Interview With Bonnie Sveen

With season 2 of The Secret Daughter currently gracing our screens, we were lucky enough to score an interview with one of the show’s stars Bonnie Sveen.

Known widely for her role as Ricky Sharpe on Home & Away, the actress went on to play Layla Chapple on The Secret Daughter, the best friend and backup singer of Billie Carter played by Jessica Mauboy.

According to Bonnie for season 2, we get to see some highs and lows. “You see Layla fleshed out a little bit which I’m really excited about, it takes my friendship with Billie closer, and it’s so beautiful being able to perform with Jess.”

“We finished on such a high note, just wait until you hear this last track in episode 6, it’s such a banger. It’s a good balance between contemporary original stuff and old Aussie pop songs that everybody knows and loves.”

Performing since she was young, Bonnie went on to study at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts where she found her love for the screen. “We had a small amount of screen experience, but I was always told in the plays that my acting was too filmic.”

“I prefer to act most of the time from the inside out, to make sure I believe myself and I believe what I’m doing and that just takes a lot of imagination. I find it easier to block out the camera then have the viewer observe those intimate moments.”

“No doubt I think life is long and I’ll end up in theatre again but there is a magic for me of being on set and being ready when they say action, delving into it with the full palate of emotions and body.”

Having just directed her first short film Riley, Bonnie said that it was such a nice experience.

“Trying on all those different hats, required so much more bravery than what your professionally trained in. It’s not just one character and learning those lines but actually, everybody’s your responsibility, that was a really enjoyable process and I do think that I’ll be doing more of that.”

The short film revolves around a 6 year old girl’s self conscious that’s exacerbated by her technology addiction. “I’d love to be able to use it to take to schools, to show kids a 15 minute film and really allow for a little bit of discussion about how they are affected in their behaviour and emotions by social media and technology.”

“I think it’s important to differentiate what is real life and what is true to Instagram or Facebook because the friends that are there for you, are there for you. They will pick up the phone or come and meet you at anytime and it’s important to make that distinction,” Bonnie said.

Wise beyond her years, Bonnie said that outside of that, all it really comes down to is being honest with who you are and to know how you are truly happy and what makes you your best self.

“Approaching 30, you really start to notice what makes you happy and the decision you make to create that happiness and to manifest a life that you deserve. I would say that my happiness is my responsibility and that everybody deserves to love and be loved.”

In between jobs Bonnie said that she finds things slow down and that she has some freedom which has afforded her time to write. “It’s like if I don’t have anything on this week, l’ll start to write my own schedule, I find going to the library very useful or getting fresh air and just trying to create a work environment even if I don’t have an actual office.”

A brilliant painter in her own right, Bonnie said that it’s been recommended for her to get a studio and paint. “I have no problem with keeping that easel up and letting the work slowly morph, I wake up and look at it and see it with fresh eyes. If you love what you do, it doesn’t matter if it’s 24/7.”