Alex On…

[Updated 28-NOV-11]

… Alex

I’m a working class kid. My appreciation for what I have in my life is great. — TV Guide, April 2009

I don’t want to be known as the next Russell Crowe or Heath Ledger, I just want to be known as the new Alex O’Lachlan. — Nationwide News, Melbourne, June 14, 2005

Mick has a dark sense of humor, too, which I really like. But beyond that, he and I are quite different. Mick is tougher than I am, and probably a little smarter, too. I’m just a guy who’s lucky enough to do what he enjoys for a living. — Starlog, March 2008

I’ve always been a wildcard. Always have been, always will be. — The Canberra Times, June 28, 2005

My friends would say I’m dependable, a joker, intelligent. I’m multi-talented, probably because I’m so ADD. I can also be quiet. — Cleo, March 2008

I’m more like one of those jacks-of-all-trades, master of nothing. — TV Guide Magazine, August 2009

It makes you appreciate what you have. Look at my life. I’m so very lucky. — Film.com, August 30, 2009

I’m a passionate person and very positive about life. I’m tenacious and a go-getter. If I believe in something, I’ll go after it. — Film.com, August 30, 2009

I’m a very private person and my house is my sanctuary. I have my garden. — Film.com, August 30, 2009

When it gets tricky is for instance at the end of a 16-hour day… That’s when my Aussie really comes out, is when I’m tired. — Cleveland’s Best Mix 106.5, October 2, 2009

Learning to get in touch with that part of me as a young alpha Aussie male has been a struggle and one of the greatest experiences so far in my career. — The Courier-Mail, October 14, 2009

People who care about people inspire me. — Live Chat with Alex, October 1, 2009

I am also and have always been an inquiring mind. — Live Chat with Alex, October 1, 2009

My worst habit is cursing. — Live Chat with Alex, October 1, 2009

I’m a very passionate person. I’m very positive. I’m very tenacious. I can be outgoing, and I’m a go-getter. When I believe in something, I go after it. — IESB.net, September 9, 2009

I’ve been doing this for a long time; I love it, it’s my job but at the end of the day I’m just me with my people, you know? — CBS, October 2009

I live my life with lightness and laughter, unless I’m playing Xbox! Then it’s about death! — LA Times, July 18, 2007

I just try to carry the sense of integrity and authenticity I had in the beginning of my career, because I think that’s what makes people interested in you in the first place. It’s important not to lose that. — Movieline, April 19, 2010

But I have to maintain perspective, because that’s the only thing that gets me through the gaps of unemployment. I always say to myself, ‘This moment will pass,’ whether it’s good, bad or indifferent. — Sunday Magazine, May 2, 2010

Because of how my life has panned out, I’ve had to learn to adapt. I went to a lot of schools and lived in a lot of places, so I learnt to make a little sanctuary wherever I was. — Sunday Magazine, May 2, 2010

In the words of maybe my favorite comedian Billy Connolly, I’ve got a voice like a goose farting in the fog. Which is not a good thing. — E! September 14, 2010

I think I’m quite sensitive. Maybe it’s what allows me to be an actor. — GQ Style, March 2011

I’m pretty resilient but then it gets to a point where, once I feel defeated, it’s like I hang my head, it weighs a ton. It’s really difficult to raise it back up again and kick on. — GQ Style, March 2011

I’m actually a really loving, attentive person. — GQ Style, March 2011

I would rather set fire to myself than join social networks. I’m so unmanageable when it comes to that stuff. If I have Facebook, Twitter, anything like that, I don’t know what would happen. — Hawaii News Now, March 7, 2011

Now I’m interested in a woman’s brain. Women are so much more intrinsically sophisticated than men. I look for a woman who’s smart, funny and doesn’t necessarily think I’m funny but understands my sense of humor enough to roll her eyes and deal with it. — InStyle, April 2011

It’s reassuring when you come home and your mates say you haven’t changed much. — The Sydney Morning Herald, November 23, 2011

