Budding actor gets huge Hot Seat payout
A failed Million Dollar Minute contestant tried his luck on a second quiz show and walked away with more than half a million dollars on Hot Seat.
Budding actor Gerald Ryan, who has a credit for appearing on Offspring and City Homicide, collected $540,000 on a special edition of the Nine Network's Hot Seat.
It's the biggest ever prize awarded on the multiple choice series hosted by Eddie McGuire.
Ryan told AAP that he tried his hand at the Seven Network's Million Dollar Minute last year and finished last of the three contestants.
"I tried Million Dollar Minute the time before and answered questions but won no money and ended up coming last, so I moved on to the next one," Ryan said.
"The guy that was on Million Dollar Minute had been on for something like 13 episodes and won $300,000. I showed him," Ryan said.
It was pure chance that Ryan, from Victoria, was selected to appear on the state v state edition of quiz show.
The 31-year-old said he's likely to move with his wife to her home state of Tasmania while still following his dream of making a living out of being an actor.
He's been working no fewer than four jobs to make sure he has time available for auditions and the odd role.
Lane teaches drama, sells suits, is a trivia host and a passionate actor, writing and appearing in local and international stage productions.
He said the money will give him some financial breathing space to further pursue acting.
"It's a very competitive industry. When a role comes up, thousands apply for it."
