MUSICAL theatre star Rob Mills has ridden the highs and lows of the entertainment industry.
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On Monday afternoon, he was on hand to host a workshop with almost 40 students from Bendigo South East College’s Academy of Creative Arts.
Mills said he was always happy to help out other theatre communities with any words of wisdom he may have learned.
“I didn't really have any mentors growing up as far as the entertainment or music industry goes. So I feel like maybe I can be that person even on small occasions like today,” he said.
“When I dropped out of drama in year 11, it was because I didn't believe in myself. Looking back, I would have said 'come on mate, it's all OK'.
“It's important to really keep pushing yourself and don’t fear the judgement.”
Mills’ career kicked off when he auditioned for the first series Australian Idol in 2003.
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After he finished fifth, he released an album the following year before being dropped by his label.
From there he turned his focus to theatre, starring in productions of Hair, Wicked, The Last Five Years, Legally Blonde, Grease and Ghost.
This year he has starred as Cedric Diggory in American play Puffs.
Puffs recently became the longest-running play in Melbourne and is on until August 12.
“In the last 10 years, and more so in the last five years, I have found acting is so good for you,” he said.
“All it does is help your empathy levels. You learn to read people and to be comfortable in yourself and on stage – so you can be comfortable anywhere.”
Being comfortable on stage was the major theme Mills spoke of in his workshop on Monday.
ACA student Kody Austin – who plays Kenicke in Tribe Youth Theatre’s upcoming production of Grease – said it was amazing to hear from people who work in the entertainment industry.
“It’s just an experience you can’t get anywhere else, which is amazing,” he said.
“For me ACA is one of the main reasons I moved to BSE and I'm so happy with that choice.”
Austin said he is enjoying preparing for Tribe’s production of Grease, which arrives at the Girton Black Box theatre on Friday, September 28.
“It’s definitely a musical that a lot of people are connected to,” he said.