‘Precious’: Marta Dusseldorp celebrates Australian films

A celebrated Australian actor has warned against falling into “the trap of fear mongering” after US President Donald Trump announced his government would impose a 100 per cent tax on movies “produced in foreign lands”.

A celebrated Australian actor has warned against falling into “the trap of fear mongering” after US President Donald Trump announced his government would impose a 100 per cent tax on movies “produced in foreign lands”.

Marta Dusseldorp, who stars in the new Australian movie With or Without You, said the show must go on.

“We’ve had an election recently and the Labor government is committed to the arts … so let’s concentrate here and keep our policies strong and our intentions clear, and everything else will fall into place,” the 52-year-old told The Daily Telegraph.

“We know who we are and we know what we stand for.”

Australian actor Marta Dusseldorp in Sydney. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Dusseldorp, known for her roles in Janet King, A Place to Call Home and Bay of Fires, said while the international market was valuable, the strength of Australian cinema lay in its authenticity.

“It’s a crystal ball moment,” Dusseldorp said.

“I think it’s really important to wait and see what happens, because there’s been a lot of announcements that come out of America and not all of them come true.

Marta Dusseldorp stars in Independent Australian film With or Without You.

“Let’s focus on the full galvanisation behind the arts for the next three years of positive and bigger, better, bolder storytelling in regional spaces.”

Australian film and TV contributed $1.115bn to the NSW economy in 2023–24, employing nearly 12,900 people.

Nationally, the industry was worth about $5bn in 2021–22.

“Australian stories are precious,” Dusseldorp said.

“If we stay authentic, the world will keep listening.”

With or Without You, filmed in Adelaide and hitting cinemas on Thursday, stars Dusseldorp as Sharon, a free-spirited alcoholic mother.

Marta Dusseldorp stars in Independent Australian film With or Without You.

“I gave Sharon as much joy as pain because that’s how she survives,” she said.

“As a woman in her 50s, I found her deeply relatable. When you feel invisible, you have to fight to reclaim your energy.”