Photography: Kate Holmes
Damion Hunter balances acting while teaching high school – which sounds like the premise for a movie!
DNA: You’ve been in Farscape, Redfern Now, Harrow and Black Snow. How do you feel your career has unfolded thus far?
Damion Hunter: I also work as an English and History teacher so I’m lucky to have that body of work behind me. I haven’t figured out the key to going back-to-back with jobs the way some actors do. I’m working on it!
Do you have a preference for film, television or theatre?
I like film and I’d like to see it come back. Streaming services are killing off cinema. The whole “event” of watching a movie has been stripped away. The quality of some movies being streamed deserves the big screen with everyone cheering, laughing and munching on their popcorn.
As an Indigenous person, do you think the entertainment industry is making a strong attempt to tell more Indigenous stories?
Absolutely. There’s a lot more Indigenous stories being told now than when I was in school and it’s refreshing. Diversity is progressing and that goes for all marginalised people. There are more non-binary and LGBTQIA+ people on TV. They are becoming more visible, just like Indigenous people and new Australians.
Do you think Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ people have shared a similar trajectory over the years, being portrayed negatively in film?
Yes. Thankfully that paradigm has shifted. Twenty years back I played a policeman on The Bill, which was quite fresh for the time. Indigenous blokes were only playing unemployed people or marginalised characters. When I got the role of a cop I thought, “This is out there!” It was great that they were playing to diversity.
Of your work involving Indigenous themes, which has been the most profound?
I did a film in 2019 called Smoke Between Trees. It’s a beautiful, riveting story about grief and loss. When it was shown at the Melbourne International Film Festival I was practically in tears before the opening credits. It’s powerful and made with love. Elly Chatfield, who played my mother, was amazing and the lead, Tiriel Mora, gave it gravity and depth.
Redfern Now is acclaimed as one of the best Indigenous dramas. What was your experience working on that?
It was powerful and achieved a lot critically and artistically. It gave me a chance to take pride in who I am, as well as my mob and to tell our stories. Those stories were great, especially the one about the kid in trouble for not singing the national anthem in school. I had friends in grade five who were pinned for that. This was before they recognised “the gap”, let alone attempted to close it.
Who are your Indigenous mates in the industry?
Natasha Wanganeen [Rabbit Proof Fence]. She’s always doing great things. My “brother” Mark Coles Smith [Mystery Road: Origin]; he’s a good soul to be around. And I’ve also been lucky enough to work with Jimi Bani [Redfern Now] a few times.
Have you ever played a gay role?
At NIDA I played Vincent from The Jungle, by Louis Nowra. He’s personal assistant to a singer styled on Marianne Faithfull. It’s an interesting play and I’d love to see how it translates onto film. It’s set in Kings Cross in the ’90s and reads like a Quentin Tarantino script with intertwined stories.
Did you ever go clubbing with gay mates?
When I was younger, I’d go out with my gay cousin, Suri. Also, through NIDA, there were heaps of gay nightclubs involved. We’d end up at The Courthouse on Oxford Street. That place was so dingy and still going in daylight!
Who’s your music diva?
Beyonce. I wish I could dance along to her songs but, sadly, I can’t! I sometimes try to in front of my students, and they have a good laugh! Drunk In Love – oh, my goodness! I love that song.
What song will always get you on the dancefloor?
I Like To Move It by Reel 2 Real. Early ’90s house. I love Hit That Perfect Beat by Bronski Beat and Born Slippy by Underworld.
What do you think of DNA having a First Nations issue?
Mate, it’s great. First Nations should be presented everywhere all the time. Why do NAIDOC Week and National Sorry Day only happen once a year? It’s great that DNA celebrates Indigenous people in the LGBTQIA+ community because they’re people who are marginalised within another margin. How tough would that be?
I don’t understand why some heterosexual men feel they’ve got to be homophobic to be heterosexual. I don’t get that mentality. What are they scared of? I feel safer around queer people than jacked-up footy players.
Tell us about the new sci-fi film you have coming up, Last Ark.
It’s amazing. The director Tom Taylor is like a mad scientist. He’s done everything himself. He’s written, directed, edited and produced it. He even 3D-printed all the models and made all the weapons and costumes by hand. He asked me to do some costume shoots, then I went back to film a bit, and it gradually became a feature film! I’m eager to see how this beast turns out.
You’ve studied at both WAAPA and NIDA. What’s your advice to people entering the entertainment industry?
Both are great but these days we have smart phones and you can shoot great stuff on them. My advice is to write your stories and film them. When you craft something out of love, people will gravitate to it; they’ll come to you and a team will build from there.
Who’s been the biggest career inspiration?
Sam Worthington [Avatar] is a good friend of mine. I went to NIDA with him. I’ve learned from how he goes about his craft, the way he’s built a career, his shrewd choice of roles. The last thing we did together was pitch a trailer called The Boys Of ’74 about the Socceroos making it to the World Cup. If we had the money, we would’ve made it in 2004 and released it just in time for when the Socceroos made it again in 2006.
What’s your choice on boardies v speedos?
Boardies! No one needs to see the other!
Briefs, boxers or freeballing?
Trunk boxer briefs. I used to like briefs and one day my wife looked at me and said, “I’m getting you some trunks!”
MORE: Smoke Between Trees is on SBS On Demand.
WHICH CELEBRITY WOULD YOU TURN GAY FOR?
Damion: The Rock, Dwayne Johnson. Regardless of body parts or sexuality he’s got charisma, which always wins points, and I like his vocabulary and the way he looks directly at people as he talks.
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Photography: Tinseltown/Shutterstock.
