10 Questions with Luke Bird

Luke Bird once trained as a chef.

Whangarei performer Luke Bird is hitting the stage again, this time as one of the male authority figures with the Broadway blockbuster Hairspray — The Musical with the North Shore Music Theatre, which opens at Sky City Theatre in Auckland this weekend

1. Describe yourself in three words?

Only three words? AARRRGGGHHHH - Creative, outrageous, giving.

2. What is the most important advice you have ever been given?

Those good old sayings that get you going in the morning huh? I've been told heaps but the one I love, is "The world is your oyster, slurp up the gooeyness, spit out the grit, but hold tight to the pearl". Yup, even if you hate oysters, sometimes you get a keeper and you make it work.

3. In the movie of your life, who would you like to play the lead role?

This is interesting ... depends which life version. I would think Gerard Butler would be a brilliant actor to play me, he's broad, he's handsome, he's clever and yes, people love him (in more ways than one) so it's perfect.

4. What album is playing on your stereo/computer at the moment?

I am so old school, I still use CDs. Hairspray — The Musical is the "what's what and what's hot" currently, so it's blaring as I type. I also have Bella Kalolo, she's a great friend of mine, so she is blaring too!

5. When it's been a full-on week, what is your favourite way to unwind?

I don't know what you mean? I don't stop. No when I do get to unwind, I'm an undies guy. Yes you heard correctly, I like to walk around my house in my undies ... but seriously, when I get to unwind you will find me back up home in Whangarei with my family, playing at The Bird Nest. It's the best way I know to relax and be more grounded.

6. What do you think is Northland's best kept secret?

The people. They provide the vibrancy of the area. I personally think the rest of country hasn't seen all of what Northland is best known for and that is its people.

7. If you weren't a performer, what would you be doing?

I often ask myself this all of the time. It's a definite that I would be working within the performing industry ... producing, writing, creating ... even pole dancing, you've gotta try it.

8. Do you have a nickname, and if so, what's the story behind it?

Oh dear, (Channel E!'s) True Hollywood secrets revealed. Yes, I have many. My friends and family call me Bird or Birdman, Big Bird, Ekul, Top Bloke, but I have one that is currently going around the Hairspray cast — Luke's snuffulafuffulgus.

9. Tell us something that most people don't know about you?

Some might find this surprising but I actually trained as a chef for two years before I discovered myself. Ever since I was 5, I wanted to cook, own my own restaurant and write menus (I think MammaBIRD still has them.)

I used to have a little table and chairs in my room with menus, glassware and varnished bread. I remember when I was 4 (I think?) I was attending Portland Kindergarten, I loved creating and loved making food. One day, I made Mata Cameron (Pero Cameron's mum) a beautiful green salad consisting of grass, weeds and grapes and she ate it like it was best thing.

10. What would you describe as the highlight of your career/role to date?

Tough one. I love everything I agree to do and commit to otherwise why do I do it? I guess if I have to be picky ... being cast in a principal role in the New Zealand premiere of The Phantom of the Opera has to be right up there, it set me off in the right direction. I made amazing friends and contacts and now I have launched myself into the industry. It's not often you have Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber's representative sitting in the audience in awe of what you are doing.