GRABBING 30-seconds of quiet time was a key to Richard Roxburgh reaching into the psyche of Bob Hawke and producing “an absolutely extraordinary” portrayal of the former prime minister.
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The Albury-raised actor is the star of the television movie Hawke which will air tomorrow night after a frenetic 22-day shoot.
“The hair and make-up requirements on an any given day were tumultuous,” Roxburgh said.
“It was crazy what we were attempting to do in such a short period of time, but I would always try and grab a little bit of quietude whether it was just 30 seconds.
“I used that time to occupy the headspace of Bob, if you will, and find where he was at any given time.
“It was just about trying to settle myself a lot of the time.”
Hawke producer Richard Keddie believes Roxburgh has nailed the mannerisms, voice and depth of the former prime minister.
“The first time that he appeared with the new wigs on as Bob Hawke it took our breath away, we felt like the man himself had just walked in the room,” Keddie said.
“I thought it was absolutely extraordinary, perhaps one of the finest performances I have seen.”
Roxburgh, who has never met Mr Hawke, said he was “enormously proud” of the show which saw him go to the extent of studying the Labor statesman’s posture.
The Moulin Rouge and Blue Murder star said he did not want to end up with a “comedic rendering” of Hawke.
“The worst case scenario would have been ending up in a bad wig looking like Max Gilllies doing a Bob Hawke impersonation,” Roxburgh said.
Growing up in Albury with his parents John and Marie, Roxburgh said he was conscious of politics .
“I was never hugely clear where my dad’s political interests lay, I knew my mother was very pro-Labor all through her life,” he said.
“Albury was a very conservative town at the time, so I guess she was going against the flow.”
Hawke will screen at 8.30pm tomorrow on Southern Cross Ten.
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