What was it that inspired you to get involved in the creative arts?
I was lucky to have actually played Alice in "Alice in Wonderland through the Looking Glass" and at that age when you're 9, and for most of my life I guess I've always believed in fantasy and I've always been a great dreamer. I love the whole concept of Alice in Wonderland and how she goes through the Looking Glass, and you know, its such a feeling of freedom as well. So I guess it was great, and that's what got me into it, and that's what I sort of stuck at.
What was the one performance in your career that sort of stands out to you as memorable?
I just guess you sort of go through certain periods of life and you go through certain stages, theres a lot of different memorable experiences and things that you go through, whether it be on film or more just in day to day living that I've just been lucky to have found the fact that extremity in life sometimes leads to the greatest things. It's like you go from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs and if you can keep working on there you can always find balance in the fact that if you're there you'll find something else somewhere else. So there's never been a 'greatest experience' but I think I've been lucky to have had some great experiences.
Talking about a sense of balance. What are the things that you do to keep in balance?
Well I've found myself going through periods where I've been completely at a loose end and periods where I've been completely chuffed about things, but I guess I concentrate on something that I'm really passionate about such as when I'm doing music or I'm doing acting, and it's funny with acting often enough when you're working in a film set situation or on a series situation you get a set schedule. You have to stick to that schedule because you want to stick to that schedule because you're really in to the part that you're playing. With music, for example, it's very much self influenced so you can often do it at any time and it often brings out the best things. You can really have a release through that. I guess thats what I do when I'm having a moment (laughs).
What are the things that you've experienced in your music and acting, that've been tough for you?
I think some of the most positive things I've experienced in that is that someone said on a record once 'Keep your chin up' and thats the only thing that springs to mind when you go into an audition and yeah it is tough, because you might not get the part and I think 'why didn't I get the part?' and it doesn't really matter that you got the part, it's just the fact that you got the initial audition and you actually made the effort to go to that and you really enjoyed the process of learning. Because with every experience you have in life I believe you get the experience of learning and you get a different sense of youreself as well. The toughest things I guess is when I don't feel like I'm learning and feel like I'm stagnant and I'm sitting there adrift and trying to decide what I'm doing and that's when I have to pick myself up and say fuck it, keep your chin up and go for it. Positive people say positive things. It's always really imperitave, but not only that, it's just the fact that you go out there and just do it, because the positive people will come if you're doing the right thing.
Did Heartbreak High give you any interesting insights in what it was like to be a teenager?
Big time. But it doesn't really rely on the fact that I've been in film, theatre or television. It actually relies on day to day living as well because I often feed off the vibe from people on the street, or I might see someone who runs a shop and I just get a sense of yeah, you're a good person, and they're the people that I really want to investigate. It's just that when you're working on a long term series you are put into a positiion where you can't choose not to investigate because you've got a schedule that makes you want to investigate. So regardless of things like schedule and stuff its a constant barage of meeting people. Some people can be really negative, some can be really positive, but I think that through several years of questioning that you don't need the negative people, you just need to stay true to the fact that you're passionate about something.
What does music mean to you?
I got asked a funny question on this questionare that I've been trying to fill out, that was like 'is acting a way of life, or a job?' and I say yes, acting is a way of life, but I also say music's a way of life because you play a part in life, and everyone's a performer, but they're also people. So you might have a casual life as a way of life, but it doesn't matter, you just go along, so I guess music plays a huge part in my life.
Who or what inspires you?
Everybody! (laughs) but not everybody, a lot of people. Even when I feel someone has given me not the best of vibes, they've actually inspired me in a different way, or when they give me a positive vibe it doesn't matter because its not about what I get anyway. I learned a really great lesson when I was on Heartbreak (High) because Nick the dramaturg actually said " What you do depends on the other person". So if you're feeding off someone then you should get an insight into your own persona just from having that feedback and just response. Whether it be positive or negative its just a way of life and you've just got to move on and just be doing your thing.
When things get on top of you how do you chill out and relax?
I just go there. You go somewhere, I can't even pinpoint it. I'd say music, I'd say acting, I'd say romance, I'd say a lot of things, but I never find.. It's so diverse and if I could pinpoint it then I guess I wouldn't have the low moments which would lead to the most highest of high moments. So I guess extremity is what leads me to do what I do. Coming to Port Maquarie after being in Melbourne, and from Melbourne to Sydney and the only reason that's happened is because it happened for a reason and I wanted to do what I do as an art and be passionate about what I do and the fact that I'm working with great people. I respond to great people. I'm lucky to have great people around me.
Clues for Life
Number 1: Don't let negative things get on top of you Because some people say negative things because they actually think that you're the most positive thing in the world, they're just having a negative day. And don't criticise them for being negative because in actual fact some people just get that vibe sometimes, and they just shoot off some bollocks and thats the end of it, so I guess just try and look forward.
Number 2: What you do depends on the other person So if you're feeding off someone then you should get an insight into your own persona just from having that feedback and just response. Whether it be positive or negative its just a way of life and you've just got to move on and just be doing your thing.
