James Mason (Australian actor)

{{Infobox person

| name = James Mason

| birth_place = Australia

| image = File:James Mason crop.jpg

| imagesize = 200px

| caption = Mason at the 2012 Logie nominations

| birth_date =

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 2008–present

}}James Mason is an Australian television and film actor and producer. He started his career participating in a series of short films and commercials. He then secured the role of Chris Pappas on the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Chris was the show's first ever gay male regular character and won Mason wide recognition, including a Logie nomination for Most Popular New Talent in 2012.

He left Neighbours in 2015 to pursue other projects. He began to appear in more short films, web series and later secured roles in the films 36 Questions, William Kelly's War and Slaughterhouse. In 2018 the actor joined the cast of Network Ten drama series Playing for Keeps, playing Jack Davies, a gay Australian Football League (AFL) player whose death forms the main narrative of the show's first season.

Early life

Mason studied a Theatre Studies VCE at Monbulk College from 2006 until 2007. Mason had always enjoyed acting during High School but only decided to pursue it as a career during his final school years.{{cite web |last1=Stubbing |first1=Leo |title=James Mason (Chris Pappas on Neighbours) |url=https://joy.org.au/joyinterviewhighlights/2013/12/james-mason-chris-pappas-on-neighbours/ |website=Joy 94.9 |accessdate=5 January 2019 |date=9 December 2013 |archive-date=6 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106105936/https://joy.org.au/joyinterviewhighlights/2013/12/james-mason-chris-pappas-on-neighbours/ |url-status=live }} His father Adrian Mason and mother Aylee Sunstrom were supportive of his career aspirations.{{cite web |last1=Falconer |first1=Daniel |title=Father's Day exclusive – Neighbours star James Mason interview |url=https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/fathers-day-exclusive-neighbours-james-mason-interview-483023.html |website=Female First |accessdate=5 January 2019 |date=15 June 2014 |archive-date=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128024754/https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/fathers-day-exclusive-neighbours-james-mason-interview-483023.html |url-status=live }} He is bilingual and can speak both English and Swedish.

