July 26, 2010
Scotch College student Tom Russell is well on his way to emulating the feats of his idol Hugh Jackman, with the talented 12-year-old set to star in a new Australian feature film about to hit cinemas across the country.
The Year 7 student plays the title role in the emotion-filled drama “Matching Jack” in which he will share the big screen with world-renowned actors including James Nesbitt from Cold Feet fame and Jacinda Barrett from the Bridget Jones’s Diary sequel. The film, directed by Nadia Tass who was also responsible for Aussie cult movies Malcolm and The Big Steal, revolves around Tom’s character “Jack” who is diagnosed with leukaemia and needs a bone marrow transplant to survive.
Tom said performing alongside more seasoned actors was a thrill, however playing the role of a leukaemia patient was extremely challenging.
“I took the role very seriously and as part of my preparation visited hospitals and studied the illness online to get a better understanding of what people go through when they’re diagnosed with leukaemia,” he said.
“I also had to shave my head every day for eight weeks while the film was being shot last winter. It was so cold I even had to wear a beanie to bed on some nights.”
Tom’s first professional acting role was as a Gumnut in Windmill Performing Arts’ Snugglepot and Cuddlepie in 2007. He also featured as a soloist in Pelican Productions’ Music Theatre Camps between 2007-2010 and played “Gavroche” in the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of SA’s award-winning production of Les Miserables.
His first movie role was as a nine-year-old in the short film Daniel, before he rose to prominence a year later in his first feature film, Last Ride, in which he earned an AFI nomination for his outstanding performance as “Chook” opposite celebrated actor Hugo Weaving – who he now counts as a good friend.
Tom also appears in the recently released French/Australian film called The Tree starring prominent French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg. And earlier this year he spent most of the first school term in Perth on the set of upcoming Foxtel mini-series Cloudstreet in which he plays “Young Fish”, a brain-damaged boy, who is later played by Underbelly star Hugo Johnstone-Burt as “Adult Fish”.
Despite spending so much time on movie sets in recent years, Tom has remained vigilant with his school work. While on-set, he receives two hours of tutoring every day for which his tutor works with his teachers to ensure he is meeting the necessary curriculum requirements. Regardless, Tom is sure where his future career lies.
“A career in show business would be awesome,” said Tom, who already has a US-based agent to scout future acting roles for him.
“Hugh Jackman has always been an idol of mine so if I could follow in his footsteps and juggle both film and stage work that would be great.
“I’m also interested in writing and directing movies when I get a bit older, so who knows. I just want to get as much experience as I can and keep improving as a performer.”
Matching Jack will begin screening in cinemas around Australia on August 19. For more information visit www.matchingjack.com
Further Information: Please contact Scotch College
Rebecca Draysey, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, on 8274 4256
Issued By Hughes Public Relations: Kieran Hall 0422 147 151 or kieran@hughespr.com.au
