Alex Dimitriades on the constant challenge of proving fans don’t know the real him

It’s been 30 years since Alex Dimitriades famously got his shot as The Heartbreak Kid – the role that made him and threatened to break him, all in one.

It’s been 30 years since Alex Dimitriades famously got his shot as The Heartbreak Kid – the role that made him and threatened to break him, all in one. Because he’s spent the three decades since fighting the very thing that every actor fears – being typecast.

The 49-year-old will star in anticipated Binge drama Strife when it premieres next week and has done countless films and TV shows since The Heartbreak Kid and, subsequently, cult teen drama Heartbreak High – but they are the roles fans constantly remind him of. The nostalgia, no matter how well meaning, can make the seasoned actor feel of “a certain vintage”.

“I should say, vintage wines mature finely, so you know, that’s a compliment,” he jokes.

“It can be annoying, because something I’ve always strived for is … there’s that kind of ‘grim reaper’ in the acting world known as typecasting – and everyone wants to showcase the diversity of their talents, that’s always been something that’s at the forefront. So when someone thinks that they know you – well, it’s a challenge to constantly prove that they don’t.”

Alex Dimitriades with Claudia Karvan in his breakout role, The Heartbreak Kid.

Dimitriades joins the likes of Asher Keddie, Matt Day, Jonathan LaPaglia, Emma Lung and even Kylie Minogue to bring the story based on Mia Freedman’s memoir, Work Strife Balance, to life in Strife. And that concept – of the ever elusive thing we like to call ‘balance’ – means a lot to him.

“I’m discovering now, in my later vintage, that sleep – and time in general – has become so much more of a commodity, and learning to balance that is really important,” he tells Insider.

Australian actor Alex Dimitriades has been in the industry for 30 years. Picture: Simon Cardwell

“I’m 30 years in the industry now, and there’s a bit of wisdom that comes with learning all the time – and that’s what keeps it interesting.

“I think it’s important to keep looking forward and not back, and I learned that a long time ago. It’s very easy, it’s a human condition that naturally we tend to like looking over the shoulder thinking what could have been – but you’ll drive yourself crazy if you do that. Being present is very important and looking back, I think, is dangerous. Too many people do it and get stuck in it, and lose faith and hope in themselves.

“And a major part of surviving, especially in this industry, is hope and belief in themselves.

“I’ve always been fortunate enough – sure, I’ve had lots of lucky breaks and it allowed me that leverage – but from the beginning of taking some chances I had a real belief that my talent was special and unique. I mean, we’re not reinventing the wheel, but you really do have to believe in yourself a lot. And I see the people that succeed in life – they take this to another level and they spin out of it and get self obsessed. Again, it’s about ‘finding the balance’,” he laughs.

“No matter what, if I’m making fun of myself, or no matter the instance, if you are in a group meeting of any kind, as long as you say the words, ‘it’s all about finding that balance’, everyone will agree with you.”

Alex Dimitriades in Strife.

“I was really happy doing Strife. It was an environment in which I got to play with some of my favourite actors that I’ve previously played with – Matt Day and I did a series years and years ago, I played with Asher Keddie many years back, so it’s great to see the dynamics – nothing’s changed really,” he says.

“It’s really fun to get back with those guys. Asher has gone from strength to strength, so it’s great to see her leading and producing what is very much a show about women.

“So the boys, we’re the support players, but their relationship is a really interesting one and it’s that whole balance between the professional life, and the struggles of trying to maintain family, friendships, relationships and all that.

“I mean, it was a pivotal time in history. I had a small part – but essential to the puzzle.”

He said for Keddie, who plays former magazine editor Evelyn Jones – loosely based on Freedman, tracking her journey from loungeroom blogger to digital mogul – it’s a case of art imitating life, imitating art all over again.

“Asher really drives this one – she’s practically in just about every scene in the entire series – and I’ve been there, I know what it’s like. It’s very demanding and gruelling,” Dimitriades explains.

“I’ve seen the difference between Asher the actress and then Asher the actress-producer. We didn’t speak during downtime nearly as much because she really had her hands full – so it’s very much a case of art imitating life and back again.”

Alex Dimitriades in a scene from the new Binge series, Strife.

While Dimitriades is a Sydney boy through and through, the family nature of his Greek background remains important to him. And like the dinner table, being in the ocean is one of his many happy places. Because with those three decades has come wisdom, and an innate desire for connection. Or perhaps disconnection, first and foremost.

“I couldn’t imagine living in a city that didn’t have so much natural beauty, and being in the water is important to me,” he says.

“It’s just a constant baptism from all the hell. The sight of it, the sound of it, and also the feel of it – I think the water itself, the mineral content that’s in the seawater, is essential for us, as humans, to heal. So I need to be in it all the time.

“Happy can mean a number of things. It can mean good times and laughter or it can mean peace and tranquillity, and just absolute stillness.

“So I love divulging in food – both in creating beautiful things, and eating them, and sharing them with friends, but I like being around nature, mostly. That’s the reset for my soul – getting among nature and hearing nothing. Hearing no voices – just the wind and the birds and the waves crashing. For me, that’s really important.”

While acting may be one of his loves, and music another – he’s a DJ too – it’s “all the creative stimuli” that he loves.

“This is a snowball, and it’s ever growing,” he says.

“The things that I love, I carry with me, forever. Unfortunately, there’s only 24 hours in a day that you dedicate, so sometimes you have to drop things and allow for others to take precedence.

Alex Dimitriades at the Logies in July. Picture: Sam Tabone/Getty Images

“I guess Covid allowed us a lot of downtime where we could ‘redesign’ life – but we definitely had to rethink during lockdown. People had to rethink what their future meant and what it held.

“And the film industry and hospitality was the first to go, so a lot of people in this industry, self included, were just completely left in the lurch, so it allowed us to become creative and diversified in the way that we thought – so that sprouted a few little things, which are steadily growing away.

“Living the freelance artist life, the foot’s either on the pedal or it’s on the brake, so it’s very ‘rock ‘n roll, baby’,” he laughs.

“That kind of pace, of the foot on the brake, I’m used to that, and a lot of artists are used to that. It’s not so bad.”