In the Paramount+ series Last King of the Cross, the Australian actor is playing a dark character.
Lincoln Younes, a former star of Home and Away, will make a surprise return to Australian television tonight in the Paramount+ drama Last King of the Cross, playing the legendary John Ibrahim. The Ibrahim brothers, who infamously “controlled” Sydney’s Kings Cross strip, are the focus of the episode.
The Australian actor tells us that although though the fictionalised drama is grim, dark, and intense, there were still some humorous moments on filming. In a frank interview with Yahoo Lifestyle about the programme, he discusses his excitement for it, a curious detail involving prosthetics, and an embarrassing nude meeting.
Lincoln was forced to get completely naked in one scenario that occurs fairly early in the series in order to burn evidence of a crime. He finds naked moments a little “uncomfortable,” but he understands that it’s all part of the business.
As the star undressed in the garden, the broadcast team turned away, but he couldn’t escape one stare. Uncomfortably, a neighbour saw the action through his fence and was horrified to see Lincoln’s bare body.
“I’m facing the camera and the fire; the camera is hidden by a fence. And this neighbour came out in the middle of the take and just stood there staring at me as I was burning my clothing,” he chuckles. “And I returned his gaze. That continued far too long.
The Grand Hotel star continues, “That was a surreal moment to share with the cast and crew, who were almost strangers at the time, as this specific nude scene came near the beginning of filming.”
“That was pretty funny…
The cast and crew rapidly and thoroughly got to know me, he jokes.
Fascinating information on the prosthetic scar
While the show is a fictionalised account of John Ibrahim’s life, Lincoln is eager to point out that some details have been taken directly from his memoirs. Producers chose to maintain John’s brutal stabbing at the age of 16, which left a large scar over his torso, as it was a crucial distinguishing characteristic.
By chance, the cut on Lincoln’s stomach was replicated by makeup professionals, and the scar is shaped like a huge cross.
While he was in his teens, “he was gutted on the street,” claims Lincoln. When I play adult John, the scar has definitely healed. and since it was my first time using a prosthetic, it was a lot of fun.
Adding the scar before filming began wasn’t simple; each morning, roughly two hours were needed to finish the intricate prosthetics. Despite the fact that the actor thoroughly loved his first encounter with prosthetics, he highlights a factor that viewers might not be aware of.
He says, “It looks unbelievable, and it was a lot of fun at first. But, I’m limited in my movement when wearing it. I can’t sit down since doing so would damage my prosthetic limb.
As the makeup artists finished, the actor from Victoria had to maintain a rigid body because sitting was quite difficult. He claims that it was “worth it,” nevertheless, because the scar looked fantastic on television.
Telling a “very essential” story
The Lebanese-Australian actor, who believes it’s “very essential” to have such a multicultural drama on Australian screens, leaped at the chance to join the cast of this “iconic” tale. The show features a variety of cultures and languages, with English subtitles displayed for viewers who are not native English speakers.
According to Lincoln, “What we’re representing, which is this historic strip in Sydney, had people from all walks of life; it accepted everyone and judged none.
Because of the numerous clichés about Lebanese culture that frequently appear on television, it is crucial in my opinion that this type of Lebanese story be conveyed there.
The drama spans three decades, from 1970 to 1990, and doesn’t shy away from gritty plotlines including gangs, drugs, murder, and other forms of violence. The show’s core appears to be John’s relationship with his older brother Sam, who is portrayed by Claude Jabbour.
Lincoln hints, “It’s about these two brothers and their broken but also connected friendship amid all the madness of history.”
