The Aussie actor is taking on a dark role in the Paramount+ series Last King of the Cross.
Lincoln Younes, a former hero of Home and Away, will make a surprise return to Australian television tonight in the Paramount+ drama Last King of the Cross, playing the legendary John Ibrahim. The Ibrahim brothers, who infamously “owned” Sydney’s Kings Cross strip, are the focus of the program.
The Australian actor tells us that even though the fictionalized show is grim, dark, and intense, there were still some humorous times on set. In a frank interview with Yahoo Lifestyle about the show, he discusses his excitement for it, an odd detail involving prosthetics, and an awkward nude encounter.
“I’m facing the camera and the fire; the camera is hidden by a fence. And this neighbor came out in the middle of the take and just stood there staring at me as I was burning my clothes,” he chuckles. “And I returned his gaze. That continued far too long.
The Grand Hotel star continues, “It was a strange moment to share with the cast and crew, who were practically strangers at that time, as this particular nude scene happened near the beginning of filming.”
“That was pretty funny…The cast and crew quickly and intimately came to know me, he jokes.
Interesting detail behind prosthetic scar
Lincoln is quick to emphasise while the show is a fictionalised retelling of John Ibrahim’s story, certain elements have been lifted from his autobiography. One key identifying feature that producers decided to keep was John’s violent stabbing at age 16, resulting in a massive scar across his torso.
By chance, the wound on Lincoln’s stomach was replicated by makeup technicians, and the scar is shaped like a huge cross.
When he was in his teens, “he was gutted on the street,” claims Lincoln. Since I play adult John, the scar has clearly healed.and since it was my first time using a prosthetic, it was a lot of joy.
Adding the scar before shooting began wasn’t simple; each morning, about two hours were needed to finish the intricate prosthetics. Despite the fact that the actor thoroughly liked his first encounter with prosthetics, he highlights a point that viewers might not be aware of.
He says, “It appears unbelievable, and it was a lot of fun at first. However, I’m limited in my movement while donning it. I can’t squat down because doing so would damage my prosthetic limb.
After the makeup artists finished, the actor from Victoria had to maintain a rigid torso because sitting was incredibly painful. He claims that it was “worth it,” though, because the scar appears fantastic on screen.
‘Incredibly important’ story to be told
The Lebanese-Australian actor jumped at the chance to join the cast of this ‘iconic’ story, and says it’s ‘incredibly important’ to have such a multicultural story on Australian screens. The show has multiple languages and cultures portrayed, with English subtitles onscreen for non-native speakers.
According to Lincoln, “What we’re representing, which is this iconic strip in Sydney, had people from all walks of life; it welcomed all and judged none.
Because of the numerous stereotypes about Lebanese society that frequently appear on screen, it is crucial in my opinion that this type of Lebanese story be told there.
The program spans three decades, from 1970 to 1990, and doesn’t shy away from gritty plotlines involving gangs, drugs, murder, and other forms of violence. The show’s core appears to be John’s relationship with his older sibling Sam, who is portrayed by Claude Jabbour.
Lincoln teases, “It’s about these two brothers and their broken but also connected relationship amid all the madness of history.”