ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Real Life

You won't recognise this 'McLeod's Daughters' hunk in his new role!

He's made a dramatic transformation! - by Starts at 60 Writers
  • 22 Aug 2017
You won't recognise this 'McLeod's Daughters' hunk in his new role!

Hunky actor Aaron Jeffery looks near unrecognisable in his latest role as the colourful late criminal Mark ‘Chopper’ Read. 

The Australian-New Zealand Logie winner actor ditched his classic good looks to undergo a complete transformation to take on the highly coveted role. 

aaroncjeffery View Profile
892 likes - View Post on Instagram
Big thank u to Nikki Mcelod from @akubraofficial for my new #riverina hat. Love it👊👊 @akubra_australia #RiverinaHat #Akubra

Jeffery, 46, packed on the pounds, including a substantial belly, complete with painted-on tattoos, for the upcoming Nine mini-series Underbelly Files: Chopper. 

Previously seen in Wentworth and McLeod’s Daughters, usually playing one of the romantic leads, Jeffery appears to have taken his turn as the underworld enforcer seriously.

The role was previously immortalised on the big screen by Eric Bana in the acclaimed 2000 film Chopper. 

But Channel Nine’s heads of drama released a statement about Jeffery’s turn as Chopper with a promise that Jeffery would inject a new side to the infamous criminal. “This is Chopper as you’ve never seen him before. And who better to portray this larger-than-life criminal than multiple Logie and AACTA-award winner Aaron Jeffrey?” the statement said.

The real Chopper was one of Australia’s most best-known criminals. He was able to use his notoriety to his advantage by writing a series of best-selling books about his often darkly comical exploits, including one called How to Shoot Friends and Influence People. He claimed to have spent just 13 months out of prison – where he learned to read and write – between the ages of 20 and 38, and published his first book in 1991.

He died in 2013 following a long battle with liver cancer. But Chopper’s wife, Margaret Read, told the Daily Telegraph in November that she wasn’t happy about the Underbelly series. 

She said that there was no ‘untold’ story left about Read, given his own books, multiple interviews he had given to the media, and the Chopper film, which she said was about “10 per cent true”.

Screentime, which made the program for Channel Nine, said at the time that the Underbelly piece would be as thoroughly researched and authentic as possible.

This article first published on Starts at 60.

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

I turn people into art!

I turn people into art!

Holly the heart hero

Holly the heart hero

30-year heartbreak  - who killed Kerry Turner?

30-year heartbreak - who killed Kerry Turner?

My runny nose was cancer

My runny nose was cancer

{headline}

{headline}

I was paralysed at the beach

I was paralysed at the beach

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

{headline}

{headline}

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

Back from the brink!

Back from the brink!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

I woke up with no hands and feet

I woke up with no hands and feet

How chalk found me love!

How chalk found me love!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!