Whether I was working on a building site or auditioning or moving to the US, I’ve always done it with all of my heart. I don’t know how to do it any other way. — GQ Australia, November 2011

… His Childhood

I didn’t feel that engaged with the world as a kid. I wasn’t the fastest learner. I didn’t feel like I fit. — TV Guide, December 2007

Canberra was a strange experience for me. I never felt at home in Canberra. — The Canberra Times, June 28, 2005

As a young ‘un, I just wanted to run to the world. — The Canberra Times, June 28, 2005

I had an Iron Maiden poster, I idolised Johnny Depp and Monkey in Monkey Magic. My mum made me that gold crown he used to wear. — Cleo, March 2008

I hated school as a kid, I just wanted to run through forests and not be inside, but now I read a lot. — Film.com, August 30, 2009

‘A-Team,’ hell, yeah, man – Murdock, Hannibal. Those were my favorite shows, ‘The A-Team’ and ‘Monkey Magic,’ which I bet none of you knows about. — Zap2It, October 8, 2009

People ask what kind of kid I was—I used to steal bricks from construction sites, build walls from them, then ride my trike down through them. — Time Out New York, October 2009

I wanted to become a jet fighter pilot, but my 1st grade teacher told me I would never be able to because I have asthma. Always teach children to reach for the stars. — Live Chat with Alex, October 1, 2009

… Living with ADHD and OCD

I’m a little ADD and so I have to be a little OCD to focus on things long and hard enough to get things done in my busy life. — AlexOLoughlin.org, December 2008

When I was a young boy in elementary school I was quite a blatant example of a child with OCD, and I remember how it used to make me feel and how difficult it was. — TV Squad, April 29, 2009

I had a bit of OCD as a kid, quite a bit, actually. I wouldn’t step on a crack. It would take me an hour to get my shoes tied, because I had this weird OCD thing. — Zap2It, October 8, 2009

I’m all ADD, I’m fidgeting all the time, which must burn a few calories. — Time Out New York, October 2009

If I get OCD about something, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I have to do it’. — GQ Style, March 2011

[The ADHD] went undiagnosed and I managed to keep it hidden, but it caused me a lot of frustration. — Men’s Fitness, August 2011

… Family and Relationships

I am a very private person. I have my life and I have my family, which mean the world to me. — AAP General News, June 16, 2005

My parents have always been very proud of me. They’ve supported me the whole time. My parents are awesome. — TV Guide Magazine, August 2009

I feel like I’m always away from my family. I spend more money on travel than anything else, flying around the world to see the people I love or bringing them to me. Sometimes I wish I had become a banker or a builder to keep me in one spot. — National Ledger, April 19, 2010

But relationships are hard. That stuff I keep pretty close to my chest because it’s no one’s business. — Sunday Magazine, May 2, 2010

I don’t have free time but I always make time for my family. — Star, November 19, 2010

If I’m [Bon Scott's] son, then the bloke I call Dad is a dark horse. I loved AC/DC – but it’s not true. — Sunday Telegraph, October 14, 2007

It’s difficult for me to trust that I could be safe and happy with another person, because it just doesn’t come naturally to me. — The Insider, March 2010

… His Son

I have a son. I kinda keep him out of the press. That’s how we do it. But the joy of fatherhood, it’s been the greatest gift. — WHO, October 16, 2009

[First time fatherhood] was some time ago for me, but in the future, I’d love to have a mini footy team. You know, seven-a-side or something. — WHO, October 16, 2009

I have a 12-year-old. I was there when he was born. He’s the center of my universe and always has been. I’ll never forget the day he was born. I kept it together. I was pretty good. I was supportive. — IESB, April 4, 2010

We’re very close. My whole world revolves around that little bloke. — Sunday Magazine, May 2, 2010

My son wants to dive and this place is perfect for that. He’s growing up on film sets so I’m kind of ruining his movie experience because he knows how things are done. — The Philippine Star, November 21, 2010

