'The Slap's Jonathan LaPaglia: 'I used to be a doctor'

Jonathan LaPaglia has revealed that he used to be a doctor.

The Australian actor, who is currently starring alongside Melissa George and Sophie Okonedo in Aussie TV drama The Slap, said that he "entertained" the idea of becoming an actor throughout medical school but ended up pushing it out of his mind "out of fear" of failing.

LaPaglia told Woman's Day magazine: "Shortly after I started working as a doctor, I decided to listen to the voice inside me before it was too late. It was now or never, so I decided to explore acting." He then quit his job, moved to New York and enrolled in a two-year drama course.

"I was lucky enough to work within a month of graduation," he revealed. "I landed my first role on a TV show and it went on from there. But I still had this fantasy of keeping both jobs going. I thought I could work as a doctor part time."

LaPaglia joked that he has "never had a part as a doctor", adding: "[Casting agents don't] think I look like a doctor!"

LaPaglia said that he lives "very close" to his brother, Without a Trace actor Anthony LaPaglia, adding: "They have a daughter who is a similar age to [my daughter] Tilly, so it's great for them - cousins! We have barbecues all the time."

The 42-year-old recently revealed that he felt "ashamed" that he had to have voice coaching before filming The Slap to help him regain his Australian accent after years of living in the US.