Nicholas Cartwright finds the role of a police officer quite familiar.
The Home and Away star, who portrays Senior Sergeant Constable Cash Newman, actually spent six years serving in the Australian Army.
After completing his military service, he made a significant career shift and pursued his studies to become an actor.
What did Nicholas do in the army?
Nicholas served in the Australian Army for six years as a rifleman, with deployments to East Timor and Afghanistan.
Upon leaving the military, he initially contemplated a career in the police force or fire department, seeking roles in government institutions that reminded him of his military experience.
“I was considering joining the police or the fire department, as those were the paths that felt familiar after my time in the military,” he shared with Stuff.
“However, as I settled into civilian life, I found myself increasingly drawn to the creative arts, even though I wasn’t sure how to pursue it as a career since it didn’t seem like a practical option at the time.
“Then one day, I decided to take the plunge and enroll at NIDA (the National Institute of Dramatic Arts) to pursue a three-year acting course.”
Nicholas has shared several posts over the years to commemorate Anzac Day, a national day dedicated to honoring the victims of war and recognizing the contributions of the armed forces of Australia and New Zealand.
In April 2023, he reflected, “I had a nice quiet morning service, and now I’m planning to reach out to a few mates I haven’t spoken to in a while. Anzac Day takes on a different meaning for me each year, and as I grow older, my relationship with the military evolves as well. But I will always put on my uniform and wear my medals. I will remember them. Lest we forget.”
Ho w did Nicholas get into acting?
Nicholas graduated from the Sydney drama school NIDA in 2019.
When COVID-19 struck Australia and job opportunities became scarce, he applied to join both the New South Wales Police and the Australian Federal Police.
Despite this, he continued to audition for acting roles, including the part of Lewis, the killer nurse in Home and Away.
Although the role ultimately went to Luke Arnold, Nicholas is grateful he didn’t land that part, as it allowed him to later step into the role of Cash Newman.
Why did Nicholas decide to become an actor?
Acting is a family affair for Nicholas, as his sister, Zara, is also involved in the entertainment industry.
He took to social media to announce that he would be sharing the screen with his sibling in Home and Away.
“Not sure if you all have seen the promo, but my beautiful little sister will be joining us on @homeandaway this week!” he wrote.
“I’ve never had more fun on set. It was impossible not to glance over at her and share a laugh between takes. Working with family in such a surreal world is a wonderful experience.”
He added, “Welcome to the team, @nottherealzarazoe! Tune in to see what we get up to.”
Zara has previously appeared in the 2015 drama film Skin Deep and in the 2019 mo
