Actor Eric Bana shares his joy at Premier Dan Andrews opening Melbourne

Hollywood actor Eric Bana has shared his joy at Melbourne being able to reopen this week after a strict three-month lockdown.  

Appearing on Channel Ten’s The Project on Monday, the 52-year-old actor was clearly pleased at the city’s harsh lockdown ending.   

‘It’s a great day for all of us here in Melbourne,’ Eric said, joking he will celebrate by ‘not having a drink’ for a change.  

‘It’s a mixed feeling. I’m sure I’m not the only person who is in a bit of shock and doesn’t really know how to process it.’ 

Eric said the pandemic meant a lot of ‘sitting on my butt’ saying he cannot see a time when ‘work will be reliable’ due to the coronavirus.   

‘I’m just trying to play a mental long game and trying to pace myself,’ he said.  

Melbourians will finally be able to leave their homes for any reason from Tuesday night as pubs, shops and restaurants open for the first time in three months.    

Premier Daniel Andrews relaxed restrictions for the city of five million which has been shut down since July 8 after the virus escaped from two quarantine hotels. 

Pubs, shops and restaurants will be allowed to open with 20 people indoors and 50 outside – and these limits will increase in two weeks’ time.  

Announcing the changes on Monday, an emotional Mr Andrews thanked Victorians for fighting the ‘wicked enemy’ of coronavirus.

‘Now is the time to open up. Now is the time to congratulate every single Victorian for staying the course,’ he said.  

Eric will next star in The Dry playing Aaron Falk, due out in January, which is an Australian thriller based on the work of novelist Jane Harper. 

‘That was one of the thing I loved about Jane’s book, I felt that she had captured small country towns so well, that they felt really familiar,’ he said of the project.