Newcomer Alexander England’s physicality is perfect for the part of the imposing gentle giant, Conrad Fischer, the youngest of the Wild Boys.

“I was always pretty big, pretty solid growing up,” says England. “My dream was to catch my dad who is six foot four. I fell short by one centimetre.”

Born in Sydney, England moved with his family to Albury at age seven, from where his artist mum’s family hails and where his dad set up a psychiatry practice.

England was not sure what he wanted to do in life, “For a birthday present my dad got me into the Foundations Course at VCA and I thought, ‘This is really fun – it would be great to be able to do it every day’. So I set my sights on the three-year course and thankfully got in. Because I don’t know what I’d be doing now otherwise.”

A year after graduation, England was asked to audition for Wild Boys. He got an unexpected call-back, but was involved in a co-op play in Melbourne at the time so was unable to attend.

“And I thought that’s it, I’ve missed my chance. I didn’t hear anything for three or four months. It was long gone. Out of my head. Then in February my agent rang me and said, ‘I’ve got a job for you’. I said, ‘For … what?’” He laughs. “And that was that. It was fantastic. It’s really my first gig.”

His parents, 21 cousins, and grandparents in Albury are excited to see him in Wild Boys. “Grandfather was a drover. He’s particularly excited to see something with horses in it on TV,” says England. “People assume I know horses, being from Albury,” he adds. “I did have a few lessons, but my teacher moved to Tasmania. So it really was three weeks before we started shooting that I jumped on a horse.

“And the whole idea here is: let’s not pretend we can ride horses. Let’s really try and lock it in. There’s only so much you can learn in a few weeks but it was a good few weeks. And it was bonding as well, being out there with the guys, learning from each other and getting into it.”

For England, who turned 25 a few weeks into the shoot, working with a cast of experienced actors is an invaluable learning experience.

“There’s such a lovely energy on this – which I hear is kind of unique – because people are really enjoying it. That’s the strength of the show. People are really enjoying doing it. It’s fun and actors are having fun doing it.”

WHO’S YOUR FAVOURITE WILD BOY?

“John Grady McCole, in Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses, is an amazing character. The land and the horses are such a part of his being. He’s a simple guy in that if anything gets in the way of what he believes is good and true and honest he will fight it tooth and nail. He has a reckless abandon that is exciting.”

WHO’S YOUR HORSE?
“My horse is Jake. We have a checkered history. I did come off him impressively in the second week of shooting. It was unfamiliarity. We were learning to cope with each other.”