Patrick Brammall is an actor and writer, best known for playing Gordon in Colin from Accounts. Here, the 48-year-old reflects on his mother’s eternal support, his first pony-like kiss and meeting his wife, Harriet Dyer.

My paternal grandmother, Eileen, who we called Gaddy, was an Irish working-class Catholic who raised eight children. Despite her stern exterior, she was buttery-soft inside and had amazing blue eyes. One night when I stayed with her as a kid, I remember her insisting I have a shower. I didn’t really want to, so made it a 30-second one. She marched me back to have a proper one. It made an impression that this was a woman not to be messed with.

My maternal grandmother, Mary, who we called Mimmy, was very gentle and soft and nothing was too much trouble. She had a stash of lollies and always gave me dummies. One night, when my parents dropped me off at hers, the rule was no more dummies for Packet, my family nickname. The moment my parents left, Mimi opened the fridge and there were three chilled ones waiting to go.

My mum, Janice, was my primary caregiver and my dad, Bruce, was the family breadwinner, working as a journalist for The Canberra Times. I was born with prune belly syndrome, a disease that could potentially claim my life, and I was in and out of hospital as a result. I had my first surgery at 2½ weeks and six more by the age of 10. Mum was an endless source of attention and love. It’s heartbreakingly beautiful and unbelievable what she did for me as a child.

I have two siblings – my brother Daniel, who’s seven years older than me, and sister Dana, who’s five years older and has the same blue eyes as our grandma. Dana taught me how to read and has been my number one supporter in life, the first to clap when I have a success. She is fiercely loyal and has plenty of fire in that belly.

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My first kiss happened with my first girlfriend, Alison, when I was 15. She went in with tongues and the kiss was such a sensorial overload it was all too much. I was like, “Okay, this doesn’t feel pleasant but must be how it’s done.” She also had a buzz cut under her long hair. I didn’t realise at the time, but I put my hand on the back of her head and it reminded me of a pony. Weird, I know – I hadn’t really patted many ponies in my life.

I studied arts/law in Canberra before I realised I couldn’t be a lawyer and made the switch to drama school, all thanks to support from Mum. I didn’t have many relationships around that time – I would say I was a serial monogamist. I dated a girl in Canberra for four years and then an actor for a few years while I was at drama school.

It wasn’t until I met my wife, actor Harriet Dyer, in 2016 that I truly fell in love. We are on the same frequency – we make each other laugh and that’s important to me. She keeps me on my toes a little bit. I like that and wish I’d understood that about myself earlier in life.