What does fame at 17 really do to you?
In this episode of Begin Again, Jason Donovan opens up about growing up in the spotlight and what happens when success comes before you’ve had time to understand yourself.
Thrust into fame as a teenager on Neighbours, Jason shares what it was like navigating a world where everyone thought they knew him, while he was still figuring out who he was. Behind the success, there was pressure, confusion, and a lack of guidance that led him down a path he struggled to control.
He speaks candidly about the reality of those years; the partying, the expectations, and the feeling of having to navigate it all alone. At a time when mental health wasn’t openly talked about, Jason reflects on how difficult it was to process everything he was experiencing.
But this is also a story of change.
Jason shares how becoming a father became a turning point giving him purpose, grounding, and a reason to rebuild. He reflects on the lessons he’s learned, what he knows now that he didn’t then, and how he’s found a way to balance creativity, family, and peace.
At its core, this is a conversation about fame, identity, and what it takes to take back control of your life no matter where you started.
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(00:00) Intro
(02:36) The Face Magazine Outing Scandal
(14:38) Jason's Upbringing And Relationship With His Parents
(20:34) Saily Ad
(21:30) Bloom & Wild Ad
(22:32) Jason's Relationship With His Father And Stepmother
(27:01) The Beginnings Of Jason's Career & Working With Kylie
(28:47) Jason On Neighbours And Meeting Kylie
(31:10) Spirituality And Getting Older
(35:07) Paramount + Ad
(36:23) Begin Again Newsletter
(37:17) Jason's Wife Angela And The Buzz Of Performing
(41:37) Drug Addiction And Mental Health Battle
(47:24) Recovery, Meeting His Wife And Becoming A Father
(52:41) A Letter From Jason's Father
(55:23) What's Next For Jason And What Else He'd Like To Do
Sponsored by:
Saily - Download from the app store and use code DAVINA at the checkout for 15% off
Bloom & Wild - use code DAVINA for 15% off at https://www.bloomandwild.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=begin_again
Paramount+ - Episodes 1-3 of The Madison are available to stream on Paramount+ now: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/shows/the-madison/
Episodes 4-6 will be available to stream from 21 March
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