amuelJohnsonhasa
difficultrelationship
withfame.Hedoesn’t
likeit,nevercravedit,
andyethiscelebrity
statusistheverything
that’sfacilitatinghis
missionto,inhiswords,
“kickcancerintheface”.Johnsonfamously
quitactinginordertoraisemoneyforLove
YourSister,a cancercharityheco-founded
withhissisterConnieJohnson,whodiedof
thediseasein2017.Hereferstohisacting
daysasa “dancewiththedevil”.“Ihadtodo
goodthingswithit[fame]justtobalance
everythingout,”Johnson,41,tellsWHO.LD BE
OUD’
Notcompletelydonewithshowbiz,
Johnsonsurprisedmany– butnonemoreso
thanhimself– whenhewonDancingwiththe
Starsearlierthisyear.He’spragmaticabout
therolehisnotorietyis
playinginhelpinghimraise
$10milliontofightcancer.
“I’veleveragedmyprofile
withinaninchofwhat’s
possible,”saysJohnson,who
wona GoldLogiein 2017 after
playingMollyMeldrumintheminiseries
Molly. “I’veusedittosubsidisemy
philanthropicpursuits.Anyonewhosees
measa showbizguyhasgotthewrongidea
aboutme.I’vejustneverfeltI belongedinshowbiz,andI stilldon’t.”
WhenwecatchupwithJohnson he’s in
thenorthQueenslandtownofMackay, on
day 61 ofa fundraisingtripheestimates will
takehimtwoyears.He’s been
hittinglocalschools; his
infectiousenthusiasm winning
overwide-eyedstudents. Right
now,Johnsoniswhere he
needstobe.“I’mvery happy,”
hebeams.“Ilovemy life. It’s
perfect.I don’tneedtochangeit.I’ve chased
thedemonsawayfornow.Untilthe next
dance.Thatdancingcaperreallyhelped me
sortmys--tout.”
TheremightbeanotherreasonA JOB
TODO
“I’mmeetingrealpeople,”
Johnsonsaysofhisroadtrip
aroundAustralia.“Kidskeepyou
honestandsodomumsand
dads.Thereisnomoreroomfor
messingupnow.I’vegotan
importantjobtodoand
peoplearedepending
onmetodoit.”“I justnever
felt I belonged
in showbiz, and
I still don’t”
Photographed for WHO by RICHARD WHITFIELD‘Dancing with the Stars’ winner Samuel Johnson on life,
showbiz and finding love after tragedy