Richard Roxburgh on playing Australia’s larrikin PM in Hawke

Hawke actor Richard Roxburgh “resisted” an offer to meet Australia’s most popular PM - scared he would fall for the charms of the wily politician and Labor Party icon

HE perfected the ear-stroking mannerism of Australia’s most popular PM — but Hawke actor Richard Roxburgh lives to regret never having met the man he brought to life so vividly.

The acclaimed star of political satire Rake, who was propelled on the national radar with his performance as Australia’s longest-serving Labor PM, says he had “resisted” an opportunity to meet the man he played in Hawke, the 2010 biopic on Network Ten — wary he would fall under the larrikin union leader and political icon’s spell.

So he never met the man he portrayed.

Larger than life … actor Richard Roxburgh as former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, in a scene from Ten telemovie, Hawke. Picture: Supplied/Ten

Originally published as Richard Roxburgh on playing Australia’s larrikin PM in Hawke