My son is not only the greatest thing that ever happened to me, but he’s also my greatest success, my greatest inspiration. I’m getting to pass on all the good things I’ve learned in life to another human soul. — Men’s Fitness, August 2011

He’s the best 14-year-old around. I want him to have every opportunity I ever had and the ones I didn’t. — GQ Australia, November 2011

… His Looks

I don’t get it. I get up in the morning and my hair is all hanging in my face and poking up on one side, I need to shave and I look older than I am. When I stagger into the kitchen to get my breakfast, I don’t think, ‘Oh, look at that handsome guy. Look at that talented special creature.’ — ETonline, April 29, 2009

I’m just me. I am who I am. I get up and look in the mirror and I see the same guy I see every day. — CBS, October 2009

Look how handsome I was back then, before I turned gray and tired. — Star, November 19, 2010

I’m on the Clooney train to freedom. I love it. — Men’s Fitness, August 2011

… Fame

What am I dreading? Not really anything. I guess I think about losing my anonymity sometimes, which I don’t really want to happen. — TV Guide, Up Close, April 2008

Fame is kind of frightening. I don’t yearn for it. All of a sudden, you are driving home one night, and there’s your head, 30 feet tall, on a billboard on Sunset Boulevard. — CBS Watch!, 2008

Losing my anonymity in this world, I think is something that I find terrifying. — AAP General News, June 16, 2005

Fame, for all intents and purposes, is not something that I aspire to. — AAP General News, June 16, 2005

I’m really private. I never have and I never will plug into the Hollywood clique. — ET, October 24, 2009

It’s nice having your work recognized but having people follow you around is kinda weird. — Woman’s Day, December 2007

I like my job, and I’m not naive or ignorant to the nature of what happens in this industry, but I didn’t become an actor to get famous. I became an actor because I love the work. — Movieline, April 19, 2010

I don’t really act like I’m famous. I just do my thing. — Movieline, April 19, 2010

Sometimes I get pointed out or some people shuffle up and ask for an autograph or a photograph, but I’m not at a point where I can’t leave the house, thank God. — Movieline, April 19, 2010

I just try to carry the sense of integrity and authenticity I had in the beginning of my career, because I think that’s what makes people interested in you in the first place. It’s important not to lose that. — Movieline, April 19, 2010

I am not an actor for that kind of recognition. — CBS Watch!, 2008

You don’t necessarily change, but people around you start to change because they think you are going to change. — Sunday Magazine BTS video, January 14, 2010

I’m very protective of my family, and I don’t ever want this stuff affecting them. Usually I’m okay with it, but sometimes I want to just go home and shut the door. I’m a very private person, and this loss of anonymity is the hardest thing to deal with. — Jetstar Magazine, February 2011

Somebody came up to me and went, ‘Do I know you?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know’, and he’s like, ‘What do you do?’ And I said, ‘I’m an actor.’ I’m waiting for, ‘Oh, I saw you in this movie’, and they go, ‘I got it! Tampon boy!’ And I go, ‘Yep, that’s me. I’m tampon boy.’ I’m quite endeared to that little commercial. — New Weekly, March 3, 2008

Sometimes I prefer to stay at the house, but for the most part, it’s part of the gig and [Hawaii] is probably the best place on earth to get used to it. — GQ Style, March 2011

I think it’s ignorant if you’re going to pursue a career in acting to allow yourself to get any sort of celebrity status and then be angry about it. I completely accept the loss of anonymity as part of success in this career I’ve chosen. But it doesn’t change the fact that I can get agoraphobic in crowds and that I spin out sometimes when I get too much attention, or that I get anxious, or that I’m sensitive. — GQ Style, March 2011

I’m not going to tell you that I love celebrity. Every red carpet I have to do makes me want to puke. It freaks me out so much. Paparazzi freak me out. I love my job but I still think I’ll never be comfortable with some of the things that come along with it. But that’s OK. And if it gets too much, I’ll stop. — GQ Style, March 2011

