I Am Woman star Tilda Cobham-Hervey on “superhero” Helen Reddy

To actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Helen Reddy is nothing short of a superhero.

Actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey wearing jewellery from Sydney's Jan Logan jewellery store at Double Bay. She is the face of the company’s new campaign. Picture: John Feder

To actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Helen Reddy is nothing short of a superhero.

Portraying the Australian-born singer in the upcoming biopic I Am Woman, named for the singer’s most famous song and feminist anthem, Cobham-­Hervey made the decision not to meet her until shooting had wrapped. “It’s so terrifying to meet someone who’s become your version of a Marvel superhero,” Cobham-Hervey told The Australian. “But she lived up to every expectation — cheeky, fun and all heart.”

What struck the 25-year-old was that many of the themes around feminism and equality that Reddy became a champion of in the 1970s continue today.

“It is shocking that we haven’t got further. She was one of the first women in America to get her own name on a bank card, things you can’t imagine not having now.

“So while there is still a long way to go, it makes you really thankful for all the women that came before us and all the work that they did. Even as an Australian artist, just how she paved the way for artists to go over to America and start a career there — it’s extraordinary what she achieved in that era.”

Cobham-Hervey is back in Australia before Wednesday’s AACTA Awards, for which she has been nominated for best ­supporting actress for her role in Hotel Mumbai.

“It’s such a massive honour to be in that category with those other amazing women,” she said.

Fellow nominees include Hil­ary Swank, Ursula Yovich and Magnolia Maymuru.

She has also been announced as the face of the new Jan Logan jewellery campaign, to be unveiled at an event on Tuesday.

The Sydney company is preparing for its 30th anniversary, and managing director Angus Logan, son of Jan Logan, said ­Cobham-Hervey brought “an ethereal authenticity, talent and integrity” to the campaign.

Jan Logan has long cham­pioned rising stars of Australian film in her campaigns, and former faces include Elizabeth Debicki, Rose Byrne, Teresa Palmer and Rachael Taylor.

“I grew up in the circus, so this is a whole new world for me,” said Cobham-Hervey of her first campaign in the fashion world.

The collection is called Merindah, which translates from the language of the Gadigal people as “beautiful”, and features South Sea pearls, diamonds and a mix of colourful stones including turquoise and aquamarine that are a Logan signature.