September 2008

The Boy Next Door

He sings, somersaults and acts – we find out what other cards Dean Geyer has up his sleeve

With boyish good looks and musical and
acting talent, Geyer is being groomed
for greatness WORDS STEPHANIE GREEN

When a handsome Australian Idol wannabe with rock-star looks, a floppy fringe and a knack for back flips made the 2006 finals, the tweenies in the audience started screaming before he’d even sung a note. For those of us whose hormones settled down years ago, it was a pleasant surprise to discover that Dean Geyer could actually sing. We’ve since learnt he can act, too.

In fact, the 22-year-old does a lot of things very well. Originally from South Africa, Geyer’s family immigrated to Melbourne when he was 15. Educated at the elite, academically selective boys’ school, Melbourne High, he holds a black belt in karate and, unlike most Idol contestants, wasn’t interested in music until he was 15.

While finishing third in Idol is no mean feat, perhaps Geyer’s greatest achievement is having emerged unscathed and seemingly unruffled from the minor scandal that broke when it was reported that a number of the finalists, himself included, were Christians. Allegations of religious vote stacking went flying. Then, when he also revealed that, like inaugural Idol winner Guy Sebastian, he was a virgin – and intended remaining so until marriage – the media feeding frenzy went into overdrive.

“There was definitely a backlash regarding the Christian thing,” he recalls. “Some people chose to see my expressing the fact that I’m one as evangelistic and they didn’t like that.”

Geyer insists he doesn’t seek to use his celebrity to promote his faith but is equally adamant he shouldn’t have to deny what is a fundamental and important part of his identity. “I’m not here to please people, I will do what is right for me.”

Dean Geyer’s Neighbours character
Ty meets the Ramsay Street girlsAnd right now, that’s concentrating on his budding acting career. In 2007, Geyer joined the cast of Neighbours, Australia’s most famous soap opera. The show boasts a well-earned reputation as a launching pad for international stardom (Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Natalie Imbruglia are all alumni).

While for Geyer music will always come first, he’s well aware of the importance of his Neighbours moment. “It’s a massive opportunity,” and he admits he’s going to make the most of it. “I tend to throw myself fully into something. I’ll put in whatever I feel I need to put in to achieve success. If that means putting music on the back burner then that’s what I’ll do.”

That said, music is never far from Geyer’s thoughts. And it seems his fans want him to keep singing too. In one episode of Neighbours, Geyer’s character performed a song with co-star Caitlin Stasey. The song was also penned by him. “Apparently the switchboard lit up with people calling about it,” he says happily.

The producers were so pleased they asked Geyer to write another song for Neighbours, which Stasey and Erin McNaught will sing.

Despite this musical turn, Geyer has put plans for a follow-up album to his well-received 2007 debut, Rush, on the backburner. “My Neighbours character now has more screen time and I’m working long hours, five or six days a week.” (Our sources reveal there is love on the horizon for Geyer’s character Ty, as he comes to a crossroads where an accident may halt his career.)

But Geyer says he’s used to the pace. “Idol was kind of a boot camp,” he reminisces. “It prepared me for the pace of a daily soap. People don’t realise how much behind-the-scenes work is involved. You don’t just rock up and say your lines. There’s hours spent doing wardrobe, hair and make-up, lighting checks and publicity.

One thing he’s still getting used to is being public property. “I never realised how much of an impact it has on your life. It would be so easy to live in a bubble, surrounded by other celebrities and the industry. But you could lose touch with reality.”

To avoid this, Geyer stays close to his family and friends. “We do the normal stuff – shopping, golf, fishing...”

Dean Geyer rocks it out with the
house band on Australian Idol
Photo: Getty Images/ Kristian Dowling One aspect of his life that doesn’t fit into the ‘normal’ category is personal relationships. The young heart-throb recently issued a joint statement with Lisa Origliasso, one twin from the ARIA award-winning electro-pop duo, The Veronicas, that they have called off their engagement. Their April engagement came as something of a shock to many – she the wild-child of electro-pop, he the poster boy for Christian-tinged rock.

Both cited the demands of their burgeoning showbiz careers as the wedge that drove them apart but insist, “We remain committed and caring friends, with love, admiration and support for one another.” Given that in the past 18 months, Geyer estimates they only spent nine months in each other’s company their break-up was hardly surprising.

His legions of female fans will no doubt rejoice and tell him to move on.

Dean Geyer has certainly achieved a lot in his short career. But there’s one more thing this karate exponent longs to do – “a Jet Li or Jackie Chan movie,” he gushes. “Man, I’ve been talking about it for so long.” Given his track record, we’d say his dream has a fighting chance.