seven articles > blue heelers: rupert reid

Rupert Reid believes he had the best of both worlds growing up – living in the city, but spending regular stints in the country.

Born in Canberra in 1975, Rupert was raised in Sydney but spent plenty of time at his father's property in southern NSW.

It wasn't surprising that Rupert had a yearning to try acting from an early age, because his mother, Kate Reid, was in the profession, as was his uncle, Andrew Sharp. So he began taking classes at The Australian Theatre for Young People at the age of 13 and continued for most of his teenage years.

After finishing secondary school Rupert began taking classes at NIDA and studying at the Australian Institute of Music.

After Rupert appeared in The Australian Theatre for Young People's production of Henry V at the age of 19 he got an agent, which led to work with the Bell Shakespeare Company from 1995 to 1997 in Macbeth, Coriolanus, Twelfth Night and Pericles.

He also gained the ongoing role of Declan Costello in ABC TV's Heartbreak High during 1995 and 1996, followed by a guest role in the Nine Network's Water Rats in 1997.

Rupert appeared in two films during these years – James and The Sugar Factory, and was the on-line producer on a short film called Prick.

It was in September 1998 that Rupert joined the Seven Network's hit drama Blue Heelers, taking on the role of Constable Jack Lawson.

Away from acting, Rupert is passionate about music. He plays the guitar and writes and records acoustic rock from home. He is also trying to get a band together. 'I have various musical projects in different stages of development, but when I'm away from work there's always a guitar in my hand or a CD playing,' Rupert said.

Rupert said when he first started working on Blue Heelers he was in awe of the talented cast and crew, but quickly settled in. 'It's great working with a group of talented, committed people producing quality drama,' he said.