I’m fascinated by the pathology of someone who wants to be famous – I am so far away from that. It fucking terrifies me. I’m getting anxious just talking about it. — GQ Australia, November 2011

… His Fans

I’m always surprised if anything I’m involved with has any fans whatsoever. — TV Guide, TV Watercooler, April 2008

I agree, I have the best fans. Thank you for the continued support of my career! All of your love is definitely felt and appreciated! Lotsa Love, Alex — MySpace PM to mizzoh, February 23, 2009

The other thing is, my true fans, emphasis on the word true, will follow me wherever I go. — ETonline, April 29, 2009

My fans are so caring, they send me so many well wishes, and lovely cards. Beautiful paintings. It’s amazing, I’ve never experienced it before. It can be a little overwhelming, I’m just like anyone else. Can you imagine, like opening the mail, and getting 1,000 letters? It can be really weird, really bizarre. — MyTakeOnTV, April 29, 2009

I think my fans, because they’re so, comprehensive, with their study of me, and their research of me, I think that they’re probably starting to get to know me a bit now, as well, and if they’re still my fans, it means they still like me. If they still like me, hopefully they’re going to like what I like in the characters that I choose. — MyTakeOnTV, April 29, 2009

Right, so hopefully, they’re going to come to love the characters that I love, the way I love them for the same reasons, or similar reasons. I want to take them all with me, I want to take them on this journey and show them what I’m learning and what I’m loving, and they’re great people, too. — MyTakeOnTV, April 29, 2009

Without you all it would be kind of pointless so, again, thank you. — MySpace Blog, July 30, 2009

… none of your love and hard work ever goes unnoticed or unappreciated. It is something in my life that helps me find the energy I don’t always think I have, to get through another long work day and stay inspired. — MySpace Blog, July 30, 2009

It was the first time I’ve been overwhelmed from fans. It was like strange and a little surreal. At first it’s kind of spooky opening those letters, hundreds and hundreds of letters, from people who know so much about you, yet have had no real interaction with you. But I’m much more comfortable with it now. — Film.com, August 30, 2009

Genre fans are renowned for their passion, enthusiasm and dedication… and voice, which I really love. I never really think anything I do is going to be that special or affect anybody that much and so I was surprised. — Entertainment Weekly, September 2009

It’s very strange and surreal. At first, there’s something a little spooky about opening hundreds and hundreds of letters from people you’ve never met, and that know so much about you and have an intimate connection with you. Now, I’m much more comfortable with it. — IESB.net, September 9, 2009

Without my fans and their support, my job is pointless. — IESB.net, September 9, 2009

There’s a whole group of people in the world that love me and care about my future and stuff. I’m deeply humbled. — CBS, October 2009

I’m deeply appreciative of my fans and I try to express that whenever possible, and I certainly like to express that in my work. — Movieline, April 19, 2010

Yeah, I do have a great fanbase, and they’re wonderful. They’ve been very supportive of my career and very understanding of my life and the fact that I’m not very good at blogging or Twittering or anything like that. — Movieline, April 19, 2010

…you guys know what’s happening in my life before I do… — MySpace blog, November 30, 2009

I love, love, love my fans and appreciate them so much. It’s a very, very strange experience having people you don’t really know, know you and express great emotion to you. It’s validating to a point, but it’s also really bizarre. — Boston Herald, May 15, 2011

… Spirituality

I think really if there’s nothing out there in the dark, then once we’re dead we’re just dead and all religion, all spiritual belief, is redundant. So there has to be something else, or what’s the point? And if we accept that there has to be something… then there can be anything. — Sydney Morning Herald, December 2007

I’m reading the “Tibetan Book of Living and Dying”. Read that and get back to me. — TV SOAP, November 2009

… Organ Donation

I now have the chance to give the gift of life, which I believe is the greatest gift of all. — MySpace Blog, September 6, 2009

