Date with Kate

DATE WITH KATE: ROB MILLS

5th May, 2013
Lunch with Rob Mills at Est Restaurant.

Lunch with Rob Mills at est. restaurant.

Singer Rob Mills has come a long way since his days on Australian Idol. Mills is playing Warner Huntington in Legally Blonde: The Musical in Melbourne and is set to perform the lead role of Danny in the new theatre production of Grease. Mills is also a contestant on this season of The Celebrity Apprentice. I caught up with the 30-year-old to talk about overcoming his fear of acting, earning his stripes in the musical-theatre world and how he hopes The Celebrity Apprentice will show Australia who he really is.

Did you ever think when you first started out that you would be doing musical theatre?

No, it was never really a dream; I just wanted to perform on stage. Doing pub gigs for years was great and then I realised that I wanted to do more. I got a taste for it when I did Idol but as far as musical theatre, it wasn’t until I saw a few shows and I was like, ”I can do that.” I saw Wicked over in London; I was sitting in the audience going, ”That is what I want to do!” I got a part in Grease Arena Spectacular in 2005, playing Johnny Casino, which was great fun. But I was like ”I want to be a T Bird!” so then in 2006 I thought, ”I reckon I can give this a real go,” and ever since then I’ve worked really hard on my singing and dancing.

Does the acting side of it come easily to you?

No. I did drama in high school but I quit at the end of year 11 and concentrated on music because I was really not so sure of myself [as an actor]. I think I was just too scared. I wish I go could go back and say, ”Come on mate, stick it out.” That is what life is about – doing things that scare you.

Did you have to earn your stripes in the musical-theatre world?

Oh, yes! I had to work really hard to even get an audition for Wicked and I remember my brother saying to me, ”Don’t read the blogs because they hate you.” The theatre community were like, ”How dare he come into this, he is from Idol and didn’t even win it.” But then I did the role for two years, I just worked really hard, night after night, to prove myself. And then all those reviewers and bloggers were like, ”he is surprisingly good”. I wish they could say ”good” without the ”surprisingly” but that is the next review!

What is the biggest challenge you had to overcome in musical theatre?

The dancing … I can move but I can’t dance. I pick up the steps slower than everyone else but I get there eventually. I will start learning the choreography for Grease before we start rehearsals so I’m prepared.

Is there anyone in particular with whom you didn’t get along in The Celebrity Apprentice?

I like to think I got along well with everyone. I butted heads with Roxy [Jacenko] a few times. I think her report card at school would say ”excels at stuff but doesn’t work well with others”. That is all.

What made you take part in the show?

For me, I really wanted to raise money for Reach foundation. Also, from what I’ve seen from the show, people get to see you, and I think there is still a perception out there of who I am as person, or who I was, and I just want people to see me as now, as grown-up Rob Mills, I suppose.

What do you think people’s preconceived perception is of you?

That I’m a party boy. A guy that hooked up with some chick 10 years ago.

Do you still get people asking you about Paris Hilton?

Yes, it’s the worst! It’s the worst when you have a girlfriend and they ask you and you’re like, ”This is my girlfriend.” Probably don’t ask that question!

Do you have a girlfriend at the moment?

No.

What do you look for in a woman?

Confidence, a smile and they have to be funny.

What do you do in your downtime?

I play footy; I play AFL 9s. I love going to the footy. I play the guitar and I like to snorkel in Clovelly when I’m at home.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Hopefully on Broadway. I will probably head overseas next year. The plan is to hopefully buy a property in LA after my contract with Grease and then have that as a base and go to auditions in LA and New York.

 

BITE SIZE:

WE WENT TO est. restaurant, Sydney city.

WE ATE Sashimi of yellowfin tuna; salad of spanner crab; John Dory with green peas, baby turnips, radishes, chervil, bonito flakes; wagyu scotch fillet with wild mushrooms and pickled shallots.

WE DRANK A bloody mary and grand vintage Moet.

ROB WORE Nudie jeans, General Pants T-shirt and Hype shoes.

 

For video see smh.com.au

Photography: James Bickwood.

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