The Working Actor: Rules Of Engagement

Lex Marinos was born into a family of Greek café
owners and grew up in Wagga Wagga, where the acting bug found him at a time
when Australian forms of theatre were just being reinvented. With his Australian
voice and Greek features, he set a puzzle to casting agents; but as new forms
of public entertainment emerged he built a set of freelance skills to last a
lifetime: radio presenter, stage and screen actor and director, all-purpose ‘ethnic’
in TV comedy, host of multicultural celebrations. To government he became an
adviser on public events and ethnic issues.

In this paper, another in the Professionals
series by senior artists, Marinos reflects on how our society has transformed; and
engagingly discusses how to succeed in one of the most discouraging professions
in the world.