" by nurturing a love for hotted-up cars, driving a souped-up Monaro known as the Stavva-mobile. Although he loves to pursue girls, he doesn't seem to get them as often as he'd like and, in fact, he secretly harbours a desire to just find "the one" and settle down.
He sees the connection and passion between his parents as the epitome of the perfect couple but, of course, like the best Italian lads, Stavva fights with his sister, respects his father and really, really loves his mum.
As well as working in his family's café, Stavva also still lives at home with his mum and dad. His mum still cooks for him and even does his laundry, much to his father's dismay.
He's best friends with Jarrod's younger brother, Addo O'Donnell, and the instigator for Addo spending more time with the group.
Ryan Johnson plays Ian 'Stavva' Jones
Ryan Johnson graduated from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Academy of the Arts in 1999. Television soon beckoned with roles in the popular ABC series Head Start, Dossa And Joe, alongside Michael Caton and Joel Edgerton, and the Channel Nine series Young Lions.
In 2004, Ryan joined the cast of the successful Australian drama series Secret Life Of Us and, most recently, the gritty drama Underbelly – based on the Melbourne Gangland warfare.
His other television credits include White Collar Blue, All Saints and the US series The Junction Boys.
Ryan has had a successful feature film career, appearing in a number of Australian films including the two independents: Monkey Puzzle and All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane. His credits also include the comedy The Wannabes, directed by Nick Giannopoulos; the ACDC tribute Thunderstruck, directed by Darren Ashton; and the US blockbusters Son Of The Mask and Ghostrider, starring Nicholas Cage.
His stage performances include Sydney Theatre Company's The Beauty Queen Of Leenane, directed by Marion Potts, and the critically acclaimed Belvoir Co. B production, Jesus Hopped The A Train, directed by Wayne Blair.
Ryan is also a talented director - his directorial debut, Ninja, had a successful season at the Old Fitzroy in Sydney.
Image and text © BBC
|
