Her parents are two of our most famous actors, but Charlotte’s career wasn’t a given
“I was such a shy child and acting was the last thing I thought I would do,” says the 27-year-old daughter of Judy Davis and Colin Friels.
By Jane Rocca
Zimmermann jacket, bustier and shorts (including belt).Credit: Jesse-Leigh Elford
Charlotte Friels never intended to follow in the footsteps of her famous parents, Judy Davis and Colin Friels, yet it hasn’t stopped the Sydney-based actor doing just that. The 27-year-old is currently starring in the play Colder Than Here at the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney and will portray poet Sylvia Plath in a new six-part ABC TV series drama, Plum (also starring Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie), out this month. This is how she got there.
Was acting something you dreamed of doing when you were a kid?
I was such a shy child and acting was the last thing I thought I would do. I got better at hiding my shyness as I got older. Kids are either drawn to acting because they love performing and love attention, or it’s an escape from something. That’s what it was for me. I found it so hard to talk to people, and was so embarrassed by everything I did, that performing was a great way to hide. I could express myself under the guise of pretending. There wasn’t an actual moment it clicked, but I know it was unavoidable with two parents in the business! I studied for a Bachelor of Arts at Sydney University and lasted two weeks. I quit, packed my bags and went to London. A year later, in 2017, I got into NIDA and haven’t looked back.
You describe yourself as a shy child. When did you become more extroverted and confident?
I think about this all the time because I feel like a different person after COVID. I was so socially anxious and terrified of people, and I think that comes down to insecurity and being scared of what other people will think of you. When COVID happened, I was in that weird mindset, living with my parents in the Southern Highlands of NSW. I literally went from NIDA straight into the pandemic. All I saw was my parents and pets. I remember waking up one day and not feeling shy and introverted any more. The pandemic made realise that I love being around people. Now I am so extroverted. It’s strange, and maybe one day I’ll figure out why it happened. But for now, I am just glad I came out of it.
Camilla and Marc vest, shirt and shorts. Tony Bianco shoes. Stylist’s own socks.Credit: Jesse-Leigh Elford
Who did you admire on the screen when you were growing up?
In year 3, I watched Titanic. It was Mum who suggested it, and maybe it wasn’t entirely appropriate for my age, but gosh it blew my mind. Kate Winslet inspired me to act. She really rocked my world. She came across as so assured for someone so young. I can only watch that film every second year nowadays because I cry way more than I should.
What was your parents’ reaction when you told them you wanted to act?
Mum always hoped I’d choose a different career, but she knew deep down it was on the cards. The older I got, the more she knew it – especially when I got into NIDA. Sometimes she’s like, “Charlotte, you like gorillas, why not become a zookeeper?” Dad is the one who told me “You’ve got to chase your dreams.”
Are they helpful when giving advice on how to navigate the entertainment industry?
I still go to them for advice about everything in life, but when they were my age, the TV and film industry was so different. The Australian film and TV industry was so small when they started, and now it’s global, so a lot of their advice is kind of dated [laughs]; neither of them has ever done a self-tape, for example. I do ask them about acting all the time, and ask Mum why is she so good in movies. She’s always good at pointing out when an actress is giving a really good performance and explains why. It gives me plenty to think about.
Do you feel more like Mum or Dad when you act?
When I auditioned for Plum and sent a tape to director Brendan Cowell for the role of Sylvia Plath, a friend of mine said,“Oh Charlotte, you’re giving me Judy.” I was like, “Really?” It’s not intentional, but there are times when, for a second, I do see them in what I do. Sometimes I look exactly like my dad, or I sound like Mum. I like to think I am just being myself but I guess kids pick up things unconsciously from their parents. I can’t wait until I have kids and see what they’ll take from my personality.
Beare Park jacket and shorts. Cos T-shirt.Credit: Jesse-Leigh Elford
Tell us about playing Sylvia Plath. Had you explored her work before the role came along?
Director Brendan Cowell loaned me a Plath biography, Red Comet by Heather Clark, which I loved reading. Then I found a poetry book, Ariel, sitting on our bookshelves at home. It was on the HSC list from when I was in year 12, but we didn’t study it. I also read The Bell Jar, which I was a bit obsessed with – it’s so iconic. I love characters who are morally ambiguous and Sylvia Plath was wild. She had so many layers and they gave me many rabbit holes to go down.
What drew you to playing Harriet in Colder Than Here?
I was drawn to the simplicity of the storyline, and the intimate nuances of family and relationships. It’s also quite different to anything I’ve done before. My first theatre show, The Mousetrap [in 2022], was a six-month stint. Then I did Oil, an epic time-travel story that was so complex. Saying yes to Colder Than Here appealed because it felt simple by comparison. My character seems like she’s got it all together – she has a boyfriend and her own apartment – but it’s more complicated than meets the eye. She’s like a duck, smooth on the water, but her legs paddle a million miles an hour underneath. And of course, being in a play that deals with a mother dying inevitably makes you think about death. I am human and think deeply about these things.
How did The Mousetrap experience shape you?
Theatre is great, but it’s a grind. It’s wonderful when it’s a great play, and you have a great role and good people around you. I love the buzz of rehearsing and the first few shows of The Mousetrap seemed a breeze, but then it got hard for me. I find repetition difficult and six months was definitely tough. I’m quite an anxious person, and I don’t like to stew on things too long, so being in the one place doing the one thing over and over became an issue. That’s when I started having panic attacks every day and had to navigate that. I had to figure out why I was having them and did a lot of meditation to get through it.
Next year you’re in Belvoir St Theatre’s production of King Lear, in which your dad plays Lear and you play his daughter Regan.
I couldn’t say no to this King Lear as it’s directed by Eamon Flack and I love the idea of working with him and my dad. I’ve never done Shakespeare before but I was obsessed when I was 18 and studied a course in London. Dad can’t wait to do this, though he did say the other day that he doesn’t want to embarrass himself in front of me. I was like, “Oh, shut up, Dad. What are you talking about?” [Laughs]
Are there any friends in the business who inspire you?
I met Brooke Satchwell when we starred in [the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of] Oil in 2023. She is amazing. We clicked from the moment we met and felt like we’d known each other in a past life. Brooke also introduced me to this whole new side to astrology I had no idea about – tuning forks, crystals and archetype cards – and which I love. I love being around people who really believe there is something we can’t see, and that everything in your life is happening for a reason. Otherwise you’re just floating around confused and I find that scary.
What do you enjoy doing away from acting?
I love animals and during lockdown in the Southern Highlands, I started horse riding again. My dad is into it and my love of horses comes from him. I had an allergy to horses for the longest time but it sorted itself. In an ideal world, I would ride every day. Horses are the best meditation because you have to be completely present with them – you can’t let your mind slip for a second because the horse knows. It’s a good way to practise presence and connection.
Mum and I like going to Taronga Zoo together. The day I got the job on The Mousetrap was also the day I applied for a course at Taronga to become a zookeeper. Then my agent called and told me I’d got the part! It was a sign from the universe. As much as I love gorillas because they’re so peaceful and kind, my path had been decided.
Plum premieres on October 20 on ABC and iview.
Fashion editor, Penny McCarthy; Hair, Heidi Scarlett King using O&M Hair; Make-up, Aimie Fiebig for Rare Beauty.
STOCKISTS Beare Park; Camilla and Marc; Cos; Tony Bianco; Zimmermann
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