August 2006 Creme magazine New Zealand

Rhys Wakefield plays one of our favourite characters on Home and Away – sweet and sensitive Lucas Holden. Rhys has also been involved in one of the cutest love stories in Summer Bay; falling in love with the gorgeous Matilda, played by Indiana Evans. So, when we heard a rumour that the couple was actually dating in real life, we had to find out the truth! Stephanie spoke to Rhys about life, Lucas and love, and found out that sometimes you can believe the rumours!

How did you get your part on Home and Away?
I signed up to an agency and they gave me the audition, they gave me the script, and I went for the audition and it went ok…and then it was ages later I got a call back, and then ages later again I found out I got the role. It was so prolonged though, it was insanely prolonged!

How did you feel when you found out that you’d got the part?
A little overwhelmed, it was so unexpected. Surprised really. I wasn’t really thinking too much about it, like if I got it, if I didn’t, because so many things come along and you never get them, you know? So it was in the back of my mind. But yeah, when I found out, I don’t even know what I said, I think I was speechless. It was a little overwhelming! [Laughs]

Did you watch the show before you were on it?
I did a bit. When I was younger I used to watch it but then kind of phased out. So I was familiar with it, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the show before I started.

What was your first day on set like?
First day was with Robbie, Martha, Beth, Tony, Jack and Tasha. So I recognised a few of them. It was a little overwhelming, very daunting going into the first day. And it was freezing cold, it was the middle of winter and they were wetting us down because we were supposed to have come out of the surg…urgh! It was a funny day. It was actually a year ago today, that day. So I’ve been on the show a year now.

Happy anniversary!
Thank you! [Laughs]

What do you think of Lucas?
I think he’s an intelligent character when it comes to academic things, but he’s not the best at expressing his emotions and his feelings. He doesn’t really know how and what to convey to other people. But I think he’s a nice guy. He’s an average teen in some respects, but not so average in many others. [Laughs]

Do you think you’re anything like him?
There are a few similarities. I think sometimes I’m a little more communicative than Lucas. And also, Lucas, the woman he’s living with, her name is Beth, she’s like a mother figure in his life and my mum’s name is Beth, short for Elizabeth. And my brother’s name is Luke, which is a strange coincidence! I think personality-wise, there are some similarities but nothing too substantial.

You’ve got a huge following here, lots of girls love you! How does that feel?
[Laughs] It’s pretty weird, considering I’ve never been to New Zealand! I would love to come over there. But yeah, that is very weird. I don’t really know how to take it! It’s cool!

What’s been your favourite storyline so far?
The most fun storyline was the play, where Lucas and Matilda’s first kiss eventuated and that was quite cool because it was just young and innocent and simple, but nice. But some of the stuff I’ve been doing recently, Lucas kind of goes off the rails and that was really fun to film because it forced me to push out some raw emotions other than his light-hearted character, which is what he initially started as.

Going back to that first kiss… What’s that like to film?
Oh my god! I cannot think of anything more nerve wracking that I’ve had to do in my life! It was so scary! Indiana, it was her first kiss as well and it was really scary. I think she spoke to the director beforehand and she asked would it be possible that everyone leave the area so it was just the bare minimum of the crew and that was so good, the director was really supportive of that and so it was only really me, Indie, the cameramen and the director. I think some of the cast snuck a peek though [laughs]. But it was good, it went really well in the end, but goodness, I was so nervous before. Chewing some mints before! But it’s a weird concept, very weird.

Now, obviously I had to ask this question… We heard a rumour that your and Indiana are actually dating in real life! Is that true?
Yeah, it is true. [Laughs] We are.

That’s so cool!
Yeah, yeah. It’s good. It makes kissing scenes not as nerve wracking anymore!

Does it make it easier or harder to act together now?
I think it makes it a lot easier really. Doing break up scenes, which is what kind of happened as soon as we got together, we were breaking up on screen, was a bit weird. Having to shout at her, and also Lucas kisses another girl and Indiana was in the scene, so she had to watch me kiss another girl! So it’s a little weird, but it’s cool, really cool. But yeah, kissing scenes? Much easier!

Do you think Indiana is like her character?
Not really. She’s always kind of complaining about how silly Matilda can be. So I don’t think so. There are a few similarities I would say, but overall I think she’s a little classier than Matilda. [Laughs]

Do you get recognised a lot now?
It varies, depending on where and when you go out. Sometimes it can be really there and other times it can be non-existent.

Is it weid when you get recognised?
It’s SO weird. I don’t think it’s something that you’ll ever get used to. It’s very, very strange. At first it was bizarre because people would call out your name and you’d think that you knew them, and be like, ‘where do I know these people from?’ Yeah, it’s weird!

What do your friends think about it?
Most of them are really supportive and usually when we go out they’re looking out for me. If they see someone turn their head, they’re like, ‘ok, let’s keep walking this way’. And nothing’s really changed with the whole friends thing, which is really good. That was my biggest fear, if I changed or if they changed, but no, they’re really supportive.

What are your plans for the future?
I’m hoping to go, I haven’t decided, but maybe either over to the UK or to LA. I’ll be on Home and Away for around two more years. They could extend it. So yeah, it’s still a while to go, but I’m hoping afterwards to go overseas and try my luck there really. Movies would be awesome or some international TV show would be cool.

Finally, can you describe yourself in three words?
Oh my god! Myself in three words? Hmmm…quirky, lame…I don’t know…err…umm…occasionally a bit funny? I don’t know, that’s a hard one!

