Young, handsome, famous and truly very nice would be a fairly accurate description of talented Home and Away actor, Zac Drayson.
12 May, 1998 To say Zac is enjoying his role on Home and Away would be an understatement, Zac loves working on the successful drama series. He feels right at home with the cast and crew, and particularly enjoys hanging out with his mates from the show Graeme Squires and Richie Gudgeon.
Zac was originally cast as Tom Nash but, after their initial decision, the producers decided Zac would actually be perfect for the role of Will Smith.
'It's my first ever break. I originally went for the part of Tom Nash and they said you've got it, but then they thought I'd be better for the part of Will Smith. They then gave me the download on Will's character: a rough tough guy with a heart of gold and a lot of fun,' explains Zac.
In hindsight, does Zac think he would have preferred playing the role he was originally picked for?
'Either way I would have been happy,' says the young star.
Zac describes Will Smith as '… the kind of guy who, once you get to know him, is a great guy but you've got to put up with a lot to get to that niceness. He is very moral, he believes in what he says and he cares for whoever he's with, but has trouble showing it.'
Off screen, Zac is very much like the character of Tom Nash. Zac says Tom Nash's character breakdown describes him perfectly…
'Tom's your typical cricket-in-summer, rugby-in-winter kind of guy … and a bit of a ladies man!'
Zac is pleased he was given the opportunity to play a character who is different from what he's really like.
'With Will's character I've got something I can grab on to and work with,' says Zac.
These days Zac is feeling very comfortable on the set of Home and Away but he didn't always feel so at ease. On his first day of filming, Zac says:
'I was terrified, I couldn't move!'
'I was nervous for the first two months, you still do get nervous when you go on set but everyone keeps telling me you grow out of it. Everyone's been really supportive,' Zac says.
Zac's life is hectic, actually manic would probably be a more apt description! At 15, he is balancing his Home and Away career, year 10 at school and trying to squeeze in time for his mates, sport and… girls of course!
'If I've got a spare break I'll go down to the tutor room and do some work, I've got my half yearlys on this week and I've been studying in my breaks. If I have a free full or half day I go to school, it's an active life! This week's been hard, trying to fit in exams, training, lines to learn, a room to clean and mates to see.'
Zac lives at home with his family and says he manages his flat-out schedule with a lot of help from his mum.
'My mum is the best mum you could ever possibly get. I've got a lunch box that's about 30cm x 30cm and she packs my lunch every day. My mum drives me everywhere, she wakes me up, she does everything for me. My dad is really proud of me and my sister and brothers are also really supportive,' says Zac, who obviously appreciates his family's support enormously.
Zac is still getting used to fame and admits that he gets very embarrassed when people recognise him in the street, although he does enjoy attention from girls…
'I get really, really embarrassed. I don't like it that much, but it's alright when good looking girls recognise me!'
With a smile on his face, Zac concedes that fame has been good for his dating life… although he doesn't have a girlfriend at the moment. With Zac's frantic schedule he's happy enjoying the single life and spending the little free time he does get hanging out with his mates.
On screen, Will's love life is in for some turbulence. Zac reveals that his relationship with Gypsy's father gets better, however his relationship with Gypsy starts to 'get a bit stale' and they go through some ups and downs… but he can't say anything more!
Zac has been acting in theatre for about seven or eight years — a significant proprtion of his life! He enjoys both TV and theatre but describes the difference between the two as 'huge'.
'On the stage you've had so much time to rehearse and there's a lot of warmness, on TV it's fast: you rehearse and film. If I had my choice I'd choose movies because you still get to rehearse, there's that warmness there and you're on the screen — and I love the screen,' he says.
We asked Zac what his dream acting role would be:
'Something whacko, like Jim Carey in Liar Liar or Ace Ventura, or a role in a sci-fi movie — I love Star Wars — or a murderer,' enthuses Zac.
And long-term ambitions for Zac Drayson? How much time have you got? This guy's got big dreams!
'I want to hit hit the Big Time,' says Zac.
As in Hollywood Big Time?
Zac smiles and nods, 'As in Mel Gibson Big Time!'
We think he's in there with a good chance.