Fresh from a glittering victory on the American edition of Dancing With The Stars, Robert Irwin has made it clear that the bright lights of Hollywood hold little lasting appeal for him. The 22-year-old conservationist and television personality has just spent three months living in Los Angeles but is now happily trading the city's glamour for the greenery of the wild.
A Naturalist at Heart
In a candid interview with The West Australian this week, Irwin confessed that urban life simply doesn't suit him. "I couldn't wait to get here, actually," he said, referring to his current location in the South African jungle, where he is filming the new season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia. He elaborated, stating, "Being in LA for the last three months has been wonderful, but I am not a city kid. I live out in the bush and have grown up there, so it's good to be back where there's a bit of greenery."
Despite his rising global profile, Robert remains deeply committed to his roots at Australia Zoo, the Queensland conservation park founded by his family. He continues to champion the wildlife conservation mission of his late father, the legendary Steve Irwin.
Balancing Fame and Mission
However, Irwin acknowledged the increasing challenge of juggling his media commitments with his core conservation work. He admitted he is "trying to navigate" the two worlds but sees a powerful synergy. "I want to take on the right projects that can mesh this world of conservation and connect it to a larger audience," he told the publication.
While he is dedicated to following in his parents' footsteps by making wildlife documentaries, Robert is also keen to explore other creative avenues. "I have come to realise that I am a storyteller – that is what I came here to do – and I see myself doing the wildlife documentary side of things, 100 per cent," he said. "But I also see myself hosting more, doing scripted [television]. I would love to do other TV shows, and I would love to do movies one day."
US Interest and a Sweet Reunion
His successful stint on Dancing With The Stars, which he won with professional partner Witney Carson in November, has reportedly sparked significant interest from American television producers. An insider suggested that multiple US shows are now keen to secure deals with the young star.
In a heartwarming post-show moment, Robert recently reunited with Witney Carson at Australia Zoo. Carson, along with her husband and children, visited the zoo, with Robert sharing a sweet video of the encounter on Instagram, celebrating the bond forged during their Mirrorball trophy-winning run.
It seems that for Robert Irwin, global fame is a tool to be used wisely, always bringing the focus back to the wild places and creatures that are his true home.
