Discover Daniel MacPherson’s proudest moment, biggest secret and very guilty pleasure

In a new series designed to get to know the real people behind our most famous faces, actor Daniel MacPherson reveals his proudest moment, biggest secret and very guilty pleasure.

Daniel MacPherson with his partner Jessica Dover. Picture: Instagram

Daniel Donald MacPherson

Age: 44

Home: Cronulla, NSW

Daniel MacPherson describes himself as switched on, pretty focused, disciplined and driven. Picture: Justin Aveling

What are you working on at the moment?

Currently filming the lead role in the feature The Beast in Me, opposite Russell Crowe. The character I am playing is a former professional MMA fighter who returns to the cage after a personal tragedy. Shooting between Australia and Thailand, I have been training in boxing, Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu for the last two years, and sparring with professional MMA fighters to prepare.

How would you describe yourself?

When I am switched on, I can be pretty focused, disciplined and driven. I do my work best with structure and purpose, and I get great satisfaction from that. But when it’s down time, I like to think I can be relaxed, calm and spontaneous. I’m generous, protective and loyal to those I love. I like coffee, sunshine, early mornings and good energy.

How do you think others describe you?

Daniel MacPherson can be a workaholic but remains cool under pressure. Picture: Justin Lloyd

My brother and sister have both said at different times, “in a time of crisis, I want you to be the person with me”. I think that’s pretty cool. Maybe I’m cool under pressure.

Within two weeks, Antony Eden – our director on the play The Woman in Black – described me as a “workaholic” … but I just think that in life, the more effort you put in, the better things turn out, and every opportunity is a gift.

My son Austin said I’m the “bestest, strongest dad in all the world” which made my heart burst. But when my nose got a bit bent during a fight scene in The Beast in Me, he also called me “banana nose” … so take it or leave it.

What is most important to you?

Fatherhood. Health. Peace.

What is the last thing you read, watched, ate, listened to?

Read – The Fighter by John Wayne Parr. Watched – Anthony Hopkins in the film One Life. Ate – An incredible Thai dinner on the river in Bangkok with my dad. Mango sticky rice for dessert. It was a special night. Listened to – Clap your hands, Solomun Remix.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Daniel MacPherson and members of Human Nature on the set of Neighbours in 2000.

I wrote in a Dr Seuss book when I was eight years old that I wanted to be an actor on Neighbours. I forgot about that dream, until we found that book some years later. It turned out that 10 years after I made that entry, almost to the day, I started on Neighbours. I guess I was a manifestor from a young age!

What has been the biggest obstacle you have overcome or hardest hurdle in your life?

I have been blessed with an incredibly fortunate life. But I will say I am very proud of the way I managed to navigate the years around turning 40, which I found quite a challenging time of change. New fatherhood, moving home from overseas after a decade away, industry uncertainty, eventual divorce, all amid a pandemic.

If you had one wish, what would it be?

Simply health and happiness for those I love.

Tell us a secret. What is one thing people may not know about you?

My guilty pleasure is climbing into bed early and researching thoroughbred pedigrees and their hypothetical matings. Sexy right?

What has been your proudest moment?

Sharks tragic Daniel Macpherson celebrates after Cronulla broke its premiership hoodoo in 2016.

My first experience of rugby league was my grandfather taking me to Shark Park to see the Sharks v Dragons local derby when I was six years old. He was a lifelong Dragons fan, and it broke his heart when I sided with the Sharks. Almost 40 years later, during last year, I took Austin and my father – his grandfather – to see the Sharks play at Shark Park. To see them both cheering together, hugging, and Austin screaming “Go Sharkies” in his jersey with his grandad was just priceless. I was a pretty proud dad in that moment right there.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

Meditation and sobriety are two things I describe regularly as superpowers. Those two things have done more for supercharging every area of my life than anything else.

What is the kindest thing anyone has ever said to you?

This one time on the PCH in Malibu, I was training for an Ironman. I was about 100km into a 150km bike ride, when this old cyclist I used to see on the road all the time, sprinted up behind me and shouted in a thick California drawl: “Bro, your calves look like they are carved from granite.” I made the mistake of telling Luke Hemsworth that story – who stills says it every time I see him.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I don’t know about wishing on “changing”, because I believe you can make daily choices and changes to be exactly where, and who, you want to be – and wishing to be taller or shorter or whatever is futile. But, as I get older, I remind myself daily to “laugh more, stress less, and savour the moment”.

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