Get to know: Gerald Urquhart
Gerald Urquhart returns to Shortland Street as
eccentric anaesthetist Dr Luke Durville.
How did you get your role on SS?
I have auditioned several times before for Shortland Street.
However I think the major reason I got it was a play I performed
with Andrea Kelland the casting agent. I played a very similar
character called Dex. I think that is what got me the job.
How long have you been acting and how did you get your
first big break?
I have been acting since the major productions at school. The
first theatre piece I did was 1995. I have done a large number of
short films and theatre pieces which all paid poorly if at
all.
My first major contract was for Power Rangers. I played the major
villain for the season. It involved prosthetics and a fake muscle
suit. It was a lot of fun and very lucrative!!
Name three similarities between you and your onscreen
character.
I also work as a teacher. I have a very similar authorative tone
to Dr. Durville when I'm in class.
Like Dr. Durville I pride myself on being judged by my work not
my persona.
Finally as a teenager I looked into the occult and witchcraft. I
think it was a by product of being into heavy metal. While I didn't
pursue it as far as Dr. Durville has I still understand where he is
coming from in his beliefs.
Who is the actor or actress that you look up to or admire the most?
At the moment I'm really watching Bill Nighy's work. He played
Davey Jones in Pirates of the Carribean. I would like my career
path to mimic his.
I am also impressed at how Bill Murray has managed to stay
relevant. I love his comic cynicism.
What is the thing you enjoy most about going to work
everyday?
I love the cast and crew. In what could be a very stressful
situation, filming a scene every day, everyone is relaxed and a
load of fun to be around. We have some great laughs both on and off
set but are very professional when need be.
Do you watch Shortland Street at home? And is it
strange seeing yourself on television or are you used to it?
I do catch it from time to time but only because my sister watches
it.
I am my own worst critic so when I see myself on screen I cringe.
However I have learnt to trust the responses of certain friends of
mine so I use them as a gauge as to how well I have done.
What is your date of birth and what star sign are you?
17th May and am a Taurus by birth and by nature.
What is your favourite food?
I love venison steak with a mushroom and peppercorn sauce and a
nice fresh salad. The only person who can cook that for me is my
Mum. Oh yeah and some vanilla icecream with her self-saucing
chocolate pud for dessert.
What's the strangest fan experience you've had?
Walking through the grounds at the school I teach at is pretty
strange. I was greeted with calls of murderer due to the
storyline I was involved in. No one meant it seriously
and I laughed along with them but I did find it slightly odd being
called a murderer on school grounds and still having my job.
Can you remember your first day on Shortland Street - what
was it like?
My first day on Shortland Street was a location day at my
character's house. It was a relaxing introduction to my contract as
I had to do a lot of reading a newspaper and whistling to
birds.
Most of the time I was in the background and not even the main
focus of the shot. The hardest part of the day was opening a
satchel in such a way that the contents could be seen inside. It
was great having such an easy start to calm my first day
nerves.
