Asher Keddie, a celebrated Australian actress and five-time Logie winner, opens up about her journey from ballet to acting. She shares her newfound comfort in discussing personal motivations and ambitions, breaking away from the focus solely on her characters. The conversation dives into the 'care less' factor as she ages, the guilt of modern motherhood, and the balancing act of her career and family life. Asher also reflects on the importance of saying no to find clarity in her career and the evolving nature of women's roles in film and television.
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How Asher Began Acting
Asher Keddie’s acting career started unexpectedly when she was spotted in a dancewear ad during a ballet injury break.
She began working in mini-series from age nine, balancing schooling and acting through tutoring on film sets.
insights INSIGHT
Choosing Australia Over Hollywood
Asher chose to build her acting career in Australia rather than going internationally.
The rise of streaming services allows Australian actors to work locally while reaching global audiences.
insights INSIGHT
The 'Care Less' Factor
Asher noted the "care less" factor develops with age, allowing her to relax and not hold tightly to personal matters.
She emphasizes controlling what happens inside her home and workplace is what's truly important.
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Mia Freedman's "Work, Strife, Balance" offers a candid and insightful look into the challenges and triumphs of navigating a career, family life, and personal identity in the modern world. The book delves into the complexities of balancing professional ambitions with the demands of motherhood, exploring the guilt, anxieties, and joys that come with it. Freedman shares her personal experiences and lessons learned, providing relatable insights for women striving for success in all aspects of their lives. The book also touches upon the unique pressures faced by women in the media industry, highlighting the importance of resilience and self-advocacy. Ultimately, it's a powerful testament to the strength and determination of women pursuing their dreams.
Today, we're joined by 5 x logie winner and one of Australia's most beloved actresses, Asher Keddie. Asher is usually more reserved when it comes to her private life but it was really refreshing to hear her say that she is feeling more and more comfortable actually speaking about herself and what her motivations and ambitions are, rather than just about the characters she plays.
Asher has a reputation of playing complex and layered, strong female characters in shows like ‘Offspring’, ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ and she’s now back as Evelyn Jones in Season 2 of ‘Strife’, a series inspired by Mia Freedman's memoir Work, Strife, Balance. The show delves into the life of a modern woman juggling the demands of career, motherhood, and personal identity in the digital age.
We’ve had quite a lot of conversations on the podcast about the expectations of us to ‘do it all’ and make it look easy and we wanted to speak with Asher today about motherhood and the complexities of juggling her career alongside family life.
We spoke about:
The ‘actual’ story of how Asher got into acting (and it’s not the narrative that’s circulated)
Why Asher chose to stay acting in Australia rather than going to Hollywood or NY
The ‘care less’ factor you gain as you get a bit older and feel more confident
What drew Asher to Strife
Dealing with rejection
Whether the ‘expiration date’ of women is shifting
Mum guilt and making work decisions with family in mind
The evolution in her relationship in the last 14 years
Season two of STRIFE is out now on Binge and it’s brilliant!
Life Uncut 