Actor Richard Roxburgh said his two boys are only allowed 30 minutes screen time a week, after one became addicted

ACTOR Richard Roxburgh from TV’s Rake fame, has said his kids get just 30 minutes a week screen time because one was addicted. And he and his wife try to set a good example with their own phone use.

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ACTOR Richard Roxburgh has banned his children from online devices after he says one of them became addicted.

Raphael, nine, and Miro, six, are only allowed half an hour a week playing on iPads and iPhones after Raphael hid an iPad behind a book.

Roxburgh, 54, said he and wife Silvia Colocca, a TV chef, author and opera singer, even concealed use of their phones.

“It was like a person with an addictive issue, and so we just said, ‘Right, that's it, you have half an hour a week’,” he said.

“That seems a paltry amount but honestly I’m a sceptic about that stuff.”

Silvia Colloca and Richard Roxburgh. Picture: Christian Gilles

Roxburgh admitted both he and Silvia try hide their phone use in front of the boys.

“If it’s constantly sitting in front of you what sort of example are you setting?” he said.

Luckily, Roxburgh, best known for his role in ABC show Rake and movies including Moulin Rouge, has the perfect way to keep children entertained — his new book.

Artie And The Grime Wave is described as a “madcap adventure” aimed at eight to 12 year olds.

Richard Roxburgh the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Newport. Picture: Martin Lange

The cover of Artie and the Grime Wave.

And young Raphael was a diplomatic critic while he was writing it, Roxburgh said.

After working on it at Mona Vale Library, he used to read it to his eldest son.

“I’d say, ‘That seemed to be a bit bloody boring. Has dad gone off road?’

“And he’d say, ‘No, Dad, it was good — it wasn’t quite as good as the previous chapter’.”

Silvia Colloca and son Miro, 6, at their Bilgola Plateau home before the family sold it. Picture: Troy Snook

Roxburgh has moved from Bilgola Plateau to nearby Bungan and will perform with Cate Blanchett on Broadway later this year.

He also confirmed the legal drama Rake was coming back.

But his most recent role was as a fulltime dad, when Silvia was away performing with Opera Australia.

Richard Roxburgh as Cleaver Greene ABC series Rake.

Raphael and Miro with mum, Silvia Colloca Picture: Christian Gilles

“I set about 15 or 16 alarms a day for a variety of things,” he said, with a laugh.

“It was completely mad and dad let the team down at times — but they’re alive.”

However, he is not keen for either of the boys, who go to the local primary school, to follow in his showbiz footsteps.

“I think it’d be handy to have a plumber in there — and a doctor would be great. Actor? No use to me whatsoever.”