Acting

 

I remember the exact moment I decided I wanted to be an actress. I was five years old, living out in the bush with my family and had just finished playing a game with my brother and sister. I was so happy, I knew it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

That desire stayed with me throughout childhood and adolescence, occasionally sidelined by things like dancing, music (piano, guitar and briefly flute) and writing. But by the time I was 12 I started to commit more seriously to acting, performing in at least one production every year.

After school I went to Griffith University in Brisbane. It was there that I got involved in dramaturgy and front of house work with Queensland Theatre Company my last year of university I became involved in a number of drama workshops with different community groups, including refugees, immigrants from non-English speaking backgrounds and young people at risk of homelessness. The aim of these projects – such as the Brisbane City Council-funded Acting Out – was to use dramatic techniques and activities to develop the skills of the community group and give them a platform for communication so there was less chance of them feeling isolated and/or margnalised.

I worked extensively on Acting Out once I had graduated from Griffith University, performing with my colleagues and young people at events like Brisbane’s Valley Fiesta and 2high Festival, where we got young people engaged with the wider public. I was also part of the research team for TheatreSpace – a national study looking at young peoples’ engagement with theatre at different life stages, and acting in short films, indie features and live performances.

In 2010 I moved to Vancouver for professional development, working one-on-one with directors like Smita Archaryya, shooting short films and getting experience on professional sets as an extra for shows like Fox’s The Killing. I also spent the year developing and refining my American and Canadian accents.

I returned to Australia and moved to Melbourne in 2011, hoping to experience more diversity in the arts scene and discover a new Australian city. I also began professional training in the Meisner Technique, completing several short and long courses with Meisner Melbourne. So far my time in Melbourne has been productive, with filming, auditioning and stage performances adding to my experience (detailed below).

I have been inspired by productions from Red Stitch, Melbourne Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Eagles Nest Theatre and independent shows at theatres like La Mama, Revolt and The Owl & Pussycat. There is a lot of exciting things happening in Melbourne, and I’m glad to be in the midst of it all.

With several projects currently underway, I am committed to pursuing all acting work that has heart, soul and creative potential. You can also get an idea of my acting range and style from my showreel and see how I look in still images on my other pages.