Young actor

Press, 22 October 1984, Page 11

Young actor

A Wellington schoolboy, Alexis Banas, aged 8, is one of the stars of “Country G.P.” tonight The son of the actor, director and writer, John Banas, Alexis, who is a pupil at Hataitai Primary School, has already appeared on the programme a few times as one of the Mason's Valley children. Tonight the child he plays gets lost in the bush. Alexis has also appeared in television advertisements and in a Wellington Operatic society production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” directed by his father. His older brother Leon, aged 10, has made small appearances in “Country G.P.” and can be seen in tomorrow night’s apisode of “Inside Straight.” He is a member of the regular cast

of the new Television New Zealand Drama series, “Roche,” currently being filmed in the capital. Leon also appeared in “Jesus Christ Superstar” and in two productions at Downstage Theatre in the capital. He has appeared in advertisements with Alexis and their sister, Michala, aged 6. John Banas said that his children had spent a lot of time with him at theatrical rehearsals over the years and had become quite interested in acting. He said they seemed to enjoy it, but it was hard to say whether they would end up professional actors.

Banas said his sons were keen on break-dancing, riding a little motor-bike they had and “all the other usual little boy things.”