Balancing act: 'I SWITCHED CAREERS FOR MY KIDS'

Westside's Will Hall is running for Christchurch City Council

- Linda Herrick

Will Hall may have left acting, but acting is taking its time leaving him.

The star has built up a solid profile as an actor over the past couple of decades, with roles including the skateboarding Dr Kip Denton in Shortland Street, a team leader in the pub-quiz drama series Nothing Trivial and lady-magnet Detective Mike McCarthy in Westside.

As Mike, Will had some eye-popping scenes sporting a short, burnt-orange towelling bathrobe, an iconic garment that he still owns. But it's all over... for now. The 43-year-old has called time on acting for the sake of his family.

Born and bred in Christchuch, Will has long been based in Auckland because that's where the work was. But last year, Will and his wife Sarah decided to move to Christchurch to make a better life for their two boys, Freddie, six, and Jed, four.

Another major reason for the change was to be closer to his parents, who still live there.

Now comfortably settled in the suburb of Redcliffs, Will is chasing two new roles, running for city councillor and a place on the community board in next month's local body elections in his ward of Heathcote. It might be just the ticket to get the acting bug out of his system.