Playing favourites with Joel Tobeck

Years ago, before they'd met, Joel Tobeck's highly recognisable face attracted a kiss from Kim Hill at a Wellington theatre.

The versatile 52-year-old actor and musician reunites with Kim to talk about his career, some of his favourite songs and his upcoming play I Want To Be Happy.

Although he's had numerous screen roles in recent years, I Want To Be Happy is the first play Tobeck has done since appearing in Silo Theatre's 2018 production of Mr Burns: A Post-Electric Play.

Theatre acting is a terrifying prospect, he says.

"There's always a period after Week 1 of rehearsal where I'm holding myself in my bed crying and thinking 'I can't do this, I can't do this'. Then people who are close to me remind me and go 'Joel, you go through this every time you do theatre, you'll be fine'."

It's "very vulnerable" acting onstage, Tobeck says, even with a great script and a scene partner like the acclaimed actor Jennifer Ludlam.

"It can be quite a cut-throat thing, people can be quite critical of theatre, unfortunately… I always want to do a good job, we all want to be great. I certainly don't want to let Jennifer down at any time. All that to contend with sort of adds to the anxiety."

Tobeck feels very lucky to have been brought up in the New Zealand acting industry - his late mother Liddy Holloway is well known for her roles on Shortland Street and the American TV show Hercules in the 1990s.

Tobeck says his own experience performing in Hercules and Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules taught him to push boundaries and trust his abilities.

Over the years, he's also appeared on Shortland Street in two different roles and loved it: "The people out there are great, they're professional, they know what they're doing and it's such a well-run machine. I really loved it, I had a great time."

Although his audition for drama school in the early '90s wasn't successful, acting is a thing Tobeck says he's always known he was able to do,

Recently, he enjoyed his "first guest lead role" on the Australian Netflix drama Tangle, playing a state politician alongside the "wonderfully chaotic" Ben Mendelssohn.

"I'd never played a politician before, I'd always been the bad guy, so it was nice to explore that world."

For Tangle, Tobeck had to get into the makeup chair at 2am so his numerous tattoos could be covered. These include the word 'Boy' in Hindi and the word 'Girl' in Tibetan on either side of his chest in honour of his mum who practised Tibetan Buddhism.

"Anyone with body art or ink or whatever you want to call it, there is a reason they're there … all three of mum's children got tā moko in her honour when she passed away."

Tobeck says his mother Liddy, who died in 2004, was a great mentor who taught him a lot about the industry but also how to be a human being.

In life, he likes to find educational opportunities everywhere, including examples of how not to treat people from those he's worked with who weren't pleasant.

"I truly believe everything we experience is a learning of some description. Even the bad times of my career, I've learnt something."

Lately, as well as voiceover work, coaching actors via Zoom and recording music at home, Tobeck is learning how to handle a hammer on his friend's building site.

"I'm a labourer, definitely, but I'm learning a lot. And I really enjoy that because it's a completely opposite tack… it's a great leveller. I'm rooted after every day, so exhausted."

I Want To Be Happy is on at Auckland's Herald Theatre from 18 August and Wellington's Circa Theatre in Wellington from 6 September.

Joel Tobeck played:

'A Song For You' by Donny Hathaway (written by Leon Russell)

This was a song played at Liddy Holloway's funeral.

"As soon as he opens his mouth, the tears come. He died too young, man... far out. His version of 'Yesterday' on [These Songs for You, Live!] is sublime.

"Just listen to it - there's no explanation needed."

 

'Starfish and Coffee' by Prince 

Tobeck is a lifelong Prince fan who even has a tribute tattoo on his arm.

He first saw a live recording of The Purple One on the 1980s TV show Twelve O'Clock Rock.

"I thought my god who is this person? And I've been obsessed ever since. His guitar playing was amazing… I try and source his late-night club appearances after shows where he'd just play funk."

 

'Have Mercy' by Don Covay featuring Jimi Hendrix

'We all know Jimi as a great lead player and solo artist but his rhythm playing to me was just as spectacular as his lead playing."

 

'You Got the Love' by Rufus and Chaka Khan (written by Ray Parker Jr and Chaka Khan)

"Ray Parker Jnr was an incredibly sought-after session muso back in the day and one hell of a funk guitar player. This is a testament to his talent - it's a great song."

 

Related:

Joel Tobeck on playing Robin Bain in Black Hands

Joel Tobeck on playing former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains in the mini-series JONAH