All grown up

Tim Draxl is playing a telling role in a new British TV series, Supernova, being filmed in Sydney. Some could say it’s even a little autobiographical.

He portrays a young man who became a star in his teenage years in one field, but who discovers what he really wants to do in his 20s and goes after it with a passion.

For Draxl the role has struck a chord with his own experience.

In the late 1990s he was the teenage darling of the cabaret scene, winning fans from Newtown to New York.

Now 24, Draxl has all but turned his back on his singing roots in his quest to earn his place as a dramatic actor.

Acclaimed performances in The Shark Net, Swimming Upstream and Travelling Light have seen to that.

He has also completed Matthew Newton’s new movie, Right Here, Right Now.

A few years ago, I certainly could have identified with [the Supernova character], says Draxl.

I stopped singing four years ago as I had had enough of it and I really wanted to focus on acting. I was burnt out as I had been doing it since I was 16 and then found myself with this -˜cabaret star’ tag. It was not where I saw my life or career heading.

When the first film offer came through [Dirty Deeds], I jumped at it.

So Draxl’s return to the cabaret stage this week in his new show Back For Seconds at Bar Me in Kings Cross marks not only a comeback, but also a turning point in his career.

He admits he finally feels secure enough with his reputation as an actor to take time out to do a singing gig.

I feel I have a good body of work behind me now and I have shown people what I can do, so I am comfortable doing this, he says.

I can take three weeks out from being an actor and go back to singing.

I will always be a singer and will do things here and there, but film and TV is where I am headed now. This is not a return, but I just wanted to have a sing.

The fresh-faced, polished-to-a-shine boy singer of a few years back has been replaced with a darker edge in Back For Seconds, as Draxl takes on jazz and blues standards for the three-week season.

You will be seeing who I am now, after all the stuff I have been through in the past four years. I am a different person now.

One thing Draxl continues to live with is being mistaken for Justin Timberlake.

His similarity to the American singer made headlines two years ago when reports claimed Timberlake had been spotted dancing at the Mardi Gras party. It turned out to be Draxl instead.

I get that all the time, he laughs. When my hair was shorter, it happened, but now that I have grown my hair, it doesn’t happen so much.

While he didn’t make it to this year’s Mardi Gras, Draxl says he would be happy to return to his music roots again for the main show at the MG party.

Hey, if they asked me, I would consider doing it -“ I really would love to do it one day. I think it would be great to do a huge kind of thing.

I have a confidence now. I am more relaxed as a person and am more comfortable in my own skin. I think I have grown up over the past four years.

Tim Draxl: Back For Seconds is on at El Rocco at Bar Me from 14 April to 1 May. Tickets cost $30 and $50. Book on 9368 0894.