Ross Newton

{{Infobox person

|name=Ross Newton

|image=

|caption=

|birth_date={{birth date and age|df=yes|1967|02|20}}

|birth_place=Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

|occupation=Actor

}}

Ross Newton (born 20 February 1967) is an Australian actor born in Melbourne, Victoria, he graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1989 and later became best known for playing Greg Marshall in the television series Home and Away.

Career

Newton grew up in the Australian city of Melbourne.{{cite magazine |last1=Shelley |first1=Garry |title=Take it off, Thommo! |magazine=TV Week |date=14 April 1990 |pages=55 |publisher=Southdown Press}} He first wanted to act at the aged of five, after watching the film The Wizard of Oz. Later in his teens, Newton knew he wanted a career in acting.{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Natalie |title=The cutest Buttons of them all? |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003782/19941224/006/0006 |website=Ely Town Crier |access-date=2 December 2022 |date=24 December 1994|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} In 1987, he began studying Acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, New South Wales. His parents believed that acting would only be a mere hobby for their son. However, by aged fifteen, he started appearing in Melbourne based theatre, film, TV productions and student graduate films.

In 1990, Newton joined the cast of the Nine Network soap opera Family and Friends, playing the role of construction worker Bartholomew Thomas Purvis (Thommo).

Thommo was Newton's first regular and prominent television role. In 1991, Newton played the role of John Harding in the Australian erotic thriller film Fatal Bond.{{cite web |title=Fatal Bond |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/fatal-bond/cast/2000034640/ |website=TV Guide |access-date=2 December 2022}}{{cite web |title=Ross Newton on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online |url=https://aso.gov.au/people/Ross_Newton/ |website=National Film and Sound Archive |access-date=2 December 2022}} He later played the role of Edward Adam Stuart Young (Easy) in the acclaimed Australian ABC television series, G.P. . That year, he also joined the cast of the Seven Network soap opera Home and Away, playing the regular role of Greg Marshall. Newton originally signed a two-year contract with the series.{{cite journal |last1=Brown |first1=David |last2=Williams |first2=Glen |title=Look who Sam's brought together! |journal=TV Week |date=12 October 1991 |pages=9 |publisher=Southdown Press}} During Newton's time on the show, he created an iconic character and storyline with Nicolle Dickson who played Bobby Simpson.{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Susannah |title=Former Home and Away actor was told to keep quiet about sexuality |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/home-and-away/a29170799/home-and-away-ross-newton-told-keep-quiet-about-sexuality/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=2 December 2022 |date=22 September 2019}} After one year in the series, Newton believed his character was boring and convinced producers to make Greg a more exciting role by committing adultery. Newton decided to leave the role in 1993.{{cite web |last1=Austin |first1=Craig |title=Megamix |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003909/19930903/032/0032 |website=Dumfries & Galloway Standard |access-date=2 December 2022 |date=3 September 1993|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} In 1994 and again in 1995, Newton joined other Australian actors in the British pantomime season.{{cite web |title=Pantomime |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113996417/ |website=Cambridge Evening News |access-date=2 December 2022 |pages=23 |date=28 December 1994|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

In 2002, Newton appeared in the Australian-American science fiction television series, Farscape, playing the role of Sloggard.{{cite web |last1=Andrews |first1=Scott K. |title=Farscape Rewatch: "Lava's A Many Splendored Thing" |url=https://www.tor.com/2013/09/11/farscape-rewatch-lavas-a-many-splendored-thing/ |website=Tor.com |access-date=2 December 2022 |date=11 September 2013}} Newton was seen by casting directors for the role of Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings film franchise. He "worked hard" on the audition but lost out to Sean Astin.{{cite web |title=Where are they now? Ross Newton ... |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/blast-from-the-past-home-and-away-actor-ross-newton/news-story/ffa96e1a648514a9cd37f61a56654516 |website=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=2 December 2022 |date=30 August 2019}}

Personal life

{{cite web |title=Home and Away's Ross Newton reflects on being a gay actor in the 90s |url=https://7news.com.au/the-morning-show/home-and-aways-ross-newton-reveals-how-being-a-gay-actor-affected-his-career-c-460176 |website=7NEWS |access-date=2 December 2022 |date=19 September 2019}} Newton has been in a relationship with dressage rider and trainer, Lucas Hurps for more than twenty-five years.{{cite magazine |title=My Summer Bay secret! |magazine=Woman's Day |date=3 September 2018 |issue=37 |pages=35}} In 2019, Newton revealed that he concealed his sexuality on the advice of a Home and Away producer who suggested being honest could affect his acting career. Newton recalled that it was "really challenging" and had a "huge effect" on his personal life. He similarly told a reporter from The Daily Telegraph that he believed his sexuality had affected which acting roles he won. Away from acting, Newton works as a fundraiser and development manager for Western Sydney University, which he still works as of 2023.{{cite web |title=Profiles |url=https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/staff_profiles/uws_profiles/mr_ross_newton |website=Western Sydney University |access-date=2 December 2022}}

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope="row"\| 1985 \| The Fast Lane \| Robby Williams \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 1986 \| Prime Time \| Danny Eilwood \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 1986 \| The Flying Doctors \| Harry \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 1986 \| My Brother Tom \| Les Connor \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 1986 \| The Great Bookie Robbery \| Police officer \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 1988 \| Witchcraft \| William \| Film role
scope="row"\| 1990 \| Rafferty's Rules \| James \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 1990 \| Skirts \| Dipp \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 1990 \| Family and Friends \| Bartholomew Purvis (Thommo) \| Regular role
scope="row"\| 1990-1991 \| G.P. \| Easy \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 1991 \| Fatal Bond \| John Harding \| Film role
scope="row"\| 1991-1993, 2000 \| Home and Away \| Greg Marshall \| Regular role
scope="row"\| 1996-1997 \| Pacific Drive \| Roger West \| Recurring role
scope="row"\| 1999 \| All Saints \| Dean Bledsoe \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 2002 \| Farscape \| Sloggard \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 2002 \| Crash Palace \| Charlie \| Regular role
scope="row"\| 2004 \| The Crop \| Cop \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 2003, 2006 \| Comedy Inc \| Various \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 2010 \| Cops LAC \| Lionel Tibbs \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 2012 \| The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show \| Office manager \| Guest role
scope="row"\| 2023 \| Winter Swim - Late for Love \| The man \| Short film
scope="row"\| 2025 \| ''Face the Music \| Jason Duncan \| Short Film

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

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

scope="row"| 1985

| The Fast Lane

| Robby Williams

| Guest role

scope="row"| 1986

| Prime Time

| Danny Eilwood