Stephen Peacocke keeping it real

He is known for high-profile roles on Home & Away and Five Bedrooms, but actor Stephen Peacocke says there is something special about playing true-life roles, rather than fictional ones.

“The only real character I’ve played was in Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan. That was probably the thing I’ve done that I’m most proud of so far. Even though it was a small part of the film he was a very big part of that battle,” he tells TV Tonight.

“I got to meet him. He’s very inspirational and an incredible bloke. You have to remember that people like that existed who were so selfless and courageous.”

Yet playing former drug squad detective Paul Dale in Nine’s Informer 3838 miniseries comes with its own challenges.

“He was a very successful detective for quite a period of time in Victoria Police and he grew up in a country town.

“It’s a big character within the whole story we’re telling”

“It’s not a massive part when you look at the pages but it’s a big character within the whole story we’re telling.”

Nine’s drama depicts how Nicola Gobbo’s (Ella Scott Lynch) secret double life helped Victoria Police win the gangland wars, which triggered a Royal Commission and left her in fear of her life.

It didn’t take long for Peacocke to get up to speed on the drama surrounding Dale, whose reputation and career was left in tatters after being charged with a 2003 burglary and murder, but ultimately never convicted.

“As you type a few of these subjects into Google or YouTube this all this stuff comes up”

“As soon as you type a few of these subjects into Google or YouTube this all this stuff comes up. It is just fascinating stuff and an interesting part of the legal history of our country. So I didn’t know about it, but I know a lot about it now,” he explains.

“There’s plenty of interviews… 7:30 and lots of different things I was able to look up. He wrote a book that I read and re-read.

“Anyone who’s read a newspaper in the last couple years or watched the news knows that this is a really compelling story and the script captures that really well.

“A wise man once told me to follow the good writing in this line of work. This was obviously an interesting character and a pretty complicated story that had me wanting to keep reading on.”

Filming took place late last year in inner Melbourne, including actual locations where key events took place.

“We were in Lygon Street recently. So you’re in these places and it’s all very authentic and real because lots of these places haven’t changed,” he recalls.

“There’s something even better about being in these places where this stuff actually happened”

“As good as studios are these days there’s something even better about being in these places where this stuff actually happened.”

But how does portraying someone real differ to a fictional one, and does he feel extra responsibility?

“It presents its own challenges, obviously,” he admits.

“But the character I’m playing is what’s been written in the script, so that was all a blueprint for what needs to be told throughout the story we’re telling. It’s all public record stuff.

“That’s always in the back of your mind”

“These are real people you’re playing so that’s always in the back of your mind. But it’s like anything, you just try to deliver the best performance from what’s on the page.

“And the people I’m acting opposite are so good, it makes it a little bit easier.

“Working with Ella, for instance, it’s like playing tennis against someone who’s really good because it kind of raises your game.”

Informer 3838 concludes tonight at 8:40pm on Nine.