Cody Simpson has opened up about the very surprising thing which helped keep him grounded while living in Los Angeles during the height of his fame.
The singer-turned professional athlete, 27, appeared on Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie and told the hosts his rare swimming sessions helped keep him in a good headspace.
‘I didn’t swim for the better part when I lived there. It was towards the end that I started to really realise that I needed it because I missed it so much,’ Cody said.
The Gold Coast-born singer lived in California from 2010 – 2020 as he worked to advance his singing career, but moved back to Australia after he realised how much he missed life Down Under.
Cody then made the bombshell announcement he was permanently done with competitive swimming and was looking to pursue other interests.
‘I’m done! I feel like I have gotten what I want out of it. There is so much else I am excited about doing.’
Cody Simpson (pictured) has opened up about the very surprising thing which helped keep him grounded while living in Los Angeles during the height of his fame
Simpson was a promising junior swimmer and at 12-years-old won two gold medals at the Queensland state championships in 2009.
That same year, the singer-guitarist posted some songs on YouTube and was discovered by an American music manager – his family moved to Los Angeles in 2010 and fame followed.
Earlier this week, Cody revealed what his next career move will be.
The former swimming champion will be making his Australian musical theatre debut in a production of Guys & Dolls.
On Wednesday, Opera Australia announced Simpson will star in their production of the classic musical in 2025.
Cody will play the lead role of Sky Masterton, which was made famous in the 1955 film by acting legend Marlon Brando, starring alongside Frank Sinatra.
‘The role of Sky has always been one of my dream stage roles ever since I was first introduced to the story and the soundtrack of Guys & Dolls,’ he said.
‘I fell in love with the film as a teenager when I first developed a passion for musical theatre prior to my debut on Broadway,’ added Cody, who made his musical debut in 2018 after landing the lead role of Dmitry in Anastasia.
The singer-turned professional athlete, 27, appeared on Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie and told the hosts his rare swimming sessions helped keep him in a good headspace
Cody then made the bombshell announcement he was permanently done with competitive swimming and was looking to pursue other interests
The five-time Tony award-winning musical is filled-to-the-brim with instantly recognisable tunes, including ‘Luck Be a Lady’ and ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’.
The production will be directed by award-winner Shaun Rennie, designed by Brian Thomson, with costumes by Jennifer Irwin.
The production of the hit Broadway show will play at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour from March 21 to April 20.
Starring alongside Simpson will be two of Australia’s favourite leading men – Bobby Fox as Nathan Detroit, and the highly acclaimed breakout star of Hamilton Jason Arrow as the cheeky rogue Nicely-Nicely Johnson.
Celebrated musical theatre performer Annie Aitken will also join the cast as the saintly Sarah Brown, the object of Sky’s scheming and eventual love interest.
With music by Frank Loesser and book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows, the five-time Tony award-winning musical is filled-to-the-brim with instantly recognisable tunes, including ‘Luck Be a Lady’ and ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’.
The production will be directed by award-winner Shaun Rennie, designed by Brian Thomson, with costumes by Jennifer Irwin.
The production of the hit Broadway show will play at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour from March 21 to April 20.
Cody was recently asked if he and partner whether he and partner Emma McKeon, 30, are heading down the aisle.
‘It’s not something that we’ve spoken about,’ the pop star turned swimmer admitted, but went on to wax lyrical about their loving relationship.
‘We have something that is beautiful and honest and pure,’ Cody explained, adding that marriage was possible down the line.
‘When something means enough to you and family does and will mean that much to me, it will always be a part of the picture,’ he added.
