Tough guys, nude pioneers and a ‘bogan’ in Bollywood: nine sports stars who became actors

Shane Crawford took centre stage after winning an AFL premiership with Hawthorn and performed on The Footy Show, but now he’s been cast in an Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical Photograph: Kristian Dowling/Getty Images

Shane Crawford once stood on a stage in the middle of the MCG and told celebrating Hawthorn fans: “That’s what I’m talking about.” Come November, he’ll stand on a stage in Melbourne’s Regent theatre and try to hold his own in an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

“In the past I probably got the gig because I was able to kick a football,” the former AFL star said of being cast as Pharaoh in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. “[But theatre producers] in America and England have no idea who I am and they’re looking at people as performers.”