Tiger King series: John Cameron Mitchell prepares to play Joe Exotic in Brisbane-filmed series

Tiger King actor John Cameron Mitchell is using his time in quarantine to prepare to play Joe Exotic in the Brisbane-filmed NBC series.

Actor John Cameron Mitchell was told not to connect with Joe Exotic in real life so he could remain “impartial” as he prepares to play the Tiger King star in an NBC series in Brisbane.

The US actor along with the rest of the cast of Joe Exotic, which includes Kate McKinnon and Dennis Quaid, underwent quarantine in Sydney before filming begins on the anticipated series at Screen Queensland Studios this week.

A scene from Joe Exotic: Tigers, Lies and Cover-ups. Picture: Supplied

Part of a deal for three NBC series to film in Brisbane, Joe Exotic will follow Carole Baskin (McKinnon) learning that Exotic is breeding big cats for profit and the subsequent rivalry between the pair.

“The mullet is now embedded in my brain. I’m practising being him in quarantine,” Mitchell told Confidential.

“We’re told not to connect with the real folks. We want to be impartial.”

He said the animals would be included digitally rather than using real animals on set.

“I was a bit nervous about the tigers – not because of danger but because I’m allergic to cats. But all animals will be CG. Keeps PETA happy,” Mitchell said.

American actor John Cameron Mitchell will film in Brisbane in his role as Joe Exotic in the NBC series. Picture: Supplied

The actor and director, who wrote rock opera Hedwig and the Angry Inch, admitted he “freaked out” when he was given the role of Exotic earlier this year.

“It was the first role I auditioned for since 1997,” he said. “My agent called and I only had three days to self-tape. (The) mullet was a one day Amazon delivery and I dabbed on a mascara handlebar moustache.

“I come from where Joe’s from so the accent wasn’t hard. He’s the classic queer who is imitating and outdoing his redneck oppressors.”

Mitchell was due to perform a one-off cabaret show with Amber Martin at The Tivoli on Tuesday before he begins filming for the series two days later.

But with the recent outbreak keeping Martin in Sydney, he will now perform a solo show,

“I’ll invite the cast and crew of Joe Exotic so we can have a launch party,” he said.

“I’ll do some Hedwig songs with Queensland guitarist Simon Gardner, a new song I wrote with Hedwig’s Stephen Trask and sing a new song for Joe Exotic co-written with Aussie Brett Every.”

Mitchell said he was looking forward to travelling Queensland after he wraps filming on Joe Exotic.

Newsreader Samantha Heathwood is shifting from Channel 9 to Channel 7. Picture: Instagram

DROPPING ANCHOR

Outgoing Channel 9 newsreader Samantha Heathwood says she considered walking away from her career before she was offered a lifeline switch to rival network Channel 7.

In March, Nine Entertainment announced a new partnership with WIN that would see local news bulletins axed in favour of statewide bulletins, meaning Heathwood’s role as Queensland’s regional news anchor would end.

Heathwood is a single mother to two sons and, while Channel 9 attempted to redeploy her within the network, she has since accepted a job as a reporter and backup newsreader at Seven, beginning in two weeks.

“I’ve known for three months our news was ending and my biggest concern throughout all of this was my children, and how I was going to provide for them,” Heathwood told Confidential.

“I did question whether I should even stay in media or leave and do something else, but at the end of the day, I just love it, and I would hate to leave when I feel like I’ve still got so much more to give.

“I just feel so blessed to have been offered a job at Channel 7. I’m really excited to make the switch, and get out on the road again and tell some really good stories. I’ve really missed reporting – it’s been hard sitting behind a desk during floods, cyclones and fires, and not being able to go and cover them.

“I will miss reading every night, but I feel very lucky to have been given this opportunity.”

Heathwood, who has been affiliated with Nine for 16 years, read her last regional news bulletin on Wednesday before Channel 9 made the switch to their regional programming on Thursday.

“I’m really sad to see regional news end, because we all worked so hard to provide a great news service, but I’m proud of what we achieved and the local news stories we covered,” she said.

George Sheppard and Conrad Sewell on stage at Lefty's on Caxton St after State of Origin. Picture: Supplied

GATECRASH DUET

State of Origin might not have gone Queensland’s way at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, but that didn’t dampen the celebrations on Caxton St.

ARIA Award-winning Brisbane singer Conrad Sewell was spotted jumping on stage at Lefty’s Music Hall throughout the night, performing a couple of impromptu sets for around ten minutes before rejoining the crowd.

George Sheppard, who had earlier performed with his band Sheppard as the pre-game entertainment at Suncorp Stadium, then jumped on stage to join Sewell for a duet rendition of Oasis hit Wonderwall.

The duo sang to a stoked crowd including Queensland rugby league stars Corey Parker, Scott Prince and Brent Tate.

Natalie Gruzlewski on set of Farmer Wants a Wife. Picture: Supplied.

LOVE IN THE WEST

Farmer Wants A Wife host Natalie Gruzlewski said the sparks were instantly flying when the new batch of eligible farmers met their suitors.

The Gold Coast-based presenter is returning to host the Channel 7 dating show and said the fact the women applied for a particular farmer set the show apart from its competition.

The farmers this year include Andrew from Delegate, NSW, Sam from Canowindra, NSW, Matt from Orbost, Victoria and Rob from the Snowy Mountains.

“It was fantastic. It’s my 10th year hosting the show, and I was on the road a lot more this season, so I was lucky to be able to see parts of rural Australia that I hadn’t yet discovered,” Gruzlewski said.

“I had a wonderful time getting to know our farmers and ladies.”

“It’s so exciting to be front and centre when their stories begin. Those first moments when they see each other for the first time in the barrel room when sparks are flying, and those initial connections are made – it’s really special to play a role in that.”

“This show is the real deal, it’s authentic, and it has a whole lot of heart.”

Farmer Wants A Wife premieres tonight on Channel 7.

Liam Hemsworth and Matt Damon at Light Years in Byron Bay on Monday. Picture: Instagram

LAST SUPPER

Before Matt Damon flew out of Australia this week, he managed to get in a last supper at a Byron Bay hotspot.

After more than five months based Down Under filming Thor: Love and Thunder, Damon flew back to the US out of Sydney on Monday.

He was spotted having dinner with Liam Hemsworth and his parents Craig and Leonie Hemsworth at Light Years, a popular restaurant in the heart of Byron Bay, on Sunday night.

During his stay in Australia, Damon returned to Rainbow Beach north of Noosa and stopped into Brisbane for a charity event, where he enjoyed a morning beer at the QA Hotel and dined at Hellenika and SK.