TOM BURLINSON ‘I WAS PINCHING MYSELF'

THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER STAR OPENS UP ABOUT HIS BIG ROLES – AND MEETING NICOLE KIDMAN

- Paul Ewart

With blockbusters such as The Man from Snowy River and Phar Lap under his belt and acting credits that have seen him share screen space with the likes of Carrie Fisher and Kirk Douglas, Tom Burlinson has had an enviable career.

The showbiz triple-threat takes New Idea on a stroll down memory lane, and through four decades of stage and screen success.

THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER, 1982

When Tom signed on to play the lead role of Jim Craig, he had no idea that his life would change forever.

In a drama where horses feature centre stage, however, there was one big setback: Tom couldn’t ride. Producers had to hire a trainer to teach him. And while Tom was new to the big screen, he was starring opposite a Hollywood legend – Kirk Douglas.

“This was my first movie,” Tom continues. “But for him it was perhaps his 60th. I admit, I was daunted at first.”

Kirk recently passed away and Tom has only fond memories of the legend.

“I ran into him one last time,” he recalls. “It was in a restaurant in Beverly Hills and I was wearing a suit – so looked very different out of my Akubra hat from the movie! I went over but he didn’t recognise me. He said: ‘Tom! I didn’t recognise you – you look so dapper!’”

PHAR LAP, 1983