Scott Thornton

Scott studied acting at the Eora Centre in Redfern, Sydney. His first film role was in a short film called Cam ping Out by Lee Willis-Ardler.

Gonzo, an alcoholic who lives under a bridge in town, is one of the few people to show compassion to Samson and Delilah in their tumultuous journey. The role was written specifically for Warwick’s brother Scott.

“He actually owns that character,” says Warwick. “I wrote it based on my brother. Under the bridge; mad as a cut snake; alcoholic; all of that sort of stuff, that is my brother, he actually is that person.”

Scott went into a rehabilitation program in Cairns for many months to be prepared for the acting role. Warwick struck a deal with his brother – go into rehab and look at your problem and you can have the role in the film. “After he finished that he jumped on a plane, and flew over to Alice Springs. Two days later we were rehearsing in our backyard. The day after that he’s on set and the camera is in his face. He did an incredible job,” says Thornton. “What I wanted was someone who’s going to back me up and know more about that character than me, and that’s what I got with my brother, because he’s lived that life, and he can draw on his own experience to do that.”