With an upcoming role on The Vampire Diaries and a new film, Bait 3D, on the way, Phoebe Tonkin is Australia's 'It' girl on the rise. We caught up with the stunning actress to find out all about her new movie and life in the Hollywood eye.
DOLLY: Can you start off by telling us a little bit about your Bait 3D character Jamie?
Phoebe: Jamie's a bit of a troubled teenager. She lost her mum and because of that she is a bit angry at the world. She really grows up throughout the film and starts to become more grateful for what she has in life. She becomes a fighter.
DOLLY: What did you, Lincoln, Sharni and Xavier get up to between takes?
Phoebe: Because we were all staying in the same apartment block, we would cook for each other a lot. We would go for ice cream with Sharni and Lincoln always made us go out for Japanese!
DOLLY: What was one of the funniest things that happened on set?
Phoebe: When it got cold, we would wear these heat blankets made of metal. And sometimes we would wear them as skirts and wander around the set. It's not something you see every day!
DOLLY: Even though the Great White shark was a robot, was it still scary?
Phoebe: It was really scary because it felt real! Well, I've never felt a shark but I imagine that's what they feel like.
DOLLY: Did you do all the stunts yourself?
Phoebe: Yep all the stunts were done by me. I really enjoy swimming so splashing around in the water wasn't too hard for me.
DOLLY: You got split up with your boyfriend Ryan when the tsunami hit at the start of the film — is it hard to act out chemistry on-screen?
Phoebe: Not at all! I felt lucky when I was paired up with him. He was the most beautiful thing in the entire world. A future movie star as well! That kind of feeling is easy to act out when you become close with someone. He kind of became my brother. We were very close.
DOLLY: The movie also tests the idea of friendship a lot — do you keep in contact with your friends from Australia?
Phoebe: I do! I always make the effort to speak to my best friends. Even if I'm on the other side of the world I will always keep in touch by email. My best friend and I have been inseparable since we were like 3 months old. We went to school together and I speak to her all the time.
DOLLY: What do your friends think about your success? Are they used to it yet?
Phoebe: My friend Lily and I always giggle about the irony of the situation. We have videos of us acting out scenes from The OC when we were little. I used to be Marissa Cooper. She thinks it's really funny that I'm now on the same television network.
DOLLY: Anything exciting happening overseas for you at the moment?
Phoebe: I'm doing another show over here called The Vampire Diaries. I'm actually in Atlanta right now filming it. Nina [Dobrev] is such a sweetheart. Everyone is really cool. They're the most good looking cast I have ever seen in my life!
DOLLY: Tell us about it...
Phoebe: (laughs!)
Finish these sentences:
My personal style is... kind of grungy. I always joke that I dress a bit like a college student. I always wear sweaters that I stole from my ex-boyfriends with jeans and ballet flats.
The beauty product I can't live without is... Kora Organics products. I love their moisturiser! A good eyelash curler is important and I love cherry lip balm.
My favourite TV show is... Girls. It's so good!
The first thing I bought with a big paycheck was... an Alice McCall dress.
I would say to my teenage self... don't try to be like the cool kids.
My best body confidence tip is... to be a good person on the inside. You will attract other link-minded positive people. I'm a big believer in the law of attraction. If you're happy and confident you will attract amazing people that you deserve in your life.
I deal with broken hearts with... Taylor Swift! Her music always helps me get over them. Or sometimes I go and stay at my friend's house and eat lots of yummy food. I like to make vegan cupcakes too!
The best part of my job is... playing dress-ups and pretending to be someone else.
The worse part of my job is... waking up at 4am. I had to wake up at 4:30 this morning!
My message to my DOLLY reader fans is... that you guys are awesome. Thanks for all your support!
Bait 3D hits cinemas September 20, 2012.
Related video: Watch the Bait 3D trailer!
