“Light – The Ian Roberts Story” Shows How Coming Out Can Change A Game And A Life
It has been three decades since rugby league star Ian Roberts publicly announced he was gay. A new documentary, Light – The Ian Roberts Story, which has yet to be made, hopes to examine his life and asks: why does he remain the only male professional player in the code’s history to have come out?
From the field to the screen.
Directed by Heath Davis, the film promises a direct account of Roberts’ life. With Roberts himself serving as a producer, the story uses new interviews, archival footage, and personal re-enactments to provide an unvarnished look at the man behind the headlines. It explores the immense personal cost of his decision, both on and off the field.
A difficult path to greatness.
The documentary traces his early years in a conservative household where being gay was never spoken about. Roberts learned to channel his inner conflict onto the football field, developing an aggressive and dominant playing style that caught the attention of scouts for the National Rugby League (NRL). After joining South Sydney in 1985, his career took off, eventually leading him to sign with Manly as the highest-paid player in the game.
When a private life becomes public.
In 1995, Roberts went public, sparking a media frenzy. The film details his difficulties with the sudden attention, a subsequent period of addiction, and his eventual retirement from the sport. He then started a fresh career, earning a place at the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) to train as an actor.
More than just a football story…
The also looks into the deep personal tragedies that have marked his life. It covers his friendship with Arron Light, a troubled street kid he took in, whose body was discovered years later. The film also confronts the abuse Roberts suffered as a child and his ongoing battles with his mental health. Today, he is a prominent advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and inclusion in sport, with his recent work at the Qtopia Museum helping him reflect on the past and future. After all this time, has much really changed?
Production for Light – The Ian Roberts Story is being supported by a crowdfunding campaign. To find out more or to contribute, please visit the project’s official fundraising page at Documentary Australia.
