Fed: Edgerton couldn't resist Dirt Game

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2009
Fed: Edgerton couldn't resist Dirt Game

By Katherine Field, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, AAP - Joel Edgerton admits he's been picky about TV roles since starring in
The Secret Life Of Us.

But when it came to starring in a new six part ABC drama about Australia's mining industry
called Dirt Game, the Australian actor couldn't resist.

"I've never been really snobbish about doing TV but there are certain types of television
shows that I really wouldn't want to do," Edgerton told AAP from Pittsburgh in the US
where he's about to start shooting for his new movie The Warrior.

"It really does depend on the moment you sit down and start turning the pages of the script.

"How you respond to the project whether you end up getting involved in it."

Since he wrapped up on the The Secret Life of Us seven years ago, Edgerton has only
appeared in one TV show - a pay television series called Dangerous, in 2007.

"My concern with TV after doing Secret Life was I had such a great time doing that
- would I ever be able to do a series or a job again that matched that experience," Edgerton
said.

"It really was one of the best times I've ever had working, working on that show.

"I also had a concern that I didn't ever really want to get bogged down doing a really
long running series."

Dirt Game was a perfect fit for Edgerton.

The six-part series tells the story of a fictional Australian mining company's battle
to stay afloat.

Edgerton plays ex-unionist Shane Bevic.

The story begins in the UK where oil executive Brian Jardine, played by Gerald Lepkowski,
is given six months ensure the company's viability.

He travels to Australia and gets a team of helpers together, including Edgerton's character
Bevic, Australian geologist Megan Kerr (Freya Stafford), old school mining engineer Max
Mees, played by ex-Neighbours star Shane Connor and former environmentalist Caz Cohen
(Katie Wall)

Edgerton said he loved his character.

"I enjoyed how detailed the world was," Edgerton said.

"The backdrop was the mining world which on its own is quite fascinating ... and it
looked like quite an intelligent take on that world."

Looking ahead Edgerton's life is all about movies.

He has three movies due for release this year: Animal Kingdom, The Waiting City and
Truth About Men.

The fighting movie, The Warrior, which he's about to start shooting with Nick Nolte,
is expected out next year.

It comes after Edgerton last year finally released his thriller The Square, which he
created with brother Nash.

Edgerton, who also starred in the film, said it was life changing.

"The Square has got me really excited and interested in writing more films, writing
more projects - it made me meet a lot of people that helped us make that film that I'm
sure I'll work with again," Edgerton said.

"It's taught me so much about what hard work and what sort of pain goes into getting
a film to a point where the actor walks on set and says their lines."

Edgerton is now at it again but doesn't want to reveal too much.

"I've written another thriller, I've written a drama but as to what exactly those things
are I'll wait until we've got closer to it all, or wait until we're shooting to talk about
it all," he said.

And while his career soars, Edgerton, said his heart remained in Australia and he had
no plans to base himself overseas.

"I prefer to work in Australia if I can depending on the project and the script," he said.

Dirt Game premieres on Sunday, April 19 at 8.30pm on ABC1.

AAP kaf/ss/de

KEYWORD: DIRT (AAP TV FEATURE) RPTG

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