Josh Thomson opens up about why he quit The Project.
My first job was... working at the music counter at The Warehouse in Timaru. I had no say in what music played out so I have listened to Now That's What I Call Music 44 about 3000 times. If anyone plays Mambo No. 5 near me, I won't be responsible for my actions.
It taught me… opening up plastic bags without moisture on your fingers is absolutely impossible.
My big break came… during a series of ads for Fresh Up. In them, I was eating chillies and Weetbix, running in Pink Batts, jumping up a sand dune in a sleeping bag and doing aerobics in a hot spa with five wetsuits on. It was my first professional acting gig and legitimised my move from Timaru to Auckland. I also got to take home the last half of the box of Weetbix.
The last job I quit was… The Project. I've spent so much time working multiple jobs it's time to hang with my wife and baby. Also, I've been meaning to fix a shelf in the toilet for ages.
The most famous person I've ever met is… Charlize Theron. I was at a premiere for North Country in Auckland. She walked into the room and everyone went quiet. She looked around and for some reason made a beeline straight for me.
She softly asked, "Do you have a lighter?" I said, "No". Then she walked off. I didn't say it was a good story.
She was… wonderful. Probably. I assume she didn't stick around to chat because she had stuff to do. So did I, so no big deal. We've all got stuff on. I never knew if she found that lighter. I like to imagine her in her fancy premiere get-up trying to set fire to a bit of newspaper in the staff-room toaster.
The best time I've had on set… I've had many great times with many great people so it is hard to pick one. I think lying on the forest floor under a pile of fern leaves while it rained for The New Legends of Monkey. It was cold, wet, and my back was soaked with mud. All I thought was "I'm in a kung fu show that kids will love". I had a big old smile on my face.
But the worst was… lying under a pile of leaves while it rained for The New Legends of Monkey. It was really cold and wet.
My dream role would be… People often tell me I look like a young Muhammad Ali. Someone already did that movie though so not many options left now.
• Josh Thomson stars in The New Legends of Monkey premieres tomorrow night at 8pm on TVNZ2.