Paul O'Brien

Infobox actor


imagesize = 150px
name = Paul O' Brien
birthdate = Bda|1978|4|14
location = South Africa
website = http://www.paul-obrien.com.au

Paul O'Brien (born April 14, 1978) is a Logie Award-winning actor from Australia.

Biography

Born in South Africa, Paul grew up in Australia as well as Mauritius. He currently plays Summer Bay's cop Jack Holden on the Australian television soap opera "Home and Away". Paul spent several years on the Gold Coast attending first St Kevins in Benowa and then Somerset and Marymount Colleges. He spent a year studying for a building degree, was a chef, a model for Chadwicks and completed a radio presenting course before deciding that his ambitions were for an acting career.

O'Brien lived and studied acting in Melbourne where he performed in stage productions, several short films, stand-up comedy and was an MC at Crown Casino.

O'Brien now lives in Sydney due to his commitments to "Home and Away" and has purchased a two-bedroom unit in Manly. Paul won a silver logie as "Best New Male Talent" in 2006, and was also nominated for a Logie in 2007. Paul was voted first runner-up in the Cleo Bachelor of the Year competition and was named TV week's Hottest on Television for 2006.

Paul has an older brother named Chad and younger sister Taryn-Lee. His nickname in high school was Ace and his family call him 'Paulie'.

Paul surfs, loves to cook, plays the guitar, composes songs, and plays the occasional game of golf.

Paul appeared in the pantomime Aladdin in Gravesend, London in December 2007 and Retford in January 2008. O'Brien has been confirmed as a contestant in the 2008 series of "It Takes Two", which started in February, 2008. Paul reached the quarter finals with Jade Macrae as his partner. Paul has again been nominated for a silver Logie for most popular actor.

Paul's first independent DVD, "The Beach Rules", has been well received by industry professionals and looks set to boost Australia's ever-growing beach culture by attracting yet more international tourists and locals to its waters - safely.

In February 2008, Paul took part in "It Takes Two", an Australian Reality Show in which celebrities compete against each other by singing. Paul was partnered with pop princess Jade MacRae.In week one, Paul and Jade sang "Wonderwall" by Oasis, and received an overall score of 22/40.In week two, Paul sang 'Dance Floor Anthem' by Good Charlotte and his score was 25/40. In week three, Paul and Jade dressed up as characters fromThe Rocky Horror Show. Judges comments were mixed and Paul received a score of 19.In week four, Paul and Jade sang 'Imagine' by John Lennon. The judges thought that Paul sang this song really well and gave him a score of 22.In week five, Paul sang Robert Palmer's 'Simply Irresistable'. His score was 23.In week six, Paul and Jade sang Donna Summer's 'Hot Stuff' which the judges didn't like and gave him a low score of 19.In week seven, Paul and Jade sang Bobby Darin's 'Mack The Knife'.The judges agreed that Paul suited singing Swing and said it was his best performance which gave him his best score of the series, 30. They even compared him to Frank Sinatra.Despite the low scores and poor comments from the judges, Paul and Jade managed to get through to the finals and in week eight, Paul and Jade sang two songs. The first one being Joe Cocker's 'Unchain My Heart' and the second song being 'All Shook Up' by Elvis Presley. Paul's score for both songs were 59. (29 for 'Unchain My Heart' and 30 for 'All Shook Up.) Paul was voted out after this.

Paul is also involved in various charities, including the National Breast Cancer. The charity he chose for "It Takes Two" was a children's charity and Paul is more than happy to lend his name in support for helping others.

Paul O'Brien is to have a break from "Home and Away" from January till April 2009. But he will be back; he is not leaving for good. He is off to LA for 3 months.

References

http://www.seven.com.au/homeandaway/meetthecast_paul-obrienhttp://au.yahoo.com/it-takes-two/couples/bio/paul-obrien/