Rob Collins takes on new role as a soldier is Foxtel’s Secret City

He’s the Logie-winning heart-throb about to play a macho soldier in the second season of Foxtel’s Secret City. But actor Rob Collins insists being a TV hunk was never natural fit for him.

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He’s the Logie-winning heart-throb about to play a macho soldier in his new show but actor Rob Collins insists being a TV hunk was never natural fit for him.

The Northern Territory local, best known for TV shows The Wrong Girl and Cleverman, is about to greet audiences as Lieutenant Joseph Sullivan in the new season of Foxtel’s political thriller Secret City.

Rob Collins is starring in Foxtel drama Secret City. Picture: Keri Megelus

“I’ve said this before and I still maintain it, sitting in my home surrounded by nappies and nappy wipes and three days of washing that I haven’t done, I feel the furthest thing from a heart-throb,” the proud father-of-four tells BW Magazine.

“That tag is hilarious for me, and especially my children and my wife so I don’t know if I should be offended by that.”

After graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2013, Collins says he’s been on a lucky streak when it comes to finding work in an industry where most actors struggle to break through.

“I’ve been really fortunate that the projects that have come my way have been really fantastic and Secret City is certainly up there with the best,” he says.

“Ever since graduating I have been fortunate to be able to go from one project to another … as an actor in the industry that’s a blessing so I’m finding a bit of wood to knock on.”

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The new season picks up several years after the debut series and is set among the political powerplay of Canberra.

The 39-year-old says he felt he was in familiar territory, playing the guilt-ridden and angry war-returned soldier Joseph — even though it took tough preparation to step into the role physically.

“He’s a boots on the ground soldier. He’s most at home being at the cold face of war and he’s a very practical and pragmatic character,” he says.

“My prep was really physical … I did a lot of research, with some of it behind the desk and some of it out on the field getting physically prepared.”

Rob Collins on the set of Foxtel's Secret City. Picture: Supplied

And though the tag of the quintessential TV hottie is one he laughs at, Collins felt a similar understanding of the role of handsome chef Jack in The Wrong Girl.

“I was stoked to get that role. I was familiar with the book (the show was based on) and the character of Jack read more like a Hemsworth and I’m certainly not a Hemsworth,” he says with a laugh.

Collins adds that the role was also special because it made strides for diversity. It’s not often a character written as blonde-haired and blue-eyed is played by an indigenous actor.

“There was a lot about Jack that I could identify with because he was very much in line with how I am as a person,” he says.

“On the page he didn’t look like me but he felt very familiar when I started the role.”

Rob Collins and his The Wrong Girl co-star Jessica Marais. Picture: Channel 10

But despite these starring roles and taking home the Logie award for Best New Talent in 2017, Collins maintains he still gets starstruck on set.

“The experience on set was surreal. Even with a small number of credits behind me, I’m still very much a fan boy on set,” he says.

“It’s still surreal being on screen with these great people … it was a really special cast.”

With Secret City set to premiere on March 4, the actor is beginning to think about his next move.

“I’ve been very lucky in that the roles I’ve done feel really close to home … I’m at the point now where I’d like to do something that is far from who I am as a person,” he says.

“(My characters are) very stable and very focused on a singular goal. It’ll be fun and daunting to play someone a bit loser, off-hinge, maybe even funny. A lot of my work is very serious and earnest. It’ll be good to play lighter characters.”

* Secret City: Under The Eagle premieres on March 4 on Fox Showcase at 8.30pm.

Originally published as Rob Collins takes on new role as a soldier is Foxtel’s Secret City