Kristian’s feature credits include Scooby Doo, The Great Raid and Danny in Blurred.
On stage Kristian has appeared in the State Theatre of South Australia’s production of Two Weeks with the Queen, the Bell Shakespeare Company’s production of A Midsummer Nights Dream as well as the Haymarket production of A Lion in Winter.
Tell me in your own words about your character, Robert J Dixon, in Sea Patrol?
I play Leading Seaman Robert Dixon. He is the ships Radio Operator (RO) and is responsible for all communications on board. Intensely private, often misunderstood and complicated, his colleagues don’t know how to take him most of the time. After a troubled childhood Robert entered the Navy and likes the structure of life on a ship.
How is your character similar or different to yourself?
Well I’d like to think I’m a little more fun at a party! Robert would probably sit in the corner, hoping to be included in conversation and when it does happen he has absolutely nothing to say. I did notice Robert’s odd quirks would creep in when I was filming Sea Patrol (don’t worry I’m OK now). I think we both share a passion for our work.
What was the most memorable aspect of filming?
We were working on an exciting new show in some of the most amazing locations in the country. Highlights include travelling to work off the coast of Mission Beach in a rubber sided speed boat with dolphins frolicking so close I could reach out and touch them.
It was very cool to work on HMAS Ipswich alongside members of the Australian Navy. These guys put their lives on the line every day to protect our country. I had my fair share of danger. In one scene I had to swim in the ocean and at that time of the year the water up there is full of things that can kill you - blue bottles, irukandji jellyfish and sharks. My stinger suit (think Thorpie at the Olympics but with a hood) protected me from the first two threats but I was wetting my pants about the sharks. The Navy boys calmed my nerves and I got into the water assuming they’d put a shark net around the area. Instead I saw two men holding automatic guns scouring the water for man eaters. We finished the scene in record time.
What was your view of the navy prior to the show compared to now?
It was a real eye opener to see the Navy men and women’s high level of skill and the rigorous training. They put their lives on the line every day and I have an enormous amount of respect for what they do.
Any anecdotes that make the show memorable or different from other shows you have worked on?
The boys spent a lot of time fishing during their lunch break. I wasn’t very experienced so they encouraged me to have a go. Within five minutes I’d hooked something, something big. I struggled with the line for ages, Matt Holmes encouraging me the whole time, until I finally drew it to the surface. It was a metre long hammer head shark! We removed the hook, took a trophy photo, threw it back in - all the while David Lyons was having a water skiing lesson only metres away.
© McElroy All Media
