AACTA Audience Choice Awards: Vote for your favourite TV star
Aussies now have the chance to vote for their TV and film favourites of the decade, in new ‘audience choice’ awards at this year’s AACTAs.
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Exclusive: News Corp Australia readers will have the chance to vote for their TV and film favourites of the decade, in new ‘audience choice’ awards at this year’s AACTAs, presented by Foxtel.
As part of 10-year anniversary celebrations for the industry gala, the public can now vote in an exclusive poll – launching today – across drama, reality, sport, comedy and news categories.
With COVID restrictions forcing changes to the December 2 broadcast, AACTA chief executive Damian Trewhella said the audience interaction was “the perfect initiative to engage with those watching so they can have their say on what they think the highlights of the last 10 years have been.”
Working with limited capacity for VIP guests at the Sydney ceremony this year, the publicly-voted awards will add to peer-voted prizes to be announced on the night.
The ‘audience choice’ categories acknowledge the rise and rise of reality TV, the strength of Australian comedy and drama, as well as the international success of our homegrown stars.
“Our homegrown stars have prolific careers and entertain billions across the globe,” Mr Trewhella said, adding “and “our local screen industry grows from strength to strength with Australian stories, across multiple genres, entertaining and informing millions at home every week.”
Home And Away starlet Sam Frost, who is nominated as the TV contestant of the decade, said she was “humbled” to get her start in a genre that has exploded over the years.
“Never in a million years could I have imagined my life turning out the way that it has,” the former Bachelor and Bachelorette star said.
“I’ve been blessed and grateful for everything that’s happened in my career. Whether it’s the crews on the shows or people who have been my mentors, it’s been pretty amazing and quite surreal that this is my life.”
Before getting her start on 10’s dating franchise, Frost admits she was no reality TV fan.
“I guess I watched Big Brother and Idol back in the day, but reality was so new and not as big. It’s definitely changed and transformed [my life] over the years.”
Her co-star Georgie Parker, herself marking 10 years as beloved character Roo on Seven’s AACTA-nominated prime-time drama, said Frost had taken her opportunity on the show and worked solidly at her craft.“She has gained an enormous amount of confidence because she works so hard. She takes it very seriously and done some really beautiful work. I really respect and admire her and she’s also just a lot of fun.”
Parker said the long-running soap remained such a vital part of Australian storytelling, here and overseas.
“I did a series of UK interviews this week and they are so deeply invested in the show and the characters, it’s quite unusual. Partly I think it’s the production values and the way it looks, so I think the Australian landscape should take a lot of credit.”
A short list for the AACTA ‘audience choice’ awards will be revealed on November 29, while highlights from the gala ceremonies will air on Seven on December 2.
Originally published as AACTA Audience Choice Awards: Vote for your favourite TV star