Career

Mason began his career starring in a number of independent short films and television commercials during 2008 and 2009.{{cite web |title=James Mason |url=https://cni.au.castingnetworks.com/profile/d88b885b-7577-4f1c-bc1e-a1e0a170040a/display |website=cni.au.castingnetworks.com |accessdate=5 January 2019 |archive-date=30 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130000132/https://cni.au.castingnetworks.com/profile/d88b885b-7577-4f1c-bc1e-a1e0a170040a/display |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=James Mason is an Actor, Writer & Director and TV Presenter based in Victoria, Australia. |url=https://www.starnow.com.au/jamesmason01 |website=StarNow |accessdate=5 January 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The actor rose to prominence playing the role Chris Pappas on the Australian television soap opera Neighbours. Mason's agent secured him an audition for the role of Andrew Robinson – actor Jordan Smith won the role of Andrew, but three days later Mason was offered the chance to play Chris.{{cite web|url=http://www.samesame.com.au/features/5761/Everybody-needs-gay-Neighbours.htm|title=Everybody needs gay Neighbours|last=Akersten|first=Matt|date=16 August 2010|work=Samesame.com.au|publisher=Sound Alliance|accessdate=5 January 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817161728/http://www.samesame.com.au/features/5761/Everybody-needs-gay-Neighbours.htm|archivedate=17 August 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/neighbours-gay-character-chris-pappas-played-by-newcomer-james-mason-embraced-by-viewers/news-story/ad1e89fbdd5eda4a00358cc9f986b8c4|title=Viewers embrace Neighbours' gay character played by newcomer James Mason|last=Vickery|first=Colin|date=7 December 2011|work=News.com.au|publisher=(News Corp Australia)|accessdate=5 January 2019|archive-date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106204907/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/neighbours-gay-character-chris-pappas-played-by-newcomer-james-mason-embraced-by-viewers/news-story/ad1e89fbdd5eda4a00358cc9f986b8c4|url-status=live}} Chris is the show's first gay ongoing character. Neighbours{{'}} then executive producer Susan Bower created the character following requests from viewers in the Neighbours website discussion forums.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/tv/soapie-neighbours-to-get-first-openly-gay-male-character/story-e6frf9ho-1225902291623|title=Soapie Neighbours to get first openly gay male character|last=Duck|first=Siobahn|date=7 August 2010|work=Herald Sun|publisher=(The Herald and Weekly Times)|accessdate=5 January 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014105718/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/tv/soapie-neighbours-to-get-first-openly-gay-male-character/story-e6frf9ho-1225902291623|url-status=dead|archivedate=14 October 2012}} Two-thirds of actors quit the audition process for Chris when they discovered the character was gay.{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/neighbours-6000-and-going-strong/story-e6fredpu-1225908340810|title=Neighbours 6000 and going strong|work=Adelaide Now|publisher=(News Corp Australia)|first=Devlyn|last=Darren|author2=Duck, Siobhnan|date=22 August 2010|accessdate=5 January 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825095331/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/neighbours-6000-and-going-strong/story-e6fredpu-1225908340810|url-status=dead|archivedate=25 August 2010}} Mason began filming for Neighbours in October 2009 and the character arrived on-screen during February 2010. Mason said that he was "really excited" to play the role and added the writers had helped him to accurately portray a gay male.{{cite journal|last=Brygel|first=Jackie|date=7–13 August 2010|title=Chris comes out|journal=TV Week|publisher=(ACP Magazines)|page=9}} Chris was initially a guest character, but Mason was later promoted to the show's regular cast.{{cite web|url=http://www.channel5.com/shows/neighbours/interviews/jamess-gay-pride-for-neighbours|title=James' gay pride for show|date=10 June 2011|work=Channel 5|publisher=(Northern & Shell)|accessdate=5 January 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918024134/http://www.channel5.com/shows/neighbours/interviews/jamess-gay-pride-for-neighbours|archivedate=18 September 2011}} For his portrayal of Chris, Mason was nominated for Most Popular New Male Talent at the Logie Awards of 2012.{{cite web |last1=Byrnes |first1=Holly |title=Karl Stefanovic nominated to win back-to-back Gold Logies as Australian television awards announced |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/karl-stefanovic-nominated-to-win-back-to-back-gold-logies-as-australian-television-awards-announced/news-story/8587d1ad8027b230bab9838c0a64a3c5 |website=Herald Sun |publisher=(The Herald and Weekly Times) |accessdate=5 January 2019 |date=18 March 2012 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215224457/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/karl-stefanovic-nominated-to-win-back-to-back-gold-logies-as-australian-television-awards-announced/news-story/8587d1ad8027b230bab9838c0a64a3c5 |url-status=live }} The actor filmed for an unaired television pilot titled SPIN in 2013. In 2015, Mason decided to leave Neighbours after five years in the role.{{cite web |last1=Dainty |first1=Sophie |title=Neighbours: Watch James Mason film his final scenes as Chris Pappas |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a638293/neighbours-watch-james-mason-film-his-final-scenes-as-chris-pappas/ |website=Digital Spy |publisher=(Hearst Magazines UK) |accessdate=5 January 2019 |date=27 March 2015 |archive-date=30 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130000246/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a638293/neighbours-watch-james-mason-film-his-final-scenes-as-chris-pappas/ |url-status=live }}

