‘I need to go for this’: Why new Wentworth role was made for rising star, Zoe Terakes
Wentworth’s newest star Zoe Terakes has revealed how she sealed the deal to join the cast after doing a chemistry test with her on-screen lover in the prison drama.
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Pulling on the teal tracksuit made famous the world over on Foxtel’s acclaimed drama series, Wentworth has meant more to Zoe Terakes than a mere costume change.
Playing trans character Reb Keane as an openly trans young actor was a moment they were quite literally born to be.
Coming out as gay in her first-ever role three years ago, starring opposite Marta Dusseldorp in the legal drama, Janet King, Terakes confirmed their trans identity to the industry, after chasing producers and pleading their case to win the role on Wentworth.
“I heard about it and I knew I was way too young for it, because originally the role was meant to be older. And I wrote to my agent and said, ‘I need to go for this … can we please find a way in?’
A chemistry test with Kate Box, her on-screen lover in the prison drama, was “cracking,” Terakes said, but it was an email pleading to producers that sealed the deal.
“I ended up writing an email to the producers at Fremantle just pleading my case and that this means so much to me. As somebody from the community who is trans, I knew this was going to save people’s lives and I think it was really important that somebody from this community tells this story. And then I got the offer the next day.”
Defining the path they would take from that moment on was like a light bulb switching on for Terakes, who was pragmatic about the fact sexuality could cost them jobs.
But support from loving parents, Sydney publicity queen Naomi Parry and food writer Kim Terakes, as well as key industry mentors, including Dusseldorp and Box, put a safety net under the 20-year-old to make sure they soared.
It was Box who had first counselled the young star about coming out and encouraged her to be the change she wanted to see.
“A bunch of people pointed me in Kate’s direction and I had a phone call with her and she was magnificent. She’s one of the only ‘out’ women in this industry in Australia. She said ‘darling, you’ve got me to call because I did it and you will want to be that person to call for other people who are younger than you.’ I was like, ‘this is so much bigger than me.’”
Reading She Wants It, about the journey of American writer and director, Jill Solloway, who now identifies as trans and works by the name ‘Joey’ was also profound for Terakes.
“I’d just never heard it spoken about like that before and I went ‘oh, this is exactly how I felt my whole life and just haven’t had the words for it.’”
Speaking candidly about the epiphany, Terakes said: “you look at photos of me when I was a kid and I dressed like a boy. And then, from that point on, I was like ‘oh god, this is happening … this is what this is. So I kind of came out for a second time to the industry and I was more nervous for this weirdly. It felt bigger and because I was older and had a bit more work behind me … it felt like a greater risk.”
A risk many in the TV and film business warned Terakes about, with some in her close circle advising against being so open.
“There’s been a couple of experiences with people in this industry who I’ve faced blatant homophobia from. Just saying things to me like ‘don’t wear those clothes … that’s a lesbian thing to wear, or do.’”
But in the matter of a few short years, the talented actor has found the courage and confidence to be themselves.
“I was younger when that happened and I didn’t have the courage [to push back], of course I didn’t. I just went along with it ‘okay, that’s cool’ and then had a cry about it. But now I think I’ve got thicker skin and more faith in myself that I would not tolerate it anymore.”
The casting of trans roles has become a controversial conversation within the industry, but Terakes is keeping faith the local industry has moved the issue forward.
“I used to worry about that and I’ve definitely seen a shift in the jobs I’m going for … not being sent for but being asked to go for, because they’re usually queer roles, or trans roles, which doesn’t bother me. But I have this belief that the right people won’t care anyway. If I really wanted to work with them, they wouldn’t if I’m trans or queer or whatever … they’d want me for the job.”
“That has been the case,” she explained, “I did The View From The Bridge for two years with Ian Sinclair at the MTC [Melbourne Theatre Company] and the Old Fitz [theatre, in Sydney] and that’s probably the most feminine role you can play. She’s in a dress, she got her tits out a little bit, she’s flitting about the stage and I can still do that … I love doing that, that’s the joy of acting. That’s the point, you know.”
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While generations before Terakes were forced to keep their sexuality closeted, they are proud with the progress being made on Australian TV.
“I think we have a long way to go with trans actors playing trans roles. That’s starting to happen and you see it with Morgan [Davies] in [new Foxtel drama] The End. You see it with Georgie Stone in Neighbours. You see it with me in Wentworth . That’s all been within two years and a recent conversation but it’s happening here which is really cool.”
Finding their place on stage and screen has eased feelings of what Terakes calls ‘the gender void’ – obsessive feelings where “you get sucked into it and [identity] is kind of all you can think about. It consumes every waking moment and you feel uncomfortable in your own skin, while trying to be comfortable in your own skin.”
But, as Terakes explained, the flip side has been gender euphoria, “where you just get this total bliss and affirmation in your own body when you slip on certain clothes or get a certain hair cut or do a certain thing. It’s ‘oh my god, I’ve never felt more myself.’”
Wentworth, 8.30pm, Tuesday, Fox Showcase.
Originally published as ‘I need to go for this’: Why new Wentworth role was made for rising star, Zoe Terakes