It is such an important cause and one that so many of us could do with a little more information on. — MySpace Blog, September 6, 2009

I’m very, very proud and I feel very privileged to be a part of an organization like Donate Life because it’s just so important. — TVGuide.com, October 2, 2009

I went on The Bonnie Hunt Show and I forgot to wear my [Donate Life] pin. I was so mad at myself. I take my pin everywhere. People ask about it and I tell them about it. — TVGuide.com, October 2, 2009

When I first read the script, one of the initial things that came to me was the obvious potential for community service, and this sort of philanthropic idea of maybe being involved with Donate Life America or any company that would come onboard with us. — TVGuide.com, October 2, 2009

I’m only one person, but hopefully I’ll bring more awareness to more people. — TVGuide.com, October 2, 2009

I wasn’t sure before, but now I’ve been officially confirmed as a donor. I have the card saying I’m an organ and tissue donor. I’m like, “You take it all.” — TVGuide.com, October 2, 2009

My understanding of the importance of donation has been heightened so much. There’s a lot more to it than just checking a box or putting a sticker on your license. — New York Vue, October 2009

I understand that people have personal, religious and superstitious views that may stop them from doing it, and I don’t judge that at all. — IESB.net, September 9, 2009

I’ve seen all the procedures now, except for a heart transplant. That’s one thing I haven’t seen, but I’ve seen pretty much every other operation available to do on the heart. And, my understanding of the importance of this has been heightened so much. — IESB.net, September 9, 2009

But, I really want to become a spokesperson with Donate Life America, to bring an awareness to people who might not know about it. — IESB.net, September 9, 2009

Well, though the news of the show is heartbreaking I view it as nothing more than a temporary setback in the work I plan to do with Donate Life America. For me this is just the beginning of what I hope to be a long relationship. — MySpace Blog, November 30, 2009

‘Three Rivers’ may have been laid to rest, but my support for this cause and this incredible organization has certainly not. — Alex’s DLH 2010 ‘Person of the Year’ Award acceptance speech

… Health, Fitness and Interests

I do my meditation, play my music, and keep my head. — The Canberra Times, June 28, 2005

I’m crazy for motorcycles. That’s my most dangerous vice. — TV Guide Magazine, August 2009

It’s a hobby for me, but I’m never alone if there’s a guitar there. — Zap2It, October 8, 2009

You don’t have to punch each other in the face anymore. It’s all changed. It was part of the game. As boys, it’s important to get punched and hit. Now you get severe penalties, and they bench you for six weeks. We called it ‘getting to know each other. — Zap2It, October 8, 2009

I’m a fisherman. I’ve always loved fishing. I grew up fishing for trout. I’m not the best fly fisherman, but I can fly-fish, because I crack a whip. I learned to crack a whip as a boy, out on the properties. I have skills, mad skills. Also I’ve been ocean fishing and river fishing. — Zap2It, October 8, 2009

I’m playing a surgeon currently, so I’m trying to stay on the thinner, leaner side. — Time Out New York, October 2009

I get in shape, but if I needed to get fat for a role I would. — Time Out New York, October 2009

Swimming in a pool back and forth drives me crazy, but I can run for hours. Whatever I can do outside I prefer to do. I much prefer to get up in the hills, use trees and rocks. — Time Out New York, October 2009

Every workout I do has a core-based strength to it. If you focus on your core, doing Pilates and things, everything else will respond better. — Time Out New York, October 2009

What I’m discovering now that I’m no longer in my twenties. I’m not 21 anymore, I’m 33. Holy shit, though! My body’s never been better, and I’ve never felt better in my body. — Time Out New York, October 2009

I have an ultimate goal: I want long-term health. I want to be fit when I’m in my seventies. The work I do now and the seeds I sow now will pay off later. — Time Out New York, October 2009

I’ll really enjoy taking a nice long walk on the beach or do surfing. — Time Out New York, October 2009

