In Conversation With Tiarnie Coupland
Starting her screen career at the tender age of 8, talented actress Tiarnie has appeared in numerous films, television series, short films and theatre productions around the globe. Initially shooting to fame with her first regular television lead role in the global hit children’s series, Worst Year of my Life, Again. More recently, Tiarnie played bona fide wild child Maggie, in the Logie award-winning Love Child which earned her a Logie nomination for ‘Best New Talent’ in 2017. Her film credits include the thriller Killing Ground, acclaimed drama The Final Winter and Kiss Of The Damned. Tiarnie’s dedication and love for what she does is undeniable, watch this star ascend.
You started acting when you were 8 years old. What led you to your craft at such an early age? How did you get discovered? It first started out as a hobby and just something to do on the side. I was always very creative as a child, putting on little plays, dressing up, getting my cousin to act along side me. It seemed natural that I would eventually be lead into it. I got discovered on the streets of Sydney when I was around 7 or 8 years old. We were often approached by casting directors or people that were in the industry. By the time the third person came up to us, my mum decided there must be something in it!
In 2017 you were nominated for a Logie for ‘Best New Talent’ for your performance in Love Child. How did this impact your career? It was such an honour to be nominated. I was so nervous and even though I didn’t win, it reinforced for me that I’m truly doing what I love. I definitely got a lot of exposure because of it and got to meet some incredible people including Danni Minogue, who was a mentor to the nominees and helped guide us through a very daunting process.
What is your favourite role to date and why? What has stretched you the most as an actress? It’s so hard to pick, you put so much into all your characters. When I think of what stretched me the most it was my role of Maggie in Love Child. With her I felt a shift from being a child actor into adulthood and on a much bigger platform. Exploring the emotions that she was going through, that I hadn’t necessarily experienced was a big step. There were long days on set, Maggie was very emotive, a lot of tears! So physically I felt it. I try to make sure that each of my roles are a stepping stone, that I am doing something different, this role was important in my growth.
If there was any Director in the world you could work with, who would it be? I would really love to work with Wes Anderson. He has such a unique way of filming, every bit of the film is so thought out and cohesive, everything from camera angles to costume...that intrigues me and I would love to be a part of one of his films in the future.
Who do you look up to as a performer? Is there any particular actress you would like to work alongside? There are so many actresses I look up to for many different reasons so it’s hard to just pick one, though Emma Stone is a front runner for a career I admire. She’s also someone I would really love to work with. She seems really down to earth and I just love how she approaches any film she works on.
Do you have a favourite Australian film? Looking for Alibrandi. I remember having to read it for school in year 8and we also got to watch the film as a class. I think I’m drawn to it as it was very similar to my upbringing. I think the film really represents a very organic and raw reality of what high school can be like; first crushes, becoming an adult and how mental health can effect anyone even if it doesn’t seem like it from the outside.
What’s your creative process when preparing for a role? How do you become the character? Research, I research as much as I can, especially to understand more around the era and the environment in which I would be portraying the character. What I like to do is to take it an extra step forward and delve into why they act this way, what happened in the past and what are their motivations in a scene. Being on set and in the characters environment and costume helps even more to become them. It’s quite literally stepping into their shoes and whilst filming I try and keep in their minds during the day.
Are there any up and coming projects you could tell us about? I’ve had two short films recently released, both debuting at the Canberra Short Film Festival. Brolga was filmed nine years ago and has only just been released and it’s been quite surreal seeing a younger me on screen! Bloom is a coming of age drama about a family unit of women and the bonds that are formed.
What are you reading? I’m currently reading ‘All The Light We Cannot See’ by
Anthony Doerr.
If you could have dinner with any four people who would they be? My Nunna (as I never got to meet her), Charlie Chaplin, Jim Carrey and Judy Garland.