You’re originally from Australia, where many entertainers have made their mark in Hollywood. When did you decide you would take on acting as a career and how did you initially get your start?
I think the pinnacle moment was when I realized that I could do this as a career and that happened when I was relatively young. I was ten years old and attended the open call auditions to play Jane Banks in the Australian Musical Production of Disney/Cameron Mackintosh’s, “Mary Poppins”. I got the role, which meant I had the opportunity to work with unbelievably talented actors and actresses and witness, up close, so many incredible performances at such an impressionable age. I was surrounded by people who were making a living by storytelling. After being on the show for a year, it was clear in my mind that I wanted to be an actor whether that was in film, television or theatre.
The next stage was making that happen as an adult, after I finished school. I decided to make the big and very bold move to Hollywood by myself, at 18 years old. Many thought I was crazy, but Los Angeles is one of the entertainment capitals of the world, and I felt like I needed be there. I immersed myself in the best acting classes, learning from some of the best coaches in the industry. I met so many likeminded people and I began surrounding myself with people who could help me get to where I wanted to be. It was around this time that I secured representation with my management, Luber Roklin Entertainment and my agents Active Artist Management. I’d say once I had my team established, was when I really got my start.
Which actors body of work are you impressed by and which ones have made a positive impact on your career thus far?
There are so many actresses I admire, but my top five include, Saoirse Ronan, Reece Witherspoon, Viola Davis, Anne Hathaway and Margot Robbie. Margot Robbie actually spoke at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) whilst I was completing the full-time Musical Theatre course in 2018. I was inspired. I took away the important message that nothing beats hard work. So much of what she said really resonated with me – hustling to get what you want, establishing a team that believes in you and to always express your gratitude and appreciation to the people that help you and your career. I remember thinking how cool it was to hear a star of Margo Robbie’s caliber, stress the significance of these things so passionately. I also think Margot inspires me because she is just a girl from Australia, like me, who had the guts to move to L.A. to pursue acting. Although it may sound cheesy, she achieved her goals through lots of hard work and determination – and I was prepared to do the same.
This latest project, “Young Rock”, is your biggest one thus far. Take us through the process of how you got introduced to the series to the point where you were cast.
I was first introduced to Young Rock when my team sent me the audition brief for the character, Karen. The audition process was actually a pretty simple one. I had to submit a self-tape, where I had to portray Karen in three scenes. Side note – the audition scenes were all with 15 year old Dwayne, but I was auditioning mid Covid-19 lockdown so my mom was actually my reader! About three weeks later, I found out that I booked the job. So, I had actually never met anyone from the project until the first table read on Zoom – such a crazy and exciting experience.
Did you get the chance to meet Dwayne “The Rock: Johnson? How was that first meeting with him?
I did get to meet DJ in our Zoom table reads. The first time meeting him was definitely daunting and I remember feeling a little nervous, but also so excited. He is such a kind and genuine person, that all the nerves went away very quickly!
On the show you play the role of Karen. What can you tell us about her personality?
Karen is a great example of the cliché, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. You can look at a character like Karen and easily label her as the popular rich girl, who’s very materialistic and sometimes kinda mean. In my preparation, I couldn’t ignore that there is a reason Dwayne likes her. The audience should want to root for this couple and not wonder why Dwayne is going after this high maintenance girl. Initially, it was tricky to workout Karen’s many layers, but I now understand her on a much deeper level. Karen is not necessarily a mean girl; she is just very honest and has high standards. She comes from a well-off family, so she can be a little naïve. I took notice of Karen’s quirks for example, how she enjoys wrestling. I unpacked moments, such as when Karen could’ve left the flea market date but chooses to stay. Karen really does respect Dwayne standing up for his dad and even though it took a little convincing (and a killer wrestling match), that impressed her. Basically, I tried to play against the stereotype. I loved playing Karen because she’s so much more than what you initially see.
Now that you’ve gone through all the production shooting, what did you enjoy most about bringing Karen’s character to life?
Everyday on set was living a dream. Multiple times a week, I would look around and think this is surreal. There were so many things that made bringing Karen to life so enjoyable. Firstly, getting to wear all of Karen’s wardrobe was just incredible – I loved everything from the hoop earrings to the red fringe boots. The iconic 80’s looks and all the show’s fashion moments are super fun. Walking into my trailer each morning and being surprised with Karen’s outfit of the day was such a treat.
A special part of shooting, was that we were able to, as a cast, create an incredible chemistry with each other. Whilst filming, we were all staying in the same apartment building in Brisbane and due to Covid restrictions we didn’t have our families with us so we all bonded very quickly. We’d have barbecues, go on bike rides, throw Halloween parties – the list goes on. By the time Bradley and I were on set, we were literally best friends. So it made filming our scenes really relaxed, playful and fun.
Lastly, the best gift that playing Karen gave me, is that this role got me working on a big U.S. set, with amazing directors including Nahnatchka Khan, Daina Reid and Jeffery Walker and as a consequence, I learnt so much. This experience as a whole, I believe, really allowed me grow as an actor and has prepared me further for future work in the industry.
What can viewers expect to see from Karen and the rest of the cast in this first season of “Young Rock”?
You definitely haven’t seen the last of Karen and Dwayne! I can’t give away too much, but there are more lessons to be learned by both these characters. The audience should also be prepared to laugh a lot in the upcoming episodes.
If you were not acting in the entertainment industry, what other career would you consider for yourself?
This is often a tough question for me as I’ve always been very determined and focused on the acting dream. However, I am interested in psychology and studying mental processes and human behavior. Promoting mental health and overall wellness is also important to me. In some ways, I think parts of this field are similar to character analysis, which is an integral element of acting. So, being a phycologist is something I would investigate and consider as an alternative career of myself.
When it comes to fashion, which designers and styles fit your personality and taste?
I think my fashion style almost has a dual personality. For events and photoshoots, I love dressing up, getting to wear high-end designer clothing and exploring lots of colors. For these occasions, I’d like my style to convey a girlie, but also sophisticated essence. As for every day though, I would say my style is pretty simple, comfortable and casual. My favorite designers are Chanel, Alice & Olivia, and Levis – I told you I have a wide variety of fashion styles! I also absolutely adore some Australia Designers/Labels. My favorites include, Alice McCall, Sass and Bide and Kookai.
We look forward to seeing your work on “Young Rock”. What other projects are you working on?
There are couple things in the mix for me at the moment, but no information that I can currently share. Stay tuned!
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Photography: Rebecca Hitch