Outrageously Talented – Antonia Prebble on Pregnancy and Career
To fully become a character, either on stage or on screen, is a wonderful gift for an artist to have. It’s a real process to prepare for such a role too. The years spent at Toi Whakaari may not prepare the aforementioned actor for the journey they would be made to take. It’s rugged, it’s growling and oftentimes damn-well cruel, but actors who use their naturally given and authentic talent to tackle these roles often produce classic and timeless characters that will forever grace New Zealand’s acting triumphs. Antonia Prebble is one of those artists.
Images courtesy of South Pacific Pictures
Known for her roles as Loretta in the cult-classic Kiwi comedy-drama, Outrageous Fortune; Rita in its Westside sequel; Trudy in the post-apocalyptic teen series, The Tribe; and Jane in crime-drama, The Blue Rose; this award-winning actress has definitely written her name amongst the stars. When we interviewed Antonia last month, she was prepping herself to start another role. The biggest one of her life, admittedly. The role of a mother.
We had to opportunity of sitting down with Antonia where we talked on acting, her numerous roles and the excitement (and nerves) of becoming a mum.
What first attracted you to acting?
I’d wanted to be an actress for as long as I can remember. From my earliest memories, I’ve always had this deep-seated knowledge and instinct of acting. Of course, I didn’t know what that meant, being so young. I didn’t come from a ‘performing family’ at all so I didn’t have any acting role models either. I just had this innate love for it. I would take any opportunity to jump up on the stage because I was just really attracted to it.
Other than brief dalliances, like being a check-out operator because I wanted to push the buttons on the register, being an actress was always a consistent thing. As I got older, I had more opportunities given to me to perform. I was in some school plays and theatre productions in Wellington. I felt this little spark that ignited in me, which I still feel. It’s always been there.
How would you prepare for a role?
It totally depends on the role. If the project is a historic character, I would definitely do research into that period and look into what people were wearing, what was going on in the world at that time. All the preparation is to align a consciousness with theirs. So you can understand that character with as much depth as possible.
Sometimes that requires more research than others. For example, with West Side, as it started in the 70’s, I did a lot of research into what was going on in New Zealand at that time and what was happening; what music was playing, what they were wearing, what the socio-political climate was. I watched a fascinating documentary about a new subdivision in Auckland and it really focused on the women in that area, which was a fascinating look at how women were perceived at that time. To be honest, it is quite different to how we perceive ourselves now. It was quite an academic thing to do, but ultimately you want the result to be emotional.
In other roles, to contrast with Loretta on Outrageous Fortune, for example, I didn’t do any research for the audition, per say. For some reason, I really understood quite organically who she was. I could slip into that character’s skin very easily and understand what the show wanted me to do seamlessly.
Looking at Loretta, there was not that much work. But with Rita, there was lots of work. With other roles I’ve had, they’ve fit somewhere on that spectrum.
Do you still get nervous with auditions?
Oh yeah, I still get nervous. I don’t really know anyone that enjoys auditioning. I think I’ve met one or two actors in my life who are able to reframe auditions to being positive and uplifting.
Mostly, regardless of what anyone says, auditions are nerve-wracking things. Even though the environment is really positive and supportive, the end goal is always something that you really want and they’re judging you in a way. I think that the dance with anxiety and nerves is a very natural part of the human condition.
For actors, we have to think of techniques that alleviate these situations. If any actor moves forward in their career, the stakes get higher. There’s always a step forward and up we’re trying to reach. I think there are always going to be nerves involved. I like to think, ‘if I’m nervous, then I must really care about this project. It means it really matters to me.’ I try to reframe the nerves in a more positive way.
There are techniques to calm the nerves. My favorite is on the way to an audition, I sing really loudly to the radio. Whatever is on, the pop-ier the better. I express the adrenaline inside.
What would be your favorite song to belt-out?
Pop, high-pitched and empowering. Something like Katy Perry’s, ‘Firework’, or Journey’s, ‘Don’t Stop Believing’.
What has been your favourite character to play?
I think there’s a lot to be gained from something that is challenging, because you learn and get a lot of satisfaction from learning about it. In saying that, I feel that the answer to this question is usually the character that I’m playing at the moment. Because whenever you’re doing a job, you’re always invested in that world. Now I’m just a cliche of myself!
At the moment, I feel that Rita has been my favorite character to play. That’s because she’s so fascinating and complex on this infinite scope of both good and evil. She’s such an interesting, complex person. I still feel like I’m discovering who she is with every new season. I feel like I unpick another layer to who she is. I think that’s testimate to really good writers and storytelling.
I feel so lucky that I’ve been able to play her for five seasons now and I’m not remotely bored. I’m just really interested and inspired by the work we do on Westside. I’m still really interested in playing her because she never gets stale.
I get to explore and do so many fun, interesting things of humanity that I don’t get to explore in my normal life. She’s a gift of a character.
Who would you say is the most important woman in your life?
Definitely my mum. I’m super lucky to have such a wonderful mother. Nicky is so grounded and loving and empathetic and kind and sensible. A huge support.
She was up for the babyshower in the weekend, she’s coming up after the baby is born and it’s lovely. I’m so lucky to have her.
Are you excited to be a mother yourself?
Yeah, I’m excited and nervous all at once! There’s a good dollop of surrealism there too. I still find it quite hard to believe that, in a few weeks, I’m going to have a child. I’m growing a human-being and that’s the most bonkers thing.
I am really excited, really nervous. Such a big concept to wrap your head around, and as this is my first baby, I really don’t know what to expect. I know my life is going to be transformed. It’s a really big change, and I’m ready for that change.
What advice would you give to soon-to-be-mums?
The advice that I’ve been given is to start slowing down, as soon as you can. This pregnancy has happened quite fast, it feels, and you hit a point where you need to go into that private, primal, nesting mode.
As I’m saying this out loud, I’m also taking my own advice. Just listen to your body. If you’re feeling tired, it’s probably a growth spurt or hormonal changes going on. It’s so important to hear what your body is trying to tell you. You’re in a more vulnerable space. Just honour what’s going on.
It’s so easy to be like, ‘Oh great, I’ve got the next nine months off!’ But for me, I’ve been trying to keep my diet healthy because I know that’s how it’ll fuel my day. Being mindful of you and what you’re putting into your body.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
I really like the anchoring idea that everything that happens in life is a lesson that we can learn and grow from. I think that is for all of us, the people in quite empowering positions or the quietly-passive backseaters, we are active agents in our own lives. It’s all a perspective change – an attitude change.
Everything that happens to us, we need to learn and grow and recognise that that is why we’re here. To grow. To become the greatest version of ourselves. Then it can add as an anchor or attitude when things are hard. Attitudes like that are the most useful. How can I learn? How can I grow?
