Our very own Aussie starlet, former Home and Away star Tammin Sursok is making it big in the US, with brand spankin' new roles in Hannah Montana and the devious new TV series Pretty Little Liars. She dropped DOLLY's Jessica Bailey a line from LA to talk about meeting Miley Cyrus, missing home and how to make it in Hollywood.
DOLLY: Hi Tammin, how has your day been?
Tammin: Actually, it’s been one of those crazy days! I decided last minute yesterday to have a two week break from filming so I’m going to Italy, so I’ve spent the whole day being like ‘Oh my gosh, am I really doing this? Should I really do this, do I need to get a map?’ It’s just been a frantic day but at least I can sit down now and just talk on the phone.
DOLLY: Cool. So first of all congratulations on your new role as Sienna on
Hannah Montana. I remember watching you as Danni Sutherland on
Home and Away as a teen and I would go out and buy the studded jeans and the zebra belts and all the things she wore, so it’s almost surreal to watch you now with the Hollywood heavyweights. Does it feel like that for you?
Tammin: It is! I’m so lucky and fortunate and really appreciative of being able to work because it’s tough to get a job in this industry anywhere. For me, it’s like I’m just playing the game until I get there and choose the roles I want to choose, but it’s definitely surreal.
DOLLY: It’s a far cry from
Home and Away, that’s for sure
Tammin: Yeah, those were some of the best years of my life though.
Tammin in Hannah Montana
DOLLY: What’s it like working on the set of
Hannah Montana?
Tammin: It’s really a family atmosphere, everyone really wants to be there, and they want to create a really solid, intelligent fun show. The minute I was part of it, it really felt like I was part of the team and part of the family and I’d tell them my suggestions and they would listen.
DOLLY: What’s Miley like?
Tammin: She’s great, I mean I keep saying she’s such an old soul… she’s a 35-year-old world traveler in a 17-year-old’s body. The things that she’s had to do in the last five years of her life is just astounding. She’s worldly and smart, she knows what she’s doing and she’s talented and you don’t realise how big the show is until you’re proud of it and you know it all rests on her head.
DOLLY: What was it like when you first met her, did you get a bit star struck?
Tammin: Not star struck but you always have times of worry where you think ‘ Am I gonna be treated well?’, but she was lovely, she welcomed me.
DOLLY: Has Liam Hemsworth come to visit the set?
Tammin: He has a few times but it’s never been on my scenes so I’ve never actually met him.
DOLLY: What’s it like being an Aussie who lives in Hollywood?
Tammin: I think it can be difficult because I find the Australians very family orientated and when you don’t have your family around, you’re kind of lost and you can’t have barbecues and go to the beach and play football. I think it’s a little lonely for the Aussies, but I do think that if you stay here long enough you meet the most incredible people and it makes it a lot easier .
DOLLY: Do people like the Australian accent or do you have to hide it in auditions? You can still hear it, but you sound quite American as well.
Tammin: Yeah I always say I’m really confused (laughs). I hide my Aussie accent when I’m on set because the minute they think that there is a reason why they shouldn’t give you a job, they won’t give it to you. So for me, I just go in with my American (accent), and when I’m having my down time, I just speak in whatever comes out.
DOLLY: Fair enough. You’re also in
Pretty Little Liars, which is creating a huge buzz in the US. What’s working on the set like?
Tammin: It’s a little different to
Hannah Montana, because it’s a new show so everything is exciting. We had a huge premiere, it did really well, which is really cool cause everyone is really excited… it’s a really good buzz to shoot at Warner Brothers which is so fun and awesome.
Tammin in Hannah Montana
DOLLY: It’s a gritty role… what were your own teenage years like?
Tammin: I went to an all girls private school, so you deal with the stuff that girls deal with. I was a good student when it came to History and English and Art and I was horrific at Math and Science. I nearly flunked them both! ButI always wanted to act. I did youth theater outside of school, and in school I was always taking singing, drama and dance lessons and then I got an agent and auditioned for
Home and Away at sixteen, and it was the right thing at the right time, and my life changed very fast.
DOLLY: What do you miss most about Australia?
Tammin: I miss my family the most, I miss the beaches, and just the sense of not rushing to the next thing…in the States you can’t really ever sit still because somebody else will get the job and I just miss that peace, that you sometimes get in Australia.
DOLLY: What’s one good thing about living in Hollywood?
Tammin: It never rains.
DOLLY: Really?
Tammin: So you can always have good hair, all the time.
DOLLY: And what’s the worst thing?
Tammin: The worst thing is the lack of culture in LA.
DOLLY: What’s one tip for DOLLY readers on making it in Hollywood?
Tammin: Get an agent - a good agent - in Australia before you come to the States, because they know the right people in the USA. Get an agent in Australia by either doing a short film or putting a show reel together or just doing school plays or theater in Australia.
DOLLY: We better let you go – thanks for chatting to us Tammin!
Tammin: No problem, have a good day!
