Of his STREET LEGAL experience Binns could not be more glowing. "I love working with those ScreenWorks guys. They provide me with excellent characters and challenges and give me the opportunity to grow as an actor. I also think that Greg McGee’s writing on the series is very very good." 

Binns is equally complimentary about STREET LEGAL director, Chris Bailey. They worked together for the first time in the late 80’s on the children’s series, Betty’s Bunch, and then on the series Gold. "I love Chris Bailey as a director", he explains "he really gets inside the character and gives you the freedom you need." Binns also underwent a remarkable transformation for his role in STREET LEGAL, and he was grateful to ScreenWorks to give him such an amazing opportunity as an actor. "I had this role where I had to build up my strength of will, and therefore my character, how often do you get the chance to do that as an actor?"

Rather than attending an institution, Andrew received all of     his drama training on the job. His very first role straight out       of school was touring through Australia with the Rocky       Horror Picture Show, where he shared a room with           Russell Crowe

He was a founding core cast member of New Zealand’s longest running drama series; Shortland St and in 1997 won a New Zealand Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in Harry Sinclair’s Topless Women Talk About Their Lives.

Rookie Horror! Kiwi Actors Rock ‘n’ Roll For Rocky Horror

The show opens in Auckland on January 31st, staring hunky Rene Naufahu as Rocky.

You’d think Mark Hadlow, Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Andrew Binns where trying to shatter glass from the look on their faces.  Actually, the three actors were just recording songs for a soundtrack compilation for the touring productions of the New Rocky Horror Show.

Don’t be put of by those expressions – they managed to sing the show’s hits in tune!

Andrew Goes In For The Kill

He was, of course, an idiot, but there was definitely a method to his madness.”

Other members of the cast include Andrew’s Rocky Horror co-stars Stuart Devenie and Jennifer Ward-Lealand, and former Shortland Streeter, Susan Brady.

Assassins opened in Auckland on June 8.

The former Shortland Street Star nurses a new ambition to commit murder...

Actor Andrew Binns has turned his hand  to murder.  Best remembered for his    role as nurse Steve Mills on Shortland Street, and, more recently as Brad in the New Rocky Horror Show, Andrew is now showing a murderous mind as the character Charles Guiteau while rehearsing for the black comedy Assassins.

 The stage show, which covers 130 years of American history, brings together nine assassins as they share their tales of disillusionment and suffering, and ultimately, watch each other’s attempts to blow apart the American Dream.

“The whole ides of Assassins is fascinating,” Andrew says. “Getting into the mind of an assassin is surprisingly simple and exciting.

“Charles shot President James Garfield twice in the back, and after reading history books while doing research on Charles, I can see why he did it. 

STEVE MILLS: Memorial from the Shortland Street Magazine

He was there for Carrie when her triplets were born, and later when Declan went onto hiding from the police.

Steve was heartbroken to learn that the triplets weren’t his, and the pain was even worse when Carrie decided to make a new start in Australia.

Sad and confused, Steve Mills lost his life one sunny day on a lonely beach road.

A fight erupted – over nurse Jo Jordan – with a drunken Chris Warner (bastard!!) as Steve was driving home with Chris, Kirsty and Sam’s wife, TP.

Steve lost his temper and crashed the car.  All escaped but TP.

Typically, Steve rushed back to free TP, but the wreck exploded killing them both.

We still miss Steve Mills – his sense of fun, his crazy schemes, his big heart.

Spunky – in a nerdy sort of way – and pure gold at heart… Steve was always in trouble.  He schemed constantly to grab a quick buck, but Steve knew he had real treasure – his friends.

Steve Mills didn’t have a lot to say in the show’s (Shortland Street) opening scenes when he helped deliver a baby.  But right from that first episode, male nurse Mills became one of Shortland Street’s favourite characters.

Warm, lovable, nerdy Steve… the gentle, fun-loving nurse with the big heart treasured by his friends, protecting and defending them when they were in trouble.

Steve was always hatching ideas to make money, schemes which usually landed him in hot water with Dr McKenna.  Possum Pies; a dating agency (The Love Clinic); a greeting card business with Jaki Manu… the list goes on.

Although Michael McKenna ticked him off and his friends lost patience, no one could be angry with Steve for long.  Steve was a good nurse, and a good buddy.

His one true love was theatre nurse Sarah Donnelly who, tragically, died of melanoma.

Sarah left everything she owned – including the house where Sam now loves – to Steve.

Later, Steve found a different kind of love when he was reunited with his father, Declan Kennedy.

Declan, who Steve blamed for his mum’s death during Declan’s ling prisons stretch, was managing the gym near the clinic.  The two men resolved their differences and, as Declan and “Robo Nurse” Carrie Burton fell in love, Steve found himself part of a family again.  

That feeling of belonging grew even sweeter when Carrie became pregnant with donor sperm – possibly Steve’s.

He was elated!

STREET CRED

Binns is flippant. "I now bounce more cheques than I ever could before," he says. "And I can afford to buy an extra pair of underwear."

Brunning says you'd have to ask her family and friends. She doesn't think about it most of the time, but if she notices people noticing her it hits home - "Wow, there's a lot of people who watch this out there." As for Dotchin, she doesn't think she's changed at all.

It's been a year, already, since the recording started. They've got used to the system by now. They know when to give everything for the cameras and when to hold back. They are comfortable with their characters. "Basically our job is to create our personalities," explain's Brunning. "If you're not true to what's going on in your own head then nothing's going to come out, nobody's going to believe you. So they're all settled in? Is that why Shortland Street's suddenly such a success? "No, that's because most of the New Zealand population is deranged," says Binns. "Okay, I'm kidding."

By Mary Crockett (excerpts from The Listner, 20/03/94)

... When it comes to fan letters, the New Zealand public is commendably even-handed. Everyone on Shortland Street gets fan letters, but especially the younger stars. So has it changed them - the adoration, the love? We asked Martin Henderson (Stuart), Andrew Binns (Steve), Nancy Brunning (Jaki) and Angela Marie Dotchin (Kirsty) for their honest opinions. And then we took their photos for our cover.

What to make of the photo shoot? Time's short, the reception set's cramped and were only a few metres away from Jenny and Nick's living room, where some fracas is being recorded for transmission seven weeks away. We've been allowed on set as a special favour, but by the end everyone - everyone is wondering if it was worth it.

We break of repeatedly, stand still and deathly quiet, for each take behind us. It's a little tense. Binns, the class clown, does the stirring, sticks out his tongue. Henderson's back is aching - not suprisingly, actually, since we've got them straining to look up at our camera. The women are even-tempered. We're not wanting them to smile for the cover, which Dotchin says is a relief after all the early hype and sunny profiles. Still, nobody is enjoying the experience much.

So, has stardom changed them? "I think it's pretty hard not to change, as far as I'm concerned," says Henderson, the group  philosopher. "You have to adapt, and because it's a success you do end up being changed. I've found that." 

{ Filmography }

{ Images }

{ Links }