Human 28: Ian Roberts

Rugby League legend, actor

Ian Roberts has been described as one of the toughest men to play Rugby League. He started his career at the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and subsequently represented the Wigan Warriors, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, and the North Queensland Cowboys. Over the course of his career he also represented NSW in State of Origin 9 times and played for Australia 13 times. Since retiring, Ian has been awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in Rugby League, was included in the 2004 South Sydney Dream Team, and was named one of the 25 greatest ever NSW Rugby League players.

In 1995, Ian became the first high-profile Australian sports person and the first rugby player in the world to come out as gay. More than 25 years on, he is a patron for Pride in Sport and remains one of the most powerful voices addressing LGBTQI issues in sport. Ian is also an actor, having appeared in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Little Fish, Superman Returns, and Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities.

Ian is a human mammal. Here are his thoughts:

What brings you the most joy in life?                      

It has always been performing. I’ve been a show off my whole life. I was always part of the ensemble at school as I grew up. Even when sport took off for me, it was still a type of performance - the footy field is just a bigger, and more physical, stage - I still got to show off.                                         

What does success mean to you?    

It has so many different meanings depending on the situation. It also feels a little arrogant or maybe entitled to claim success - ‘success’ compared to what?… When I think about my playing career, I never won a premiership - that feels like such a failing/regret for me personally as a player, though I absolutely loved my time playing. So I have regrets in sport, but I also have a wonderful sense of joy and accomplishment, which is a success in a sense. A sense of happiness or joy in the present, or in reflection, is a good gauge of success I think.                                   

What do you see as your greatest achievement?   

If nothing else, reaching the age of 56 is somewhat of an achievement!… I think living truthfully, and in turn being able to use my public profile to help others.          

What are you most grateful for?     

I’m grateful I was born gay. I’m grateful to have grown up in a country that has, for want of a better word, a sense of ‘freedom’, although admittedly we still have a way to go. I’m also grateful we have at least some forms of free education, a free health system, social security etc.                             

Who or what has had the biggest influence on your life?  

I suppose my family. I grew up in a family that had in-built misogynistic, racist, and homophobic views, which were obviously very conflicting and confusing. But, in saying that, I absolutely grew up in a loving home as well.

Also, coming to terms with my lack of education growing up and how that has affected me as an adult. I grew up being unable to read and write. That was such a sense of shame for me through my childhood. Navigating those obstacles and the consequences as a child had far reaching negative results as an adult.          

What do you regret? 

Like most people, given what I know now, I would change plenty in my past. For one, I would have invested big in Google and Apple in the late 1990’s!           

Has there been a defining moment in your life? Can you tell us something about it?

I don’t know if I personally have had a ‘defining moment’. It is hard to choose a single moment that defines how I see myself or how others see me. I would say I’m not the person I was even 10 years ago, let alone over my whole life - change is constant. Although I can’t pin point one moment that was defining to me, I suppose when I came out publicly in 1994 as a gay man that was somewhat of a defining moment for ‘Ian Roberts the footballer’ (it feels so wanky speaking about myself in the 3rd person… hehe).                                       

What advice would you give your younger self?    

Educate yourself. Never deny yourself. Trust your gut.            

What do you doubt most?    

Equality.

When did you last change your mind?

As I was answering this question.                                 

What is the role of luck in our lives?            

Good or bad, ‘luck’ is definitely a four-letter word. We use it when we’re unsure if we’ve done enough work beforehand. I mean, the harder you work the luckier you get. We also use it to justify completely random stuff, again both good and bad.      

Do you have a favourite quote? What is it? Why do you like it?   

I have a tattoo on my arm that I’ve had for a long time, it still rings true to me. It’s self-explanatory - ‘A life lived in fear is a life half lived’.                 

What would you do with your life if you had unlimited financial resources?       

Wow! Now that is a question. I suppose like most people I would like to end all the humanitarian issues we face globally - equality, address global warming, diminish extinction rates etc. On a more selfish l note, I’d love to sail around the globe.    

If you could have the definitive answer to a single question, what would you ask?        

Well the obvious questions I’d love to know the absolute answers to are below… and you can take your pick…

Is there other life out there in the universe?

What are all the laws that govern the universe?

Is there a god? 

Why is there something rather than nothing?

What concept/fact/idea should every human on the planet understand?

It’s so easy to get on, just be kind to one another.      

Do human beings have free will?     

Some days, depending on what mood they’re in.                                                            

Do you believe in God?

Which one, there’s so many to pick from?                                                                   

Could we be living in a simulated universe?

No, you couldn’t make this shit up… hehe. Yeah why not? Anything’s possible. A simulated universe is still real to me though, right?                    

Will the continual development of technology have a net positive or negative influence on humanity?

Well, you would hope it’s a net gain, but let’s be honest, our history as a species doesn’t reflect that. The gains we make usually favour a few and the vast majority do not benefit at all - look at the disparity between the 1st and 3rd world today. From a different perspective, I’d love to become an app one day, technology permitting.    

What is the single greatest achievement of humanity?     

You love the big questions, don’t you?!… Comedy, then science.             

What do you see as the biggest existential threat to humanity?

Male pride/ego. Every war we’ve had has been started by men. Apart from that, maybe just a big random fucking asteroid.        

What does it mean to live a good life?

‘What does it mean to live a good life’, sounds like a Martin Scorsese film! I’d say hopefully there’s more ups than downs, and you know the difference. Everyone needs to have their heart broken at least once to truly understand the power and depth of their own love. Empathy. Like who you are. Have people who love and miss you when you’re gone.      

What is a good death?

Quick.

What question should I have asked you?

All of the above.                                             

Thanks for your time, Ian!

Twitter: @didiforget

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