Asher
Keddie and Matthew Le Nevez play Nina and Patrick on Offspring. Picture: Channel
10 / Source:
Supplied
Colin Vickery, The Herald Sun, reports
Asher Keddie is ready to take on the world.
The Logie award winning actor has conquered Australia as Nina Proudman in Offspring and Ita Buttrose in Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo.
Now it is time for Keddie to spread her wings.
Producing her next TV project is one option. Taking on an overseas acting role - most likely in the UK or US - is another possibility.
Keddie has seen peers Claudia Karvan (Spirited) and Lisa McCune (Reef Doctors) kickstart their own TV projects.
She has also seen Aussie actors Jessica Marais, Brett Tucker and Jessica McNamee score major US TV roles in recent times - in Magic City, Mistresses and Scruples.
Up until now, Keddie has been content to stay local. Why wouldn't you when you have a string of top-notch credits that include Blanche d'Alpuget in Hawke and Julia Jackson in Love My Way.
Keddie reckons the time is ripe to take a chance, make a brave choice and challenge herself.
"I'm open to anything at the moment," Keddie says. "I'm just waiting for something to pique my interest which is different from Nina.
"I enjoy working here (in Australia) but if America or any other country comes into play and there is an opportunity to work overseas, I will heartily embrace it, if I feel the project is right and it excites me."
"Producing is something I'm thinking about, too. I'm interested in the whole filmmaking process. I've worked with such generous producers over the past few years who have valued my creative input."
Maybe life is imitating art. Making brave choices is the theme of the third series of Offspring.
Nina is rapturously in love with medico Dr Patrick Reid (Matthew Le Nevez). That is a landmark for a character well known for her roller-coaster romantic life.
Nina ended her relationship with paediatrician Chris Havel (Don Hany) at the end of series two. Keddie reveals that a third series of Offspring was no certainty until a discussion took place with executive producers John Edwards and Imogen Banks.
"We did speak after the second series," Keddie says. "I guess what we all felt was that if we were going into a third (series) it was important that Nina evolves.
"We knew we had to push ourselves harder otherwise let's not do it. I really wanted to see Nina stay in a relationship. That was a tricky thing because the series was developed on the basis of a woman who has a fabulously messy love life.
"That was the boldest thing to do as opposed to keeping her single and jumping from guy to guy.
"I'm thrilled they (Edwards and Banks) felt the same way. She can still have a fabulously messy love life if she stays put in a relationship and learns to trust someone, however complex that might be."
Dr Patrick Reid is no pushover. He is enigmatic, wry and moody and a former drug addict. The passionate relationship with Nina tests them both emotionally.
"Patrick was the difficult choice - one Nina really had to fight for," Keddie says.
"Dr Chris was a fantasy man and it was a fantasy relationship. Patrick is the complete opposite. He is very complex, difficult to be around, grates on her, and pushes every emotional and physical button she has. I felt it was a brave choice for her to settle into a relationship with him.
"Nina's also brave enough to acknowledge that she's no easy walk in the park either.
"They are mirroring each other. She is taking a deep breath and saying 'I want to grow with this person'."
In the series three debut, Nina also learns that Darcy Proudman (John Waters) isn't her biological father. That will have ramifications.
Offspring fans will be glad to know that Keddie won't abandon the show to pursue other projects. She believes they can work in tandem.
"I think the way series three has evolved has been really interesting," Keddie says.
"There is still plenty of material (for another series). I love this character (Nina)."
Offspring, Channel 10, Wednesday, 8.30pm
Want to know more about Asher Keddie? Keep reading
When Asher Keddie isn't producing award-winning TV performances you will find her on the back of a horse. The 37-year-old is more than happy to get away from the demands of stardom by escaping to the property in country Victoria she shares with actor/musician husband Jay Bowen.
Keddie loves the peace and quiet and the anonymity.
"It (country life) allows me to stop and still my mind," Keddie says. "It is important for all artistic people, particularly actors, to get out of their own bubbles once in a while.
"I have an amazing network of people in the country who couldn't care less what I do for a living.
"I'm just the girl who loves horses and a bonfire on a Saturday night."
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