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Rob Mills “I contemplated suicide after 'Australian Idol'”

I’ve been on a bit of a journey with Rob Mills, and let me tell you, he’s all grown up and I couldn’t be prouder.

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We all know him from the very first season of Australian Idol. He was a bit of a larrikin, a bit of a ladies man, and everybody’s favourite.

Fast forward 13 years (yes, really) and he’s in a good place right now. He’s just finished a big tour of Ghost the Musical and is really enjoying taking some time off.

Even more importantly, he’s an ambassador for R U OK? Day which is on 8 September.

Rob has just finished his national tour of Ghost the Musical. Photo: Instagram/robmillsymills
Rob has just finished his national tour of Ghost the Musical. Photo: Instagram/robmillsymills

“It’s very important to ask those questions, not just of other people around you, but of yourself as well,” says Rob. “Surround yourself with people who help you with that, even if it’s just a mate, or a psychologist, psychiatrist. I’m a massive advocate of that as well.”

It’s something Rob knows a bit about. Thrust into the spotlight after Australian Idol, he struggled to cope.

Rob was just 21 when he was thrust into the spotlight after coming fifth on Australian Idol. Photo: Getty images
Rob was just 21 when he was thrust into the spotlight after coming fifth on Australian Idol. Photo: Getty images

"That was the worst, I freaked out,” Rob confesses to me. “I contemplated suicide only once in my life, and that was the week after I finished Idol.”

Admitting he didn’t “want any of those things” that came along with fame, it made Rob reassess what’s important in life.

These days, Rob is taking some time off and enjoying life. Photo: Instagram/robmillsymills
These days, Rob is taking some time off and enjoying life. Photo: Instagram/robmillsymills

“I think it’s the worst thing to ever hear from a child’s mouth, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “I want to be famous,” he says.

I don’t think you should ever want to be just famous. I think you should want to travel to the moon, you should want to design something the world has never seen before. Or be an elite athlete, or a scientist, or a politician.”


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