Newcastle Herald - 15 September

HIS business is tap, so he's not one for leaks. The lips of Tap Dogs top dog Dein Perry were sealed this week when The Word came calling for hints about his world-famous tap dance troupe's contribution to tonight's Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. `There's not a lot I can tell you,' the former Charlestown boy apologised, citing the vow of secrecy demanded by SOCOG ringmaster Ric Birch. The Tap Dogs would appear towards the end of the ceremony, Perry said. He confirmed the dancers, led by Adam Garcia (hunky star of Perry's movie Bootmen), would wear their familiar uniform of flannelette shirts, blue singlets and boots.

`The timing's fantastic but I've always wanted to be involved somehow in the Sydney Olympics,' he said. Bootmen, shot mostly in Newcastle, has its hometown premiere on Sunday. Perry's almost as nervous about that as he is about tonight. `I'm anxious because I hope I've portrayed Newcastle the right way,' he said. `It'll be nice to get the thumbs up from Newcastle.' (Colette)

CNN 9/18/00 - 4:32 PM
Australians have been winning box-office gold all summer. Whether it's a "gladiator," a "patriot," or an "x-man," the actors from down under are making their way to the top.

Here's a look at the aussie appeal:That's australian native Adam Garcia getting down and dirty with his pretty castmates from "coyote ugly." When he was asked to dance at the opening ceremonies at the sydney olympics, he made like a kangaroo. I jumped at the chance to go down there and put on the shoes again and dance around with my friends in front of 1.4 Billion people.

Garcia's former schoolmate, hugh jackman, got a big bounce in his acting career this summer as wolverine in hit film "x-men." Some critics have even compared him to a young clint eastwood. I watched all the "dirty harry" movies while waiting on set not trying to imitate him. I just remembered them as a kid thinking, now that's wolverine as a cop. In person, he's the most charming cary grantish-type... (Randie)