William McInnes

As Max Connors...

Max Connors grew up in Pearl Bay, part of a rowdy, happy family. A rabble rouser, he worked on the local paper and Bob Jelly remembers him as nothing but trouble. Max's gumption rocketed him through the ranks of a leading city paper, then he hit the foreign correspondent's trail, picking up awards and living hard and fast in the world's hottest trouble spots.

On assignment in Cuba, Max met Diver Dan and the two forged a strong alliance. Both well-travelled, both lovers of the sea, their friendship blossomed over hours of hearty disagreement. Max told Dan about his home town, prompting Dan's decision to come to Pearl Bay.

Somehow Max found time in his travels to marry Elena, a psychologist specialising in child trauma counselling with the United Nations. When tragedy is imminent, Max and Elena head for Pearl Bay, a place Max still calls home. Max has a novel to write but he finds endless distractions - swimming miles out to sea, stirring up his old sparring partner Bob Jelly - anything to avoid that first chapter.

As William McInnes...

William McInnes grew up in Redcliffe, Queensland, the youngest of five children. He says he "stumbled" into acting having watched local musicals with his family and seeing how much people enjoyed them. He went to the Central Queensland University and then studied at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts where he graduated in 1988. Since then he has been in demand for theatrical, television and film roles.

William is best known to television audiences as Senior Constable Nick Schultz in Blue Heelers. He was in the long-running series for four years. "I learnt a lot on the series. They were good people to work for. I decided to call it a day because you can't be doing the same thing all the time."

Another memorable role was as MacArthur in the Artist Services/Channel 7 series, Bligh. On stage he has appeared in numerous plays, including Macbeth and Pride and Prejudice for the Melbourne Theatre Company and in several films, including Turtle Beach and The Heartbreak Kid.

He was attracted to the role of Max Connors in SeaChange because it was 'something different'. "Everyone has made me feel very welcome," he said. "It's a good cast and crew, the scripts are great and Sigrid Thornton is terrific to work with, so I've lucked in again."

Like his character in SeaChange, William enjoys pounding up and down pools. He spends most of his spare time with his family - his wife Sarah Watt, an award-winning maker of animated films, his son Clem and daughter Stella.