Mason secured a lead role in the 2018 film 36 Questions. The film focuses on a couple who go on a date under unusual circumstances. The actor's involvement with the film began in 2014, when he was still starring in Neighbours.{{cite web |last1=Kilkelly |first1=Daniel |title=Neighbours actor James Mason joins indie film 36 Questions |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a556644/neighbours-actor-james-mason-joins-indie-film-36-questions/ |website=Digital Spy |publisher=(Hearst Magazines UK) |accessdate=5 January 2019 |date=10 March 2014 |archive-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111055533/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a556644/neighbours-actor-james-mason-joins-indie-film-36-questions/ |url-status=live }} The movie was supposed to be released that year but only made it to post-production in 2017.{{cite web |title=Down Under Berlin / New York Horror Film Festival – Liz Drives |url=http://www.wearemovingstories.com/we-are-moving-stories-videos/2017/9/18/down-under-berlin-some-horrors-you-create-yourself |website=We are moving stories |accessdate=5 January 2019 |date=1 September 2017 |archive-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111121512/http://www.wearemovingstories.com/we-are-moving-stories-videos/2017/9/18/down-under-berlin-some-horrors-you-create-yourself |url-status=dead }} In 2015, Mason secured a guest role in Ben Nicholas' web series titled Footballer Wants a Wife. In 2016, he presented a travel documentary titled Budget Backpacker: Iceland. He travelled to Iceland and profiled his journey visiting tourist destinations for the video, which was released online.{{cite web |title=Budget Backpacker:Iceland - Teaser |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxmVoCaGxvE |website=YouTube |access-date=21 April 2025 |date=24 February 2016}} In 2017, he filmed a guest role in a DCF Studio television production titled Bernie Brown.{{cite web |title=Bernie Brown |url=https://dcfstudios.com.au/bernie-brown |website=DCF Studios |accessdate=5 January 2019 |archive-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111060012/https://dcfstudios.com.au/bernie-brown |url-status=live }}

Mason took on more acting work during 2018. He played lead role of Jacob in the comedy web series titled Freudian Slip, which premiered in March.{{cite web |last1=Vogt |first1=Ang |title=Freudian Slip: The Id and the Super Ego of Webseries |url=https://www.filmink.com.au/freudian-slip-id-super-ego-webseries/ |website=Filmink |accessdate=5 January 2019 |date=29 May 2018 |archive-date=21 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421223240/https://www.filmink.com.au/freudian-slip-id-super-ego-webseries/ |url-status=live }} Then in May it was announced that he had secured the role of Jack Davies in the Network Ten drama series Playing for Keeps, a show is about a group of AFL players and their wives' personal lives.{{cite web |title=Ten announce cast for new drama Playing For Keeps |url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2018/5/27/ten-announce-cast-for-new-drama-playing-for-keeps |website=TV Blackbox |accessdate=5 January 2019 |date=27 May 2018 |archive-date=30 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130053801/https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2018/5/27/ten-announce-cast-for-new-drama-playing-for-keeps |url-status=dead }} Jack is another gay character Mason has played and the series also centres around the scandal of his death.{{cite web |title=Playing For Keeps: The 8 Most WTF Moments Of The Season |url=https://tenplay.com.au/tenplay-trending/articles/playing-for-keeps-the-most-wtf-moments-of-the-season |website=Tenplay |date=9 November 2018 |accessdate=5 January 2019}}{{cite web |last1=MacNaughton |first1=Tanya |title=Footy and acting careers collide for Ethan Panizza in Playing For Keeps |url=https://www.communitynews.com.au/eastern-reporter/lifestyle/footy-and-acting-careers-collide-for-ethan-panizza-in-playing-for-keeps/ |website=Eastern Reporter |publisher=(Community News Group) |accessdate=5 January 2019 |language=en |date=16 October 2018}}

