Home and Away’s prodigal son has returned! Kiwi actor Benedict Wall has shaken up Summer Bay in the role of Alf’s long-lost scoundrel son Duncan Stewart, who hasn’t been seen since he fled the seaside town in 2005. The former Shortland Street star spills all about his troubled character.
Tell us about Duncan …
He is the son of trusty old resident Alf. This is the third incarnation of the character, who has been played as a child and then as a young teenager. I play him later in life, when he is starting a family and has a career.
What’s it like being a Kiwi on an Aussie show?
Well, I’m not the first one. There are a few of us kicking around in the crew! My friend George Mason plays Ash and we were on Shortland Street together, so I have someone who I know relatively well. And my girlfriend Jessica [Grace Smith] was on the show for a couple of years as Denny Miller, so it was a pretty smooth transition for me.
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Did she give you any on-set advice?
Yeah, she’s great! I asked her so many questions, like if there was something weird on the call sheet, if I didn’t know where to go for rehearsals or what a certain director is like. I guess I had a cheat sheet, which made me look really professional when in fact I didn’t really know what I was doing.
Benedict’s character Duncan immediately sets his sights on Tori (left), played by Penny McNamee.
How did you get involved in the show?
I auditioned a couple of times for various roles, then I had a recall to play Justin from the Morgan family. I got down to the last couple for that, but it didn’t go my way and James Stewart was cast. Pretty soon after, I got the call saying I should audition for this role, but I was heading back to New Zealand for a wedding so I wasn’t able to make it. So I set up a camera in our spare room and made a tape. I found out I got the role in the New Year and the rest is history.
Do you see yourself in Duncan?
With these shows, you end up impressing yourself on the character a little bit because you’ve got a high volume of work. It’s a real opportunity for you to shape the way the character is built. I’ve tried my best to work some of my own personality into the role, mainly because it makes it easier. We are definitely alike – he is stubborn, romantic and goofy
Do you have a favourite destination in New Zealand?
I love New Chums Beach in the Coromandel. I’m from Auckland, so I spend most of my holidays down there. It’s a national park, so you’re not allowed to build on it.
It’s one of those beautiful, untouched places.
Benedict plays Alf’s long-lost son Duncan, who causes a few waves when he turns up unannounced on his dad’s door.
What’s the last TV series you watched?
I’ve just finished watching Stranger Things on Netflix.
What’s the last film you saw in the cinema?
Ghostbusters! I wouldn’t rate it.
What’s the last app you downloaded?
It was Twitter. I’ve never been on it before. I’m always on Instagram, so I was getting sick of pictures and wanted to use words.
