She’s won seven Logie Awards, including five for Most Popular Actress for her starring roles in hit TV dramas including Offspring, Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo and Party Tricks, so there is no doubt that Asher Keddie has some serious acting chops.
But playing grieving mum Heather, who heads to health and wellness resort Tranquillum House to get over the death of her son in Nine Perfect Strangers, took everything the star had.
“It was a rigorous role for sure,” the 47-year-old actress tells WHO.
Keddie is a parent herself. She shares her 6-year-old son, Valentino, with husband Vincent Fantauzzo, and is also stepmum to the artist’s older son Luca, 11.
“For me, playing the role as authentically as I possibly could meant trying to imagine the unimaginable,” Keddie explains. “The thought of losing my children is too horrible a thought to even hold in my mind and imagine for more than a few seconds. But it was a challenge, and that’s what attracted me to the role.”
You worked with a stellar cast on this series. What was it like on set?
It was wonderful. Everyone was so committed and invested in their characters and their story as a whole. Nic [Kidman] and Melissa [McCarthy] are just powerhouses, and they were really generous with their time. It was a very special project to be involved with.
Filming took place in Byron Bay last year during the first wave of the pandemic. What was it like to be in that beautiful location during such a crazy time?
It was just fantastic. It couldn’t have been more beautiful, and there was a sense of freedom even though there were very strict protocols we followed while filming. We were in a bubble, really, with the cast and crew. Everyone worked really hard, but we also enjoyed it.
In showcasing Australian talent and locations and our ability to pull together a big-budget drama, do you think Nine Perfect Strangers will have a lasting impact on the film and TV industry Down Under?
It’s such an unpredictable time for our industry, like many [others] during the pandemic, but I am hopeful that productions like this will continue here and that it continues to be possible to make them. I think it’s equally as important that we continue to film local content. The streamers are doing a great job at the moment of pushing Australian work out internationally, which is fantastic.
Were you a fan of Liane Moriarty’s books before you tried out for your role?
Oh yeah! I had read all of her novels before I was offered the part. I’ve been a big fan of hers for years, and am so excited to see her doing so well.
As you’d already read the novel, was there any character apart from Heather that you would have wanted to play?
It sounds like the easy answer, but I always wanted to play Heather. Her story was the one I felt most engaged with and I felt had the most heart.
What’s coming up next for you?
There are a few possibilities I’m looking at for the end of the year, but for now I’m just hanging out at home and enjoying the extra time with my family. And trying to get the kids off to school, when they are able to go!
(Nine Perfect Strangers is streaming from Friday, August 20 on Amazon Prime Video)
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