Rock. Hard rock. Like, really old Metallica, from their first four albums, or Soundgarden. Tool. I love working out to Tool. — Time Out New York, October 2009

My bed stand has about 10 books and I’ve been reading a lot of medical journals and scripts. — Film.com, August 30, 2009

I have a very sweet tooth. You could put a giant chocolate cake in front of me and I will eat it. Unashamedly, no apologies. But if it’s not there, I don’t eat it. — Time Out New York, October 2009

Once a week, I have one day off where I eat whatever I want. Honey Smacks! They drive me crazy. And Froot Loops. — Time Out New York, October 2009

I do circuit training, interval training. I do this interval thing called Tabata. It’s 20 seconds on, ten seconds off at 100 percent intensity. I aim for four days a week. — Time Out New York, October 2009

After a hard day, I stop and meditate which shakes the day off and then I shower and read. I usually don’t get too far into the book before I’m out. — Live Chat with Alex, October 1, 2009

I loved [motorbikes] since I was a kid. For as long as I can remember I’ve always had a deep fascination with engines and a longing for danger. — Live Chat with Alex, October 1, 2009

I run up in the hills, I box at a boxing gym and I circuit train. I do interval training, which is really high intensity training without breaks, for a period of time. — IESB.net, September 9, 2009

I wasn’t interested in books until I got a bit older. — TV SOAP, November 2009

Secretly, I rock all the time. I do rock a little bit. I play music very badly. — LA Times, July 18, 2007

Honestly, I hardly have time to work out. Diet? None. I just watch what I eat. — The Philippine Star, November 21, 2010

I’m not as fit here in Hawaii Five-0 as I was in The Back-up Plan. But it ain’t Moonlight meat either. If you exercise and watch your diet, you can get pretty lean. — InStyle, April 2011

I love the surf breaks [on Oahu's south shore]. I learnt to surf at Suicides, Tonggs and Old Man’s, so they’re my favourites. — The Sun-Herald, April 17, 2011

I love sitting on [Sunset] beach and watching the outside surf break and wonder if I’ll ever be good enough to ride it. — The Sun-Herald, April 17, 2011

I like to tinker. I have lots of guitars and I’m always making a racket. It’s been a hobby my whole life – and I don’t profess to be good at it, but I enjoy it very much. — TV Week, 2008

I feel like I’m 80 percent through my fear. I go out now whenever I can. It’s changed my life. For the first time, I’m experiencing how truly therapeutic being in the ocean can be. — Emmy, 2011

I’m running up that hill cursing at the mountain, or at myself. But I also find it exhilarating. There’s something really validating about reaching the top of a mountain and looking back. — Men’s Fitness, August 2011

When I stopped being cerebral and became physical, my mind cleared. That’s probably why I like to be so active. It’s a huge part of the balance of who I am. — Men’s Fitness, August 2011

I much prefer being in the canyons or the hills or the ocean – being outside and using the resistance of the earth and gravity and my own body weight. — Men’s Fitness, August 2011

I’d rather hang from trees and do pull-ups than be in a gym surrounded by people in spandex. — Men’s Fitness, August 2011

Surfing is my great passion in Hawaii. I have a bunch of boards – all of which I ride badly. — Men’s Fitness, August 2011

I like to circuit train. If you do one exercise after another without breaking, you bump your metabolic rate up to such a place that you create what’s called a ‘furnace effect’ – your metabolism is firing at such a high rate that you can go to sleep and you’ll burn calories through the night. That’s my ideal place to be. — Men’s Fitness, August 2011

In my early 20s, I did a lot of weights. I was huge, closer to 200 pounds. For lunch I’d have a chicken, a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk, and a bag of chocolate cookies. Then I’d go to the gym and bench 240 pounds. That’s a young man’s thing. — Men’s Fitness, August 2011

I picked [Shobukai] up very quickly. It was a huge part of my life, man. I wouldn’t miss it. — Men’s Fitness, August 2011

