October 1992 - TVHits

The scene is an exclusive suburb in Sydney's northern beaches, one of the most beautiful spots in Australia. "E Street" star Simon Denny has recently moved here with his girlfriend Rebecca Rigg (who played Amy Preston in "E Street") and is obviously happy about his cool new home in the hills. With co-star and buddy Adrian Lee only a short stroll down the road, Simon is particularly pleased because his new address is a long way from the hustle and bustle of Westside. "It's a really clean and healthy way of living", he explains. "Here I can go for a surf in the morning before work, mow the lawn if I've got the afternoon off. It's good for the soul. You feel like a normal person". These days, Simon Denny treasures the moments when he can feel like a normal person. In little more than six months he has gone from being a successful yet fairly unknown model to one of the most famous faces on TV. Getting a break from a friend at Westside Productions, Simon appeared in three of that company's pop videos (one by Euphoria, two by Melissa Tkautz) and was then offered the role of Officer Sam Farrell in their hit TV show, 'E Street'.

The first time we spoke, you had just started working on 'E Street'. How has it been going?
Simon Denny: "Good. How have you been going?" (laughs)

Good too, but getting back to you, has 'E Street' been very different from what you expected?
Simon Denny: "No. I didn't have any preconceived notions of what it would be like. I've just been taking things day by day. You know, when you start something, it's always difficult. Whenever you do anything, you get excited about it whether it be baking a cake or whatever. You think: Yeah, I'm gonna bake a cake and you visualize how good it's going to look, you're really positive about it, but you don't really know how it's going to turn out. You have to just take it as it comes and that's how I took it and it's been good".

So 'E Street's' been a piece of cake then?
Simon Denny: "There goes your headline, I suppose".

What's been the highlight for you so far?
Simon Denny: "Highlight so far? I dunno, there are different highlights. There's not one specific highlight that stands out above all the others. I've just enjoyed it thoroughly as a learning thing. It's been good and it's still gonna be good for a little while longer".

Are you very critical of your own performances?
Simon Denny: "Yes, I suppose I am, but it's that kind of job. If you don't, you don't try to better yourself. It's never good to get too content because then you get lazy and fat and start eating heaps of food and drinking heaps of beer and you never get off your balcony".

Was it strange to watch your girlfriend, Rebecca, turn into a complete loony?
Simon Denny: "It was kind of funny. It was a bit of an ongoing joke for a while. Yeah, it was pretty funny".

The two of you don't appear in the social pages as often as some of your castmates. Why is that?
Simon Denny: "Why? I just don't agree with it. They put you in there to fill up their newspaper. You might be coming out of a restaurant with your girlfriend and they get you. I just think they're a bit prying. But sure, other people enjoy it".

Do you feel awkward about being recognized in public?
Simon Denny: "On different occasions you do feel a bit awkward, but on other occasions it's OK. You get used to it".

What has been the most out-of-control experience so far?
Simon Denny: "I was in Grace Bros (department store) with a friend trying to buy some sunglasses and I heard these girls sort of go (makes loud sighing noise). It just freaked me out because I couldn't see where they were because of the racks of sunnies. So I just decided to start moving pretty quickly and I said to my friend: Are they still there? And he said: No, no, they're gone. The next thing I heard this huge sigh again and it was right next to me and I just freaked and ran out of the shop. They chased after me down the street and I had to duck through an arcade". (laughs)

Do you get stacks of fan mail?
Simon Denny: "Well, I have certain people who write to me all the time, neurotic soap watchers who, I think, write to everyone. They're classic! They always write at the bottom: "No photocopied autographs". Really demanding. Some of the people probably aren't interested in me at all. It's just getting an autograph so that they can show their friends and tell them they met someone on TV, which leads to some situations where people will just stand in front of you and hand you a pen and paper without saying anything. Sometimes I feel like saying: Well, what d'ya want? Do you want my autograph? Speak to me, I'm human".

Transcript thanks to: https://www.facebook.com/simonbaker.meantalist/posts/1745263632366869:0