In 2019 Mason had a role in the 2019 series Ms Fisher's MODern Murder Mysteries.{{cite web |last1=Knox |first1=David |title=Further cast for Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/10/further-cast-for-ms-fishers-modern-murder-mysteries.html |website=TV Tonight |accessdate=5 January 2019 |date=27 October 2018}} He also filmed a lead role in the independent film The Slaughterhouse Killer as Nathan. In 2022, Mason reprised his Neighbours role for what was intended to be the show's final episodes.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a39933926/neighbours-final-episodes-23-returnees/|title=Neighbours officially announces 23 returnees for final ever episodes|last=Seddon|first=Dan|date=7 May 2022|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=7 May 2022}} Mason will appear in the upcoming film titled Residence.{{cite web |title=Cast |url=https://www.residencethefilm.com/cast |website=Residence the film |access-date=23 May 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901211014/https://www.residencethefilm.com/cast |url-status=live }}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope="row"\| 2009 \| Eleven \| Dean Webb \| Short film
scope="row"\| 2009 \| The Quiet \| Miko \| Short film
scope="row"\| 2009 \| Clean Slate \| Marcus \| Short film
scope="row"\| 2009 \| Change \| David Bland \| Short film
scope="row"\| 2010 \| Contender/Skirmish/The Itch \| Adrian \| Short film
scope="row"\| 2014 \| Killervision \| Darren \| Film
scope="row"\| 2014 \| Nice Guys Read Plath \| Tutor \| Short film
scope="row"\| 2014 \| William Kelly's War \| Constable Sam Johnson \| Film
scope="row"\| 2015 \| Newman \| Leroy \| Film
scope="row"\| 2017 \| Jack Caine \| Harry Bradshaw \| Short film
scope="row"\| 2018 \| So That's How it Happened \| Joe \| Short film
scope="row"\| 2018 \| 36 Questions \| Jacob \| Film, lead role
scope="row"\| 2020 \| The Slaughterhouse Killer \| Nathan \| Film, lead role
scope="row"\| TBA \| Residence \| Dr. Buckner the Contrarian \| Film

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope="row"| 2009

| Eleven

| Dean Webb

| Short film

scope="row"| 2009

| The Quiet

| Miko

| Short film

scope="row"| 2009

| Clean Slate

| Marcus

| Short film

scope="row"| 2009

| Change

| David Bland

| Short film

scope="row"| 2010

| Contender/Skirmish/The Itch

| Adrian

| Short film

scope="row"| 2014

| Killervision

| Darren

| Film

scope="row"| 2014

| Nice Guys Read Plath

| Tutor

| Short film

scope="row"| 2014

| William Kelly's War

| Constable Sam Johnson

| Film

scope="row"| 2015

| Newman

| Leroy

| Film

scope="row"| 2017

| Jack Caine

| Harry Bradshaw

| Short film

scope="row"| 2018

| So That's How it Happened

| Joe

| Short film

scope="row"| 2018

| 36 Questions

| Jacob

| Film, lead role

scope="row"| 2020

| The Slaughterhouse Killer

| Nathan

| Film, lead role

scope="row"| TBA

| Residence

| Dr. Buckner the Contrarian

| Film

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope="row"\| 2010–2015, 2022 \| Neighbours \| Chris Pappas \| Regular role
scope="row"\| 2013 \| SPIN \| Branley David \| Unaired TV pilot
scope="row"\| 2015 \| Footballer Wants a Wife \| Nigel West \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 2018 \| Freudian Slip \| Jacob \| Web series
scope="row"\| 2018 \| Playing for Keeps \| Jack Davies \| Regular role
scope="row"\| 2019 \| Ms Fisher's MODern Murder Mysteries \| Eric Wild \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 2020 \| Bernie Brown \| Medieval Knight \| Guest role

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope="row"| 2010–2015, 2022

| Neighbours

| Chris Pappas

| Regular role

scope="row"| 2013

| SPIN

| Branley David

| Unaired TV pilot

scope="row"| 2015

| Footballer Wants a Wife

| Nigel West

| Guest role

scope="row"| 2018

| Freudian Slip

| Jacob

| Web series

scope="row"| 2018

| Playing for Keeps

| Jack Davies

| Regular role

scope="row"| 2019

| Ms Fisher's MODern Murder Mysteries

| Eric Wild

| Guest role

scope="row"| 2020

| Bernie Brown

| Medieval Knight

| Guest role

:Sources:

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Format ! Association ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result
2012 \|Television \|Logie Awards \|Most Popular New Male Talent \|Neighbours \| {{Nom}}

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Format

! Association

! Category

! Nominated work

! Result

2012

|Television

|Logie Awards

|Most Popular New Male Talent

|Neighbours