I found Japanese martial arts. It was so grounded and so whole, and so wonderfully rich in culture, tradition and respect, I fell in love with it. The discipline that I got is part of the driving force of my life… It’s something that gets me out of bed when I’m tired, and pushes me when I’m hurt. — HIFF Panel, Oct. 16, 2011

For me to work an 80-hour week is not crazy, so it’s all about getting it in when you can. I surf and do jujitsu and try to change it up a lot. I really like running, but when I work out, essentially I circuit train, keep my heart rate up and hit it as hard as I can. I just want to stay at that shape and stay strong. — GQ Australia, November 2011

… Fashion & Style

I live in Hawaii now and nobody wears clothes there, but I’ve always been fashion-conscious. If you go to my house in LA, you’d say, ‘Oh my god, look at all this stuff!’ — InStyle, April 2011

I’ve spent a lot of money on clothes over the years because I think there’s nothing worse than a cheap suit. It’s much better to have one Prada or Thom Browne or Paul Smith in your closet, as opposed to three crappy suits. — InStyle, April 2011

I like to mix things. I’ve got a pair of Berluti shoes – which are the greatest shoes – and I wear those with beat-up jeans and a favorite T-shirt. — InStyle, April 2011

Man, tattoos are cool! They’re something that started in the folly of youth and there’s been a progression ever since. — GQ Australia, November 2011

I love the outward expression, but there was a period when I was judged, because they weren’t part of popular culture, like they are now. Back then, tattoos meant you’d either been in prison or you were in some sort of gang. I had that conversation with so many girlfriends’ parents, explaining that I wasn’t a felon or a Hell’s Angel! — GQ Australia, November 2011

… NIDA

An education like that… you spend three years absorbing all this information and then it’s really about the practical application of that information and knowledge from that time. It happens over the course of your career… there are still jobs now where I’ll go: “Oh yeah, I remember that…” And I’ll go back to my notes. — indieLondon, May 2010

… Hollywood

But it has taken me a long time to get used to the way LA is you know because there’s heaps of surgery, heaps of sex and there’s so much on show. Whereas Australia’s different, we don’t subscribe to that bullshit. I found it quite confronting, but I’m at the point where you just plug in for it. — Cleo, March 2008

So there were a couple of times where I was thinking of pulling the pin but the people around me, my mates over there and my mates here, kept reminding me that these are really the months that determine the man you are. It paid off. — Cleo, March 2008

I first came to the US 12 years ago. I was 21 years old. I got here, and I was terrified. I didn’t know anyone. I felt like I was on another planet and I was very, very intimidated. I had very few contacts and so I left. — WHO, October 16, 2009

This country has afforded me, my family, work and security. For that I’m forever grateful. — Hollywood News, March 31, 2010

But there’s a saying: ‘Hollywood eats the weak.’ And I’m still here, baby. — American Way, April 1, 2010

It takes a while to climb the greasy pole of Hollywood, as they say. You get up a bit and then you slip back down, that’s what it’s like. You take two steps forward, three steps back. But you just chip away until you get there. — New Weekly, March 3, 2008

I think I got a really clear idea of the nature of this business. A really clear idea of the fact that it doesn’t mean anything: it doesn’t matter how good you are, it doesn’t even matter if you’re not good. You are far less important than you think you are. You are just a cog in a collaborative machine that is Hollywood. — GQ Style, March 2011

For young actors going to Hollywood, one of the first things you need to do is realize where they’re going to pigeonhole you – how they’re going to market you. Because if you don’t know how you’re marketable, it doesn’t matter how persistent, driven or talented you are. You’ve got to know where you fit so you can kick off from there, then you can shine in whatever direction you want. — GQ Style, March 2011

You hear all sorts of horror stories in Hollywood. But I’m working today, and as long as I’m working and can pay the rent, I’m happy. — Sunday Telegraph, October 14, 2007

See also: Alex on… his Work, Alex on Hawaii and Hawaii Five-0, Others on Alex and About Alex