Latest news with #Keddie
Perth Now
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Asher Keddie in her producing era but isn't quitting acting
When watching a comedy movie or TV show, you may wonder if the actors struggle with trying not to crack up when reciting their lines on set. For one of Australia's most adored actors Asher Keddie, becoming hysterical mid-line is something she is very good at. These latest crack-ups came when playing Evelyn Jones, the lead character in Strife, which follows the modern imperfect woman and publisher on her journey from a blogger to a force in digital media with her startup Eve Life. After the first season in 2023 became Binge's biggest original series premiere of all time, the second season premiered on May 8 and sees Keddie's character exploring the complexities of womanhood, relationships, dealing with the threat of a new rival women's website, and tackling nasty trolls — all the while keeping up just the right level of lighthearted gags. 'This is the sort of show that incites so much mischief and laughter,' Keddie says on a phone call from Sydney. 'The whole ensemble is always engaged in shenanigans and humour and, you know, so much fun behind the scenes. It's about creating a certain level of hysteria when you're doing comedy drama, I think.' It's something the actor, who also serves as executive producer on the show, always encourages 'to the point of being probably the most unprofessional of the lot of them'. 'I'm terrible when it comes to hysterical laughing in the middle of a scene,' she says. 'It's not my strong point, put it that way. if I'm amused by something, I find it difficult not to respond in the moment, and this cast is incredibly amusing, so we've had such fun together.' Asher Keddie as Evelyn Jones. Credit: John Platt In among the comedy, of course, is the importance of telling authentic female stories. After all, the series is a fictionalised adaptation of Mia Freedman's 2017 memoir Work Strife Balance, about her experience of leaving magazines to launch women's lifestyle website Mamamia. 'It was just so incredible listening to the stories at the beginning that Mia had of her experiences throughout, and the challenge of presenting her ideas online and putting them out there and using her voice no matter what the consequences were, and sometimes the consequences in the cost to her were huge,' Keddie says. 'We explore in the second series trolling, which became a really big thing around the time that Mia started up Mamamia, so that's a really interesting storyline.' The Offspring star says viewers need to see women's vulnerabilities on screen. 'What I want to see is not to apologise for getting it wrong and failing sometimes and not being able to achieve that kind of elusive perfection that we put on ourselves all the time,' she says. 'I think those themes that we explore in the show, particularly in the second season, are the things that I really want to lean into as a woman and a viewer, so I'm hoping that other people feel the same way.' Asher Keddie attends the 2025 AACTA Awards. Credit: Dan Peled / Getty Images for AFI The Melburnian reunited with Bruna Papandrea, whom she worked with for roles in Nine Perfect Strangers and The Lost Flowers Of Alice Heart, to produce the show. Keddie found it helpful rather than challenging to be a producer as well as an actor. 'Being able to produce and being in conversation about how we can write it, how we're going to perform it, where it's gonna be, all the different millions of choices that you make on the entirety of a production, it's so involving for me that it's almost easier to be a bigger part of it in that way than it is just to deliver a performance,' she says. Despite loving the production side of things, Keddie isn't stepping away from acting. 'Oh no, I'm not gonna give up my day job,' she says. 'I love acting. I always have. I enjoy it more now actually than ever so no, I still love what I do but I just like combining the two.'
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Asher Keddie loved producing as well as acting in Strife but isn't giving up her day job
When watching a comedy movie or TV show, you may wonder if the actors struggle with trying not to crack up when reciting their lines on set. For one of Australia's most adored actors Asher Keddie, becoming hysterical mid-line is something she is very good at. These latest crack-ups came when playing Evelyn Jones, the lead character in Strife, which follows the modern imperfect woman and publisher on her journey from a blogger to a force in digital media with her startup Eve Life. After the first season in 2023 became Binge's biggest original series premiere of all time, the second season premiered on May 8 and sees Keddie's character exploring the complexities of womanhood, relationships, dealing with the threat of a new rival women's website, and tackling nasty trolls — all the while keeping up just the right level of lighthearted gags. 'This is the sort of show that incites so much mischief and laughter,' Keddie says on a phone call from Sydney. 'The whole ensemble is always engaged in shenanigans and humour and, you know, so much fun behind the scenes. It's about creating a certain level of hysteria when you're doing comedy drama, I think.' It's something the actor, who also serves as executive producer on the show, always encourages 'to the point of being probably the most unprofessional of the lot of them'. 'I'm terrible when it comes to hysterical laughing in the middle of a scene,' she says. 'It's not my strong point, put it that way. if I'm amused by something, I find it difficult not to respond in the moment, and this cast is incredibly amusing, so we've had such fun together.' In among the comedy, of course, is the importance of telling authentic female stories. After all, the series is a fictionalised adaptation of Mia Freedman's 2017 memoir Work Strife Balance, about her experience of leaving magazines to launch women's lifestyle website Mamamia. 'It was just so incredible listening to the stories at the beginning that Mia had of her experiences throughout, and the challenge of presenting her ideas online and putting them out there and using her voice no matter what the consequences were, and sometimes the consequences in the cost to her were huge,' Keddie says. 'We explore in the second series trolling, which became a really big thing around the time that Mia started up Mamamia, so that's a really interesting storyline.' The Offspring star says viewers need to see women's vulnerabilities on screen. 'What I want to see is not to apologise for getting it wrong and failing sometimes and not being able to achieve that kind of elusive perfection that we put on ourselves all the time,' she says. 'I think those themes that we explore in the show, particularly in the second season, are the things that I really want to lean into as a woman and a viewer, so I'm hoping that other people feel the same way.' The Melburnian reunited with Bruna Papandrea, whom she worked with for