Move over Hugh Jackman, this child wants to be the next Boy from Oz, for real

HE shares the same boundless energy and has been cast as the young Peter Allen in an upcoming biopic — now Ky Baldwin wants to be the next real boy from Oz.

Holly ByrnesNational TV writer

2 min read

August 23, 2015 - 12:00AM

News Corp Australia Network

Ky Baldwin, who plays a young Peter Allen in Channel 7's upcoming tv movie, takes advantage of some studio time at Sony Music, Sydney, today, encouraged by the record label's boss Denis Handlin. He is working on his own career as a song and dance man. Picture: Justin Lloyd

PETER Allen may have taken the long road via that Tenterfield saddlery to find international fame and fortune, but the 14-year-old who plays him in Seven’s stunning new biopic is on the cyber fast-track instead.

Talented Sydney teen, Ky Baldwin impressed producers with the same energy and enthusiasm as the all-singing, all-dancing Peter Woolnough, who performed his way out of a tragic childhood in country NSW, changed his surname to Allen and found fame as a musical star on Broadway.

Taking inspiration from Allen’s story, Baldwin told me he has his mind set on becoming the next boy from Oz to make it overseas and has his own D.I.Y plan to get himself there.

Boasting his own YouTube channel, featuring video versions of the songs he regularly performs at Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall, the Australia’s Got Talent finalist managed to catch the eye of Sony CEO Denis Handlin out shopping last Christmas - with the music supremo promptly taking the tiny busker under his wing.

After getting the down-low on his discovery from chart-topper Delta Goodrem (who had coached Baldwin on The Voice Kids), Handlin then offered the young charge free access to the experienced staff and advanced facilities at the company’s Darlinghurst recording studios in a bid to further his musical ambitions.

Showing the kind of good grace which should see him go far, Baldwin said: “it’s been just amazing how kind he’s been to me. He rang Delta and asked all about me, he’s watched all my videos. He told me about meeting (Baldwin’s idol) Michael Jackson. He’s just so nice. My mum always says you need the best side on your team and luckily I’ve got my mum and now Denis.”

EMBARGOED Sunday AUG 23 Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door stars Ky Baldwin as Peter Woolnough. Picture: Tony Mott/Channel 7

Adding more polish to his act, Baldwin has also used the profit he makes from a self-made covers CD to pay for singing lessons, over Skype with the same vocal coach used by superstars like Justin Timberlake, Rihanna and Pharrell.

Teaching himself everything from video editing to dance tricks online, Baldwin explained: “one of the best ways to learn is do it yourself . Be curious and go looking for the answer. A lot of my videos I just learn as I’m going. I just practise a lot...that’s my thing, lots of hard work and now I’m getting better all the time.”

The triple threat also scored free acting advise from his Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door co-stars, including NIDA graduate Joel Jackson (who stars as the adult Allen) and Rebecca Gibney, his on-screen mother, Marion.

“I fell in love with watching her, just that moment when she flipped from Rebecca to Marion was amazing. She’d close her eyes and get herself in the moment and then ‘bang’ everything changed about her. Her posture changed, she was bright and happy, she was Marion. She was mind-blowing.”