Todd dreamed of being a policeman

[**Julie**]

Guilty of cocaine possession Todd Lasance dreamed of being policeman

Herald Sun

February 2 2011

IF HE hadn't made it as an actor, Todd Lasance reckons he would have been a cop.

It seems a strange alternative for someone who for two years sent teenage girls' hearts a flutter as Summer Bay's resident bad boy on Home and Away.

And then there's the small matter of his run-in with the law that saw him arrested for possession of cocaine 14 months ago.

But Lasance says headlines and type-casting aside, he's a "squeaky-clean" and focused guy who counts his family as his closest confidants.

He says his role on Channel 9's Underbelly telemovie, Tell Them Lucifer Was Here - as a detective investigating the 1998 shootings of Gary Silk and Rodney Miller - has given him a chance to explore his fantasy career path in the force "without the danger".

He took the role seriously - wanting to do justice to the emotions and procedure of crime investigation - especially given it is based on a real crime and would be watched by many Victorian police with first-hand experience of the harrowing event.

Lasance also hopes his Underbelly role will give viewers a chance to see him in a new light - as more than a soap actor who once got into trouble.

He knew, when he took a role on Home and Away, it would potentially be a double-edged sword.

"I knew the fact that I had done Home and Away would always be referenced, no matter what I ended up doing," he says.

"I also knew that because of the show's popularity there would be notoriety that comes with it.

"You kind of expect it (fame) will happen to some degree. It's part of the job. But if you don't want people to come up to you, you just don't put yourself in situations that would make you a target.

"For instance, I would avoid Justin Bieber concerts."

Although he is grateful for the experience and exposure Home and Away has given him, Lasance is keen to prove his versatility.

He hopes his new roles - in Foxtel drama Cloudstreet, ABC legal series Crownies, Rescue Special Ops and Underbelly, will show people what he is capable of and potentially launch his career overseas.

He also hopes that owning up to his past will allow him to put it behind him.

"I don't want one mistake to define me," he says of being arrested during a police raid on a Kings Cross nightclub.

Lasance won an appeal against a 12-month good behaviour bond for possessing cocaine.

"The funny thing is I am actually pretty squeaky clean. I never even got so much as a bad school report card.

"It was one stupid lapse. Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone has them make the front page of the newspaper.

"I do understand that because of the show I was on - which has a younger audience - that I was meant to be a role model. I had a responsibility and I don't want to disappoint people. I just want to put it behind me and show them there's more to me than that one mistake."

Before landing the role on Home and Away, Newcastle-born Lasance had minimal acting experience, spending most of his time on sports grounds and athletics tracks rather than the stage.

He says a brief stint with a youth theatre group in Newcastle changed his focus from sports to acting once he had finished Year 12.

"It was like a fire had been lit inside me," he says.

"I felt this hunger - this thirst - to do it.

"I talked to Mum and Dad about getting an agent when I finished school. They were concerned because it can be a difficult industry to break into. But failure was not an option."

Lasance's parents needn't have worried. It took next to no time for Lasance to land a guest spot on Home and Away. His character was a hit with viewers and soon he found himself with a starring role, a nomination for Bachelor of the Year and a silver Logie for Most Popular Actor.

Now he's following in the footsteps of some fine Australian actors - Sigrid Thornton, Vince Colosimo, Martin Sacks and Peter Phelps, to name a few - with a starring role in Underbelly.

"I always wanted to stretch myself as an actor and this role is the complete opposite of Aden (his Home and Away character)," he says.

"It's such an honour to be part of it. There's nothing else like it - it's one of the grittiest shows on Australian TV."

Underbelly: Tell Lucifer You're Here, Channel 9, Monday, 8.30pm

[ish_the_angel]

He's a nice boy. Glad he's appreciative of the break HAA gave him, unlike some other former cast members. Look forward to seeing him go far

Thanks Julie

[adellejefferiesxox]

Justin Bieber.... I so do not like him....

He looks so gorgeous in that photo!!! I can't wait to see "Tell them Lucifer was here", then Todd will be in the tv show Rescue and I wanna see Cloudstreet because I've heard he is in that. He looks so different with his hair straight, I miss the "Aden" style hair.....ahhhh

[bradyell]

He dreamed of being a policeman...i dream of seeing him in a policeman uniform...we'd have soooooo much in common

Seriously though, it's good to see him admitting to his mistake and learning from it!

I really think he's going to do well and can't wait to see all his new stuff!!

Thanks for posting

Now....*note to self* don't bother buying Justin Bieber concert tickets!

[Luke]

I watched this last night as I am a huge Underbelly fan. Todd is way too young to be a Detective Sergeant! A Detective Senior Constable maybe but a Detective Sergeant? Most Detective Sergeants are in their mid 30s and above. It was also odd that one minute he was a detective, the next minute he was in uniform doing routine patrol!

Realism aside I really liked him in this role, it was a nice change to playing Aiden. It was funny when he ran into the killer at the servo and had a normal convo with him haha. Sounded like something Aiden would do (except at the end when he said he wanted him for questioning).

Also in the telemovie briefly was Paul O'brien (ex Jack). He played Rod, one of the cops who died. For a second it felt like he was Jack! He was a similar rank to Jack (Senior Constable, only one rank higher than Constable) and acted like him in a way, although we only saw him for a bit.

There were many other familiar faces too eg Ditch Davey, Annie Jones and Jane Allsop.

[HighwayUnicorn]

He dreamed of being a policeman...i dream of seeing him in a policeman uniform...we'd have soooooo much in common

Seriously though, it's good to see him admitting to his mistake and learning from it!

I really think he's going to do well and can't wait to see all his new stuff!!

Thanks for posting

Now....*note to self* don't bother buying Justin Bieber concert tickets!

I have had a fair few dreams about Todd but never in police uniform ... or any clothes at all

I agree with what you said though Ellen, at least he can admit the mistake he made & that it was wrong.

So many celebritys now a days are actually proud & think it's right.

& Justin Bieber? I saw him at the Summertime Ball (had no choice 'cause he was just gonna be there)>

They announced the line up AFTER buying the tickets.

Don't gte me wrong, I like his songs but I find him a very arrogant LITTLE BOY!

Todd Lasance is a man!

There's the difference

[adellejefferiesxox]

I really love "Aden's hair" but Todd's hair in Underbelly was very sexy It was professional, and it suited him well. I liked the way he wore his hair when he won a logie.

Underbelly was really good. Todd played his character well, I believe that he was that character, some actors seem the same when the act different people. It was a very serious role. I think Todd smiled once in underbelly. I thought we would get more dialouge from Todd but it was pretty good what we got to watch. I can't wait to see Rescue! (it looks like he even has a love affair). Hopefully, he'll pull off the character. He's done well so far