He’s being stopped in the streets for autographs and recognised wherever he goes, but Sunshine actor/basketballer Wally Elnour is still in disbelief at the turn his life has taken.
The star of SBS drama Sunshine was plucked from obscurity earlier this year for his first acting gig. He says his newfound stardom is still sinking in.
“Even now, I still can’t believe that’s me up on the screen,” he said. “People come up to me on the street and look up to me and I still can’t believe it all. I guess one day it’s going to hit me and I’m going to realise that really is me up there.”
Elnour watched the first episode of the four-part drama at a public screening with friends and family.
“It was so exciting seeing peoples’ faces, and their ideas being changed about the show as they were watching it,” he said. “It was pretty cool watching everyone get into it. Straight after the first episode my friends asked me if there was going to be a season two.”
Elnour plays Jacob, an aspiring South Sudanese-Australian basketballer with fictional team Sunshine Kings who aspires to make it to the professional ranks of the NBA. It all hangs in the balance when he is drawn into an investigation on the assault of a teenage girl.
The show made its debut on October 18 and the past two weeks have been a whirlwind for Elnour.
“I have people coming up to me in the street and calling me Jacob,” he said. “Locals have asked for photos or autographs, but I’m very happy to do all that and thank them for their support. I feel like a bit of a celebrity.”
