AFI award winner Nathaniel Dean plays Mick Scanlon.

AFI award winner Nathaniel Dean has secured roles in some of Australia’s best known productions since he graduated from NIDA in 1999. When the opportunity arose to play Mick Scanlon in the Australian adventure, Wild Boys, Dean knew that saying yes meant hard work, commitment, long hours and a physically demanding schedule, but he was up for the challenge. After an extensive audition process, Nathaniel joined the cast.

“The audition process was quite long one; everyone wanted to be in this show. Growing up in the Dandenong Ranges did not come without the engaging bushranger stories from a young age. I had a great history teacher who shared these adventures with us. When the role came up, I jumped at the chance to be a part of it. It was a really exciting character and a great new Australian project.”

Scanlon’s smouldering dignity and complexity is a departure from Dean’s most recent TV work in Rush and as Sidney Martin in the first Underbelly.

It’s true to say Dean’s career has been all about variety. In 2002 he won a Best Supporting Actor AFI for his work in the acclaimed film Walking on Water; and in 2004 he was nominated for the same award for the breakthrough film Somersault. His other screen credits include the drama ‘The Final Winter” and the long-running sci-fi series Farcsape.

He has also had recurring roles in the popular and award winning dramas East West 101, All Saints , Always Greener and Rainshadow.

“I’ve been lucky with playing a lot of diverse characters over the years” says Dean. “Scanlon is a challenge. He sits in both camps – a former bushranger who is now the sergeant of the town. He was given that job in exchange for an early release from hard labour when he was in jail. He is a loner. Then heart, pride and strength of Scanlon is what I try to work on.

“I was treading the boards at Belvoir, in their production ‘Gwen in Purgatory’, with Neil Armfield. In between stage-runs, I was also juggling performances as Kronin, on Rush, with lots of guns. So I’m well accustomed to the weapons, but horse riding was a completely new skill I had to learn.”

“My first ride was a trail ride – I had been given this sort of donkey, plodding along all the way up back. The producers gave us a month where we had five hours a day of riding. It was a chance for all of us to get to know each other and get into the world of 1860. It was so much fun. It’s rare to have that amount of time to develop your character. I really had to hit the gym hard to stay in shape and manage the hours on set as well as the stunts.

“Then four weeks of shooting go by, and you’re shooting a scene riding a horse at gallop through a creek thinking, ‘How am I doing this?”

Dean is relishing working on show: “There is great humour and heart to Wild Boys”.

And of course, his cast and crew. “Honestly, I am not just saying this: It’s probably the most energetic and supportive set that I’ve ever been on. The energy is coming from everyone lifting their game to new levels and working with David Field, who brings such spirit to his work. Michael Dorman, Dan Macpherson, Zoe Ventoura, Alex England and Jeremy Sims... all great actors, it’s been such a gift.

“Everyone is doing the hard yards. It’s an endurance test when we’re out there. Locations, horses, guns, physical fights, early starts... They’re long days. The production design and costumes are incredible and authentic: It’s 1860 and it’s an adventure.”

Who’s your favourite Wild Boy?
“I’ve been reading a lot of Henry Lawson. Henry was a wild boy: He created characters that were diverse and captivating. He would go into these early Australian towns and write what he saw, creating some genuine Australian heroes. Reading his poetry has given me a real sense of the times.”

Who is your horse?
“Scout. He’s the best, without a doubt. I think we all will say that about our horses. I had my first ever canter on Scout and I thought: ‘Right, you need to be my horse.’”