Rhy’s faves:
Fave TV show: We Can Be Heroes
Fave movie: It changes all the time…The Count of Monte Cristo – the newer version of that.
Fave band: Panic at the Disco!
Fave song: Blowing up the Pokies by the Whitlams
Fave place in the world: Thailand. I went there once and I loved it. I’m going there again at the end of the year actually.
Fave person: My mum!
Fave thing to do on a Sunday afternoon: If it’s summer I usually go to the beach and just chill out, grab some food and hang out with my friends. If it’s winter, have some friends over or go to a friend’s place, a barbecue, just cruisey, relaxing stuff.
Fave character on Home and Away: Colleen, definitely! She’s just ridiculously hilarious! Do you know how hard it is doing scenes with her, just because she’s so funny sometimes? She’s nothing like her character in real life. [Laughs] Which is amazing, I thought she’d be like a carbon copy of her character, but she couldn’t be further from it. Which makes it even funnier because she clicks into this insane role and this crazy woman. She’s good!
Celeb crush: Rachel Bilson
Fave smell: You know when you pop those party popper things and they’ve got that gunpowder smell? I really like that smell. [Laughs]
Fave sound: The ocean breaking.

Ok, ok, so Rhys Wakefield is a hottie. We all know that. But what’s he really like? Stephanie spoke to his girlfriend and Home and Away co-star Indiana Evans, who plays Matilda Hunter, to find out and also got the goss on what it’s like to be one of the hottest TV shows ever!

How did you get your part on Home and Away?
I wish I had an interesting story for that but I don’t! I just had an agent and auditioned and was successful.

How did you feel when you found out you got the part?
Ecstatic. Yeah, very, very, excited.

Did you watch the show before you were on it?
Well, because I’d actually watched the show it was very surreal! Yeah, but the whole cast was really welcoming, so it was all good and they were all really nice.

Were you nervous?
Very. [Laughs] Particularly for my first scene because I’d seen the cast on television as well. I mean I think even if I hadn’t watched it, every first job when you’re so young would be nerve wracking.

What do you think of Matilda?
I think she’s quite outspoken and a bit feisty! Yeah, she always speaks her mind.

Are you anything like her?
Some people say we look similar! But i think I’m a bit more introverted than she is. A lot of things that I will play through her I’ll draw on my own personal experience and I’ll play it as if Indiana would, because that’s what I know and that’s how I’ll try and make it real so I suppose naturally there’s a connection.

If you were friends with Matilda, what’s one piece of advice you’d like to give her?
I’d tell her to hang on to that Lucas guy. He’s pretty nice!

When we spoke to Rhys, he told us about your first onscreen kiss and how nervous he was! How did you feel about it?
[Laughs] I was just as nervous. Yeah, and we were sort of awkward and nervous with each other. It was hilarious, like we laugh about it now.

Rhys also told us that you guys are dating in real life..
Yeah

Does that make it easier or harder to work together?
It’s pretty much the same. I mean we both really care about our work so we try to be professional and don’t really bring it to work, like we don’t act that coupley on set or anything like that, we try and separate fact from fiction.

Do you think that Rhys is like his character?
They’re both quite nice! [Laughs] Yeah, I think Rhys is a little bit more nerdy than Lucas!

Have you told him that?
No! I hope he doesn’t read it!

What’s been your favourite storyline so far?
A lot of the stuff that we’re filming now has been really good, really challenging but of course I can’t give that away!

OK, we’ll just have to keep watching! So, if your could choose your dream storyline, what would that be?
Matilda goes to Europe. Which would mean that Indiana would have to go to Europe! It would be tough, but I think that I could do it. [Laughs]

Do you get recognized on the street a lot now?
It really depends on where you go. Sometimes it’s ok, but other times it can get a bit full on.

How do you cope?
It’s ok, I mean most people are really nice and supportive about it so usually it’s fine.

Do you still have to go to school as well as work on Home and away?
Yes, I do, unfortunately. [Laughs]. I’m doing home school so I’m doing it by distance education, which I mostly do at home because I like to separate school from work, I don’t really do it at work.

Is it hard to juggle the two?
Yeah, it is. Basically it’s just finding the time and the self-discipline I suppose.

What do you do in your spear time?
School work! [laughs] When I can I try and fit in as much spending time with my friends as possible, my friends outside of work.

What do your friends think about you being on Home and Away?
Yeah, they think it’s good, they’re supportive. I’m still the same, stupid Indiana to them, so it’s all good.

Ok, this is a tough one, and Rhys had trouble with it, but can you describe yourself in three words?
Oh. No! [laughs] Hmm. Umm… determined, unorganized and a bit shy.

Indiana’s faves:
Fave food: Pizza and Strawberries. Not together though!
Fave colour: That’s hard, I don’t really have a favourite colour per se, it always changes. Umm, I’m wearing a lot of black at the moment!
Fave place: Probably our regular family holiday spot on the south coast of Australia.
Fave animal: Hmm, that’s between a wombat and a leopard.
Fave season: Summer.
Fave smell: You know that smell when it’s dry and rain’s about to come? I love that.
Fave sound: I hate to have a theme with the whole rain thing, but when you’re at home and you’re sleeping and there’s rain outside. I love it.
Fave TV shows: Lost and The Simpsons.
Fave movies: The Notebook and Pleasantville.