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Tainted saint

His run on All Saints is almost over, but Andrew McKaige is not bitter

Actor Andrew McKaige had been hoping to hold beautiful Georgie Parker in his arms.

As Dr Peter Morrison in the TV hospital drama, All Saints, he believed his role was to win over Georgie, the nun, until she was forced to consider breaking her vows.

"It would have been fun," sighs the hunky 40-year-old.

But, just before Christmas, Andrew received the news every working actor dreads.

"I got a call from my agent saying, ‘We've spoken to the producers and they've decided they don't need you,’" Andrew frowns.

In his place as a potential love interest for Georgie is heart-throb newcomer to the show, former Pacific Drive actor, Erik Thomson. Andrew says Erik is "a great guy".

He adds, "A survey showed that viewers wouldn't find it believable that Georgie would give up her vows for me, so the scriptwriters believed they'd written me into a corner."

Asked if he thinks he could have been written out of that corner, he says, "Well, yes."

"It was so unexpected, it was tough at first. When I heard the news, I couldn't work out why. That only last a short time. Now I'm very philosophical. That's showbiz, isn't it?" grins the veteran of Skyways, The Sullivans, Paradise Beach and Sons and Daughters.

It's been a tumultuous year for Melbourne-born Andrew.

His seven-year marriage to his American wife Leslie broke up just after the move to Sydney for All Saints.

The two married after a whirlwind romance in LA, where Andrew had been living. He and Leslie moved back to Australia in 1991 for his role in Paradise Beach.

When the marriage broke down last April, Leslie returned to LA.

"Leslie and I weren't being good towards each other," Andrew says.

But Andrew is accepting of the changes in his life.

"When I was told I was out of the show, it was painful. But that cliché — ‘One door closes, another opens’ — is true!" he says. "I've been studying Spanish and I'm keen to go to South America, then LA to see Leslie."

He adds, "I don't think a reconciliation is on the cards. But I can see us continuing to be close friends."

The break-up is the subject of several songs. Andrew penned Nothing Lasts Forever Any More and I'm Getting Tired of Being Alone for his country rock band, The Fine Line, which performed at the recent Tamworth country music festival.

"Music has been an important part of my life for a long time."

Andrew can be seen in the Seven Network's All Saints until late April. "I don't want anyone to think I'm bitter about being dropped," he adds."

"Oh, and I did get to kiss Georgie on camera once — but that was just for a dream sequence!"

By Jacqui Lang
March 22, 1999
Woman's Day