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In 1984, over four nights on Network 10, the miniseries Bodyline captivated the nation with its recounting of the controversial 1932-33 Ashes tour of Australia by the English cricket team. The five-match Test series was infamous for the English team’s use of “bodyline”, a bowling technique known as fast leg theory that targeted the batsman’s body. Highly dangerous – and considered outside the “spirit of the game” – it was pushed by English captain Douglas Jardine (played by Hugo Weaving) to combat the prowess of Australian batting star Don Bradman (Gary Sweet). With the Ashes Test series starting this week, cricket tragic and national TV editor Louise Rugendyke jumped on FaceTime with Gary Sweet to talk about the iconic miniseries.
Gary Sweet (left) as Donald Bradman, Jim Holt as Harold Larwood and Hugo Weaving as Douglas Jardine.Credit:
Hello Gary! How did you end up playing Don Bradman?
I was 26 and I’d just done a few years on The Sullivans. What I took mostly out of The Sullivans was the technical side of acting – things like where the lights were and how not to block actors, spatial awareness, all that sort of stuff. And then Bodyline was the next job.
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I was the only Melbourne actor called to the auditions in Sydney. They were at the Kennedy Miller offices at the Metro Theatre in Kings Cross. It was a two-day audition, one day was workshopping stuff with [series director] George Ogilvie. Most of the actors completely ignored me because I was up from Melbourne. I had no idea I was being considered for Bradman. I was just happy because I played a bit of cricket, and I knew there would have to be 22 or 24 players in the production, so I was hoping to be one.
The second day’s audition was playing cricket. They set up some nets on the top floor of the theatre because the guys are trying to be fast bowlers using tennis balls. I was last going to bat, so I started playing shots, and [producers] Byron Kennedy and George Miller were both at pains to say, “You don’t have to smash a ball. We just want to see whether you can play.” So then the [other actors] started to bounce me and [I thought], “You know what? I’ll play the shot that’s appropriate to the ball.” So I was smashing it.
What went through your head when you found out you were cast as Bradman?
I couldn’t tell anyone! And I’d never been in a position where I couldn’t tell anyone. So I thought, “OK, I’ll tell my parents.” So I told my parents – “You can’t tell anyone” – and they told my brother. I felt very fortunate, but it seemed like everybody else was more excited about it than I was. I mean, many years later, the significance of it [dawned on me], people really loved it.
Gary Sweet was 26 when he played the great Australian batsman Don Bradman in Bodyline. Credit: Network Ten
When filming started, how nervous were you to be playing a genuine icon, especially someone who was still alive and would watch your performance?
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I didn’t feel nervous, I was fairly grounded. I was very naive and young, but I knew the cricketing stuff would be OK. The performance was a deeper kind of thing. The Sullivans was really good, but Bodyline was a deeper commitment to character backstory, and just evaluating the character, all the things that I do now just immediately. That’s where George [Ogilvie] was really, really good. He said, “Well, think about this and that” and I wasn’t afraid to ask questions.
What was your relationship with Hugo Weaving like when you were filming? He’s extraordinary as Jardine – such a great villain!
We didn’t mix much socially, but he was really great to work with. I hung out with John Walton [who played Australian captain Bill Woodfull]. That was the first time I was in Sydney and we stayed in the Cross! Wow, that was an eye-opener. We went to [the nightclub] Arthur’s and there’s a little girl sitting on the bar, about 10 years old, it turns out it’s Claudia [Karvan, whose Mum and Stepdad owned the club]!
Hugo Weaving as the villainous English cricket captain Douglas Jardine in Bodyline. Credit:
You were comfortable with cricket, so was that you batting on screen the whole time? Did you ever get hit?
I loved that challenge of the batting. [I got hit] maybe a couple of times, but nothing much.
Most of the series was shot at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with backgrounds put in place to make it look like Melbourne or Adelaide, how did it feel running out for the first time, in full cricket whites, as Bradman?
My skin rippled. That’s when it was exciting. That’s when I lost myself in the character. All those things were incredibly exciting. The atmosphere is already set. I could see Jim Holt, playing [English fast bowler Harold] Larwood, who was right back in his run-up. I just thought, “Let’s go.” I like the combat, that feeling before the fight begins.
Did you ever hear from Bradman?
George [Ogilvy] and I went to meet Bradman at his place in Adelaide. And he was great. He had this fabulous memory for dates and places and scores. And his place, at that stage, was like a museum. I was fascinated, I could have stayed there for days. George was so nervous about the whole thing – he had a drink at the airport, and he doesn’t drink! – and he arrives giggling.
Spectators clapping Sir Don Bradman as he comes out during the Fourth Test Match at Headingley, Leeds, in 1938.Credit: Getty Images
I’ve mentioned this before, and I don’t want to make a big deal of it – because I got some interesting mail from it – but Bradman didn’t say much to me. Before it, he was very keen, but he didn’t say much to me [after the series] because in one of the scenes, my character – well, him – had a beer after a Test, and he said that never would have happened. But his wife, Lady Jessie, who was absolutely delightful, I was explaining to her how we take dramatic licence, and she was fine. There’s a great responsibility in playing a real-life person, and I felt that responsibility. That was a major thing. I wanted to make sure that I did him justice and that I didn’t in any way offend him.
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What are your memories around the show’s broadcast? It was on four nights in a row and had a huge audience [a reported 40 per cent share of the audience].
It was amazing. It really was unbelievable. [Former Test cricketer] David Hookes was a great friend of mine – unfortunately, he left us way too early [Hookes died in 2004] – he used to call me Braddles. Everyone called me Bradman at the cricket. I look back on it with enormous affection and enormous gratitude to George Ogilvy and George Miller and [producers] Byron Kennedy and Terry Hayes for giving me that opportunity.
How did it change your career?
Well, oddly enough, I didn’t get a job for about a year, I reckon. I don’t know what happened. The next job I did was a movie [An Indecent Obsession] with Wendy Hughes, directed by Lex Marinos. I always thought, after my first job, that you turned up on Monday and you had a different job. I was so green, it’s embarrassing.
How do you think Australian television has changed since Bodyline? The 1980s were a goldmine of event miniseries television – Bangkok Hilton, Vietnam, The Thorn Birds, The Shiralee.
It was a golden time. Australian miniseries were really well produced. [Cinematographer] Dean Semler, he shot Bodyline, he went on to win an Academy Award for Dancing with Wolves.
Is Bradman the character you get asked about the most?
Bradman’s up there. And generally some character in Water Rats, which I’ve never been in, which people mistake for Police Rescue. Probably that, or Stingers, or Blue Murder.
With the Ashes starting on November 21, do you have a bold prediction for who will win?
Australia will win. I’m not sure that we’re gonna flog them … yeah, we’re gonna flog them. I’ll say four-nil.
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Perfect answer! Anything else?
If George Miller reads this – journalists often ask me, “Is there anything you really want to do in the future?” or “Is there something you want to do?” and I struggle to think of things – but I do want to be in a Mad Max movie.
OK! George Miller, the ball is in your court.
Bodyline is not available on any streaming services, but episodes are available on YouTube. The Ashes will be broadcast on Seven and 7plus Sport from November 21.
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