By Steph Allen

A familiar face from the silver screen has settled in Orange – bringing his wealth of musical and songwriting talent to charm the region in upcoming gigs.

Joel Jackson was star of the AACTA Award-winning miniseries Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door, and recently made the move to Orange from Western Australia.

Joel’s titular performance earned him an AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama.

He received the same accolade after he starred in Deadline Gallipoli as a war correspondent and historian Charles Bean.

Joel, who began his performing career at just eight years old, was encouraged to step onto the stage by his mother after he returned from a year abroad in Brazil as an exchange student.

“Then I made the decision to move to Sydney…I thought ‘let’s jump in and launch into the big scaries’,” he said.

After graduating the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in 2013, Joel went on to perform in Deadline Gallipoli – a role deservedly awarded to the thorough and studious labourer turned actor who delved deep into his research for the role.

Since 2019, he has co-starred as Detective James Steed in Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries on Channel Seven.

“From that detailed pursuit…I kept getting called in for different characters and it lead me to get the lead,” he said.

“I kept putting my best foot forward and it’s kept me moving.”

His award-winning performance as Peter Allen was one inspired by the actor and subject’s similar backgrounds in small country towns.

“He and I are similar in nature…we both wanted to perform and were both searching for something outside our grasp,” Joel said.

“I didn’t realise it at the time, but my own search for connection and search for film gave my Peter his fuel… the great gift of playing Peter Allen in Peter Allen world is getting to channel his sense of enthusiasm.”

Inspired by a childhood of Karratha to Albany road trips set to a radio background of classic song writers like Billy Joel, Tom Petty and Paul Kelly, Joelhas launched himself into a new world of creative expression.

“The next project is “Ticket to the Rocket Ship” – a concept album I’m writing, which will be really exciting,” he said.

“The music side of things is growing.”

During years of Covid-19,Joel said the entertainment industry was rocked by lockdowns and restrictions.

“It smashed us,” he said.

“I lost two major feature films. I was lucky enough to do Ms Fisher’s season two but we lost a sense of momentum and momentum is everything in a creative career.

“Once it’s lost, it’s almost like starting at the bottom, and because it’s such a creative industry, you work to the bone to get your nose out in front of other people.

“It reminded me of how grateful we should be for all of it.”

Joel is enjoying the bustling activity within Orange, including the thriving food and wine industry, and has been kept busy playing basketball, landscaping and performing.

See Joel Jackson perform Saturday, April 9 at The Exchange Hotel, Blayney; and on Sunday, April 10 – at the Producer’s Brunch, Cook Park, as a part of F.O.O.D Week

In May and June, Joel will be performing James Taylors’ ‘Sweet Baby James’  for the Agrestic Grocer’s Ruby Tuesdays.