‘I was mobbed at shopping centres’: How Daniel MacPherson first coped with fame

Daniel MacPherson is an actor and triathlete, best known for hosting Dancing with the Stars. Here, the 44-year-old shares his memories of learning to bet on horses with his grandmother, how he juggles co-parenting and the key to a good relationship.

“At 18, I was on the cover of Dolly and mobbed at shopping centre appearances.”Credit: Justin Aveling

My maternal grandmother, Grace Hudson, of British and Irish descent and was wiry, with a quick, dry wit. She smoked menthol cigarettes and was married to my grandfather, Don, for over 50 years — despite him being lost, feared dead, for 18 months in the Torres Strait during World War II.

A severe stroke in her 50s slowed Grace down, but 2KY racing always played from kitchen radio. She took me to the TAB, aged four, and taught me how to fill in a betting slip. Perhaps it was her early influence that started my lifelong passion for thoroughbred horses.

My mother, Anne, is dynamic, optimistic and extroverted, which often serves as a mask for a very deep, sensitive, intuitive soul. She was a hands-on mum who discovered her passion for jewellery design and manufacture in her late 40s. These days, she’s known as Annie Diamonds.

Back in 1997, Mum answered the home phone one night. The call was from the acting manager I’d met a few weeks earlier and had never got back to. Mum eventually negotiated for me to audition at the company’s offices in Glebe. I read a scene from Neighbours. “Raw, but you have potential” was the feedback. They agreed to represent me and sent me to acting lessons.

I was 17 when I played Joel Samuels on Neighbours. At 18, I was on the cover of Dolly and was mobbed at shopping centre appearances. I mentally separated myself from that. I was grateful to make people happy but was aware it could end as quickly as it began.

My sister, Brodie, is 12 years younger than me. I learnt to change her nappies in my early teens, but I was soon doing my HSC and she was barely four when I moved to Melbourne to start Neighbours. I was in Melbourne for four years and then in London for another four.

In London, I starred in a touring production of Godspell. I was 21 and single. I became close mates with my co-star, Jonathan Wilkes, and his best mate at the time, Robbie Williams. On Sundays, we’d drive back to London and stay at Robbie’s place, watch football. I was welcomed into a very private, generous inner circle and I remain incredibly grateful for it.

At the end of the Godspell tour, Rob offered me a room in his LA house if I wanted to move there. I didn’t, but I sometimes wonder what life would look like now if I’d taken him up.

While in London, in my mid-20s and working on The Bill, my parents decided to separate. It was a significant moment in my life and I suddenly realised how long I’d been away and how little attention I’d been paying to what was happening back home.

I was 30 when I met my ex-wife, Zoë Ventoura, on the TV series Wild Boys. She was from a creative family of musicians, dancers and artists – I’d never dated anyone like that before. We quickly realised that we were heading along the same path – acting, green cards, America – and we took off on this adventure together. It was a decade full of incredible memories I’m very grateful for.

Zoë is a wonderfully thoughtful, passionate mother. Our son, Austin, is 4½ and he is just magical. Zoë is a gracious co-parent and we speak daily as we juggle gym classes and swimming lessons and daycare pick-ups, just revelling in the mundane magic of parenting.

I hosted seven series of Dancing with the Stars. My co-host, Sonia Kruger, was quick, smart and funny and kept me on my toes. I’d work with her again in a heartbeat.

My partner, [former House Rules star] Jessica Dover, is luminous. She lights up any room she enters with her warmth and energy. She gives generously of her time and attention to those she loves. She is also an ambitious businesswoman. I’ve witnessed Jess’ tremendous strength as a mother, sister, and supporter during the passing of her mother recently. I bask in her infectious optimism.

The key to any successful relationship is that you must grow together and invest in that growth and togetherness: communicate, communicate and communicate. I’ve gotten better at that as I’ve gotten older.

Daniel MacPherson stars in The Woman in Black, touring Canberra, Wollongong, Newcastle and Sydney until August 17.

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