Mini-series star concern on
By Charisse Ede
The Australian
THE star of the ABC's acclaimed television mini-series about
bid for independence says renewed
fighting in the fledgling nation is
unfortunate.
David Wenham plays an Australian police officer whose life
is irrevocably
changed when he volunteers for the
UN mission in
series, Answered By Fire, that
begins on the ABC on Sunday night.
Receiving an honorary doctorate from the
today at the
renewed violence remained unclear,
but he felt for the East Timorese.
"Whatever's happening, it is extremely unfortunate
because one would have
hoped the continuing of their
transition to independence would have been a
little bit smoother for a little
bit longer," he said.
Wenham said he was particularly concerned for the safety of
a cast mate,
East Timorese actor Jose De Costa, who was now working with
the Dili
international school.
"He brings a wonderful richness to the story and, of
course, he and many
others involved in the production,
has experienced firsthand the trauma of
"The people of
dignity.
"They've suffered loss, most
have to cope with the death in dreadful
circumstances of a family friend, a
family member, a friend of someone
known to them.
"Yet they live on in the belief in their own worth
instilled in them by
their incredible faith and a keen
sense of justice."
Wenham said he fully supported the ABC's decision to hold
back the series
for a week to avoid conflict with
the Nine Network's exclusive with
rescued
"The ABC have spent so much time and so much money and
there's been so
much goodwill and so much wonderful
work has gone into it, and obviously
people are going to watch the two
guys from
"I can understand that I wanted to watch. It's
another great Australian
story.
"So let people watch that and then give people to watch
Answer by Fire on
another night."
Wenham received the Doctor of the University (honoris causa) for his
outstanding contribution to the
arts and his strong commitment to social
and environmental issues.