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Matt's Nick knack

IT'S the big blue eyes that give Matt Newton's entertainment breeding away. That, and the flyaway hair he is sporting - though the hair is more reminiscent of The Cure's Robert Smith than it is of Matt's dad, Bert.

Newton, 29, has long been touted as the heir apparent, but has never tried to exploit his surname. His success, in fact, has been achieved in the most modest, understated way.

He revelled in the ABC TV mini-series Changi, the TV drama The Surgeon, and the movies Looking for Alibrandi and My Mother Frank.

Recently, he camped it up with David Campbell in ABBAMania and has shone in guest appearances on Thank God You're Here.

He can also be seen in a starring role in the Foxtel sitcom Stupid, Stupid Man.

Newton seems to have a flawless record when it comes to strutting his stuff on screen, so how could he have turned his back on the chance to appear in the blockbuster Lord of the Rings movies?

"I don't like talking about roles I turn down, but I will say I go by gut, and if something doesn't feel right, I don't do it," Newton says.

"Anyway, I am not after Hollywood. Unless you want to live and breathe it, it's not worth going."

Rings' loss has possibly been Stupid, Stupid Man's gain. Newton is outstanding as Nick, the chauvinistic, womanising features editor of fictitious lad-mag COQ (Chaps Own Quarterly).

The eight-part series co-stars Wayne Hope as editor Carl Van Dyke, Bob Franklin as advice columnist Dave and Chris Leaney as nubile copyboy Ross.

"Doing just one scene with Wayne was enough to get me to sign," Newton says.

"I loved working with Chris (Leaney) too, but Bob Franklin was an absolute joy to work with.

"We had a great time. We couldn't wait to do our scenes."

Newton describes his character as hedonistic, opportunistic and chauvinistic.

"I don't want to be him, but I like him. There's a little bit of Nick in all of us."

By Flip Shelton
December 06, 2006
The Herald Sun