nathan borg (curtis from neighbours) | 29

Nathan Borg was told more than once that acting probably wasn’t going to happen for him. He didn’t accept that. In this episode, Nathan talks to Tak about growing up profoundly deaf, being bullied at school, landing Neighbours during COVID, and becoming the show’s first recurring actor with a cochlear implant. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Episode teaser 01:06 Welcome Nathan Borg 02:04 Nathan’s Neighbours journey 04:06 Meningitis and becoming deaf 06:07 Cochlear implants and learning English 07:20 Deaf gain and finding the positives 08:00 Auslan and secret conversations 09:20 Growing up in Bacchus Marsh 11:40 School support and isolation 12:32 Bullying and broken devices 13:40 Discovering drama 16:10 Being told acting was impossible 18:20 Refusing to accept no 21:00 Meeting Jason Herbison 23:20 Diversity on Ramsay Street 25:40 Auditioning and starting on Neighbours 28:20 Lip-reading, masks and advocating on set 30:40 Working with the deaf community 33:00 Learning from criticism 35:20 Playing Curtis Perkins 37:40 Jackie, Annie, Sally and on-set support 40:00 From two weeks to years on Neighbours 42:30 Life after Neighbours and Bump Into You 45:00 Favourite memories and Aussie stories 47:30 What the industry still needs to understand 49:15 Final thoughts What we get into: · Growing up profoundly deaf in Bacchus Marsh · Meningitis, cochlear implants and learning to hear · School bullying and discovering drama · Being told the industry would not accept him · Meeting Jason Herbison and auditioning for Neighbours · Joining one of TV’s fastest-paced sets during COVID · Jackie Woodburne, Annie Jones and Sally-Anne Upton having his back · Teaching directors basic signs on set · Playing Curtis Perkins and staying on Ramsay Street for years · The pressure of becoming an advocate · Developing Bump Into You, a deaf gay romance series #JustTak #JustTakPodcast #NathanBorg #Neighbours #CurtisPerkins #DeafRepresentation #CochlearImplant #Auslan #DeafCommunity #DisabilityRepresentation #TakayaHonda #ActingPodcast #CreativeIndustry #AustralianActors #AussieTV #RamsayStreet #JasonHerbison #JackieWoodburne #AnnieJones #SallyAnneUpton #ScreenAustralia #SBS #DigitalOriginals #BumpIntoYou just tak. is an interview platform dedicated to unmasking the reality of the creative industry. Hosted by Australian actor and presenter Takaya Honda, the show strips away the polished PR narratives to ask the most important question in performance: Why? Support Just Tak on Patreon:   / justtak   Promotion / Links: Follow Nathan Borg   / nathan_borg   Deaf awareness and support: Australia: Deaf Australia https://www.deafaustralia.org.au/ United Kingdom: RNID https://rnid.org.uk/ Sponsors: BeautyBoat.com: use code BIN25 for 25% off your entire order. https://beautyboat.com/ RØDE: thanks for the mics making us sound so good. Support: If you’re having a tough time, please don’t struggle alone. Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14, 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention. If life is in danger, call 000. United Kingdom: Text Shout to 85258 for free, confidential 24/7 crisis text support. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. Code: TYKOTUEZQG6PN9IJ