'I've Been A Naughty Boy'
From TV Week, 16 August 1986. Written by Paul Mann.
Eden's villain confesses he feared for his career over drug conviction.
Stephanie Harper probably wouldn't buy this one, but Return To Eden's ruthless Jake Saunders, 27-year-old English-born actor Daniel Abineri, says he is "going to be a very good boy" from now on.
Arrested for possession of a small amount of marijuana when he arrived in New Zealand for a tour with The Rocky Horror Show, Daniel pleaded guilty and was fined $200.
"I was a naughty boy," he says with a grin which reminds you why women find him attractive. Then he becomes more serious: "It was prett
y frightening at the time and I was worried how it might affect my career, especially when it comes to getting work in America. I've smoked marijuana before and I don't really understand why there's such a fuss over a little bit of it when there are drunks driving around in cars. When you finish The Rocky Horror Show you're pretty keyed up and in New Zealand there's nowhere to go and unwind when the theatre closes. So you have a few drinks to unwind and if there's some marijuana around you have a smoke. But I understand that when you're caught you're caught and you've got to take the rap. I understand that it's a pretty minor offence as far as the United States is concerned, so that's a relief."
Although he has been married eight years and he and his Australian wife Julie have three children - Jenny, 7, Kate, 4, and one-year-old Joe - there's still a lot of the bopper in Daniel Abineri.
When TV WEEK caught up with him at his Auckland hotel, his suite was
littered with rock 'n roll magazines and tapes. He spends much of his spare time writing rock songs.
He says he broke a promise to himself by returning to the Rocky Horror
role of Dr Frank 'n' Furter when he finished Return To Eden, but now he is pleased.
"It was actually just what I needed," he says. "A complete change of mood,
a bit of fun. I've done all the directing, casting and lighting for this tour as well as
playing the lead, so that's been fantastic experience for me. We're having a lot of fun."
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