Gold Logie winner Rebecca Gibney has been gracing our TV screens for more than 30 years. Here, the loved Aussie actress shares personal insights into her family, motherhood. She also talks about her new role in Network 7’s hit TV show Winter and tells why she hates the ‘tall poppy syndrome’.
You play Detective Sergeant Eve Winter in the new crime series, Winter. What’s it like playing tough female characters?
“I’ve played tough characters before. Having played Jane Halifax, who was a forensic scientist, for seven years in Halifax, it’s a genre that I’m used to and really enjoy. Playing a tough powerful woman who is forging ahead in a predominantly male environment is quite gratifying, really.
Eve juggles her career and personal life in the show. What challenges have you faced juggling your career and motherhood?
“It’s a real balance and I still struggle with it sometimes. Overall, I choose projects that allow me to spend time with my family. My son [Zac] has grown up with it, so he knows that there are times when I am intensively busy and then there’s times when I am there doing everything – homework, school drop offs and pick-ups … On many occasions I have said I am happy to give this up if it interferes with our relationship. He really likes the perks. He’s travelled extensively since he was born and really appreciates that. So we get really good quality time together.
Having said that, when I did Winter, I was a producer as well, so I was exhausted. I was wedded to the job for at least four months, but then I had time off and we went skiing in Colorado for a few weeks – so it balances out.”
“Heading to the Cinderella movie premiere at the State theatre in Sydney.”
You took your son, Zac, and husband to the Cinderella premiere. What was that like?
“My husband and son come to all sorts of things. Zac was on the blue carpet at the Logies last year! He was probably better on the blue carpet than I was! He was interviewed by the press and holds himself really well. He has a small role in Winter and wants to act. If that is what he wants to do, then I am not going to stop him – it’s his life and I will encourage him to do whatever makes him happy. He is about to turn 11 and is more confident in front of the camera than I was at that age!”
My dear friend Rudie found this the other day! My little Winston Churchill now nearly 11. Time goes by so fast you have to treasure every single moment.
Tell us about ‘motherhood in the media spotlight’ and this magazine cover of you and your son, Zac…
“I had people trying to snap photos so I thought at least this way, I have control over the photos – I get to see them first and place them where I want them. It was fun! It’s great to have someone do your hair and your make-up, but you are still tired. Lucky for me Zac was a pretty good baby. Zac has grown up in the spotlight – he is way more comfortable with it than I ever was.
Despite all the make-up I actually think I was a bit dazed and confused – right up until about three years ago!
Did you take maternity leave?
“We moved to Tasmania for the first four and a half years of Zac’s life and I did very little work. I didn’t make a lot of money so we were very frugal! That was long before Packed to the Rafters, but I just wanted to have those few years just with him. I did a couple of films and small roles but nothing major.”
Was returning to work difficult?
“I thought Packed to the Rafters was going to be one season, and then I would be back in Tassie. It was a six month shoot, then I’d return home, but I ended up doing that for three years. Eventually the travel got too hard so we relocated to Sydney. The show just got bigger and bigger!”
Packed to the Rafters was offered to you and you have had a stream of acting roles since. Have you had to chase roles?
“I have been working behind the scenes creating my own shows and pitching ideas. I’m currently developing a couple of shows with my husband and our company. We have two films in development and three TV shows, so we are working hard. At my age, I have to do that. I can’t just sit there and wait for the phone to ring. You have to get out there and create [work] yourself.”
What was it like working with Peter O’Brien again?
“I met Pete when I was about 20, so I have known him for 30 years! We have a very easy going friendship. We played husband and wife on The Flying Doctors many years ago, so worked closely together. Since then we’ve also done Halifax f.p, The Day of The Roses and now we’re doing Winter together. It’s a very easy-going, fun relationship. He makes me laugh – he has a great sense of humour!
What was Michael Jackson like?
“It was fantastic meeting Michael Jackson – just brilliant! I have been lucky, I have met him twice and saw him perform. It was very special. He asked me what I was doing, and at the time I was doing The Flying Doctors. He said he hadn’t seen it but he had seen A Country Practice and he really liked it because it had animals in it! He was a real sweetheart. He loved Australia and he loved Australians. A very nice guy.”
What’s the story behind this photo?
“I was doing an audition for a US pilot in this shot. It was like a ‘Game of Thrones’ type of show. I did the full make-up and hair to audition for it.”
“Our beautiful old girl Cookie. Losing her eyesight, deaf as a post and going a little dotty but still as loved as when we first got her 14 years ago. We love her as unconditionally as she has loved us. Happy Monday beautiful girl. May just sneak in a tin of sardines with your breakfast…”
You share some very personal photos on your Instagram. Do you feel it’s important to ‘keep it real’ for your fans?
“Georgie Parker is a very good buddy of mine and started me off on it. She loves taking photos and so do I. I initially started out posting landscape photos and the odd selfie. My agent and friends were saying, ‘People want to see you too!’ So I posted the odd selfie. I still want to do my sunset shots but I just mix the shots up, whatever I want to post. I don’t have a strategy.”
You have an enormous following – 22,000 fans!
“Georgie Gardner has 88,000! Yes 22,000 is pretty good – I started off with 300 and I was thrilled with that! [Social media] is the way of the word now. I’m not obsessed with it. What worries me is when young people become obsessed with how many likes they get. We shouldn’t be putting self-worth into whether people are ‘liking’ our photos or not.
Does your son have a social media account?
“My son has a private account that is not in his name. I fully monitor it and he only has a few people on it. He’s not on Facebook and we monitor everything and are very aware of what’s out there. He is 11. I’m probably a prude and strict mum when it comes to what he sees on the computer.”
Rebecca Gibney with Johanna Griggs on the Better Homes and Gardens set.
You did an ‘I Quit Sugar’ recipe on Better Homes and Gardens. Tell us about it…
“Joh is gorgeous – this was great fun. I did a recipe from the I Quit Sugar book. It was my attempt to quit sugar for a while – I go through phases where I give up sugar, then I go back on it, then quit again. I’m on my ‘trying to give it up’ phase at the moment! I’d better hang out with Sarah Wilson a bit more often…
Sarah Wilson and Pete Evans have very different food philosophies. What are your thoughts on the selected media outlets who have grouped them together recently, criticising them as ‘celeb driven fad diets’?
“I’ve done the I Quit Sugar and have the Paleo book as well – I love some of the recipes in it. Moderation is key for me. I don’t have a problem with it – Paleo suggests [eliminating] processed foods, limiting grains, refined sugars and trying to have healthy foods. If I have sugar, I try and have it in fruit, preferably in season, and eat lots of vegetables and lean proteins. I get it. I try to have a bit of dairy but not too much. It’s all just moderation.
I think it’s all done with the best of intentions. I know Pete is incredibly passionate about it – he practices what he preaches and has done a lot of research. I hate our culture that has any excuse to bag someone. I’m over it and don’t want to be a part of jumping on the bandwagon and having a go at everyone for trying to do something different. I’m actually the opposite. I think good on them for giving it a go. And good on Sarah Wilson for trying to do the right thing by encouraging kids to stop having too much sugar. We are a pack of knockers in this country sometimes!”
Winter airs on Wednesday at 9pm on Channel Seven. Winter Season 1, $39.95, is available to own on DVD this week.
Do you love Rebecca Gibney in the new crime series, Winter? Tell us below…
