How did you start out in your career?

I was a vivacious and energetic child with an unusual amount of self-confidence. I filmed my first TV show in Australia when I was ten years old and the ball kept rolling from there. The show was called "Book Bugs" on the ABC in Australia, where children's books were adapted and brought to life. Brooke Satchwell played my older sister. I had to learn how to play some basic trombone!

What was your 'big break'?

I'd like to think I haven't had it yet. But if you ask anyone in Australia, having a stint on "Neighbours" was a rite of passage that excited quite a few people. I played a mean girl, Jessica Wallace. I remember one day walking down the street in Melbourne and some kids yelled "It's that B*** from Neighbours" and threw a pastry at me. Being on set was like high school. We were a huge bunch of young adults getting into constant trouble. It really was like being in acting school in many ways. You learn a lot and the pace of it all is super quick, which means you get used to a kind of efficiency that has helped me on various jobs over the years.

Do you have any cautionary tales about mistakes you've made in the past?

I think the older you get, you have more confidence in saying no to projects that simply don't align with your values or feel soul-enriching. It took me a while, but it's clear now that listening to your intuition and being patient means the right work will eventually cross your path, and that there is no point putting energy into projects that don't stir your soul. There was a time I was accepting roles because I thought I should say yes to everything. I don't do that anymore.

What awards have you won, or been nominated for?

I was the lead actor in a Cannes Film Festival nominated short film. "Happy Melancholy" was an odd surreal love story of sorts where two unconventional strangers meet in a janitor's closet and together take a vacation from reality into a dreamscape of color. I played Penny. A long-time friend and collaborator from high school wrote and directed it, so it was wonderful to see her having her moment on the red carpet at Cannes.

What advice would you give to others in your field?

Make sure you can afford therapy. Of both the somatic and talk variety. People far wiser than I have spoken about this at length, but choosing to be an artist in this day and age when you haven't been born into wealth or have a financial leg up in any capacity can be truly grueling and soul-crushing at times. The fact of the matter is I have no choice. To be me is to be an artist. If I don't create in some capacity, I die. Navigating the atrocities of the world and trying to keep your head above water in modern-day capitalism is a task in and of itself. It's so important to take care of your body and mind and be as grounded as you can be, with a tool belt of coping mechanisms within reach at all times. You need to consistently work to be the healthiest version of you for not only yourself but your community.

Any fun anecdotal tales of working with celebrities?

I was working on a film in Australia with Peter Dinklage, and my character had to wear an engagement ring as part of my wardrobe. I was finishing lunch before being called to set, and as I was scraping my food scraps in the trash, the prop engagement ring fell in the trash can. So I start picking through the trash and next minute Peter appears asking what on earth I was doing. I explain my engagement ring is in the trash, and next minute he panics and practically dives in the trash can himself to help me recover it. I didn't have the heart to tell him it was only a prop engagement ring once we eventually fished it out.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

Honestly, so far it's usually been in the classroom or on stage. Working with Larry Moss in a master class at 16th Street Actors Studio was nothing short of a spiritual experience for me. Larry has been an actor, acting coach, and director for over 35 years and now is one of the most sought after acting coaches of our time. He has worked with many beloved actors including Hilary Swank, Helen Hunt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jim Carrey, Andrew Garfield, and Nathan Lane. His book "The Intent to Live" is a game-changer—and his ethos about life and acting are so incredibly charging for me. He truly is a magical person. I've never seen an acting coach intuitively be able to read humans and get the best out of them as actors in the way he can. A part of me thinks he's psychic. Auditing any class watching Larry work with actors is my kind of heaven.

How would your peers describe you?

Probably mildly unstable but fun to be around.

Is there anything you wish you had done differently?

I've had many a cringe-worthy moment growing up working, but they were all little stepping stones in getting to a place where I know what works for me as an actor. As Ethan Hawke so simply and eloquently says: Prepare, prepare, prepare, prepare—let it go.

I'm prone to occasional spontaneous nose bleeds since breaking my nose at age fourteen. I've had two nose bleeds on set—one was during a make-out scene, and the other a hugely emotional breakdown moment. Hearing "Cut—Heidi, you're bleeding" and seeing the horror in a co-star's face as they slowly back away from me is always a dull fear living in the back of my mind.

What has experience taught you? What is the biggest lesson you've learned?

That life is long and we are forever learning and evolving as artists/humans. It's never too late to do anything. And taking breaks is more than okay; it's imperative for one's artistic and personal growth.

Who was your mentor when you started out in this profession?

I never really had one. Getting into the business so young, I really looked to various adults and peers on set to guide me. At the moment I'm taking classes at Esper Studios with Barbara Marchant and finding her insight and energy very grounding and motivating. Barbara is the Associate Chair of the Theater Department at Rutgers University and has an incredible reputation in the industry. She's worked with many successful students through Esper Studios—most recently Ramy Youssef.

What projects have you recently completed?

I have been performing a lot in the immersive dance and theatre world in New York City. After recovering from long COVID, it took a long time for my energy levels to reach a point of basic functionality—and I really wanted to explore what my body could do after such a debilitating stint in bed and having minimal ability to move. The silver lining of what was such a lengthy and scary experience is I tapped into movement exploration in a deeper way once I was out the other side, and carry it with me now in my work.

What projects are you hoping to work on in the near future?

I'm ready to do some off-Broadway in New York that's less dance-focused. I'm excited to jump into a meaty play and use my voice again.

Is there anything else we should know about you?

I'm also a writer and visual artist. It's worth mentioning because my art practice bleeds into my acting work and vice versa. I'm currently irrefutably in love with ceramic sculpture and in the process of putting together a gallery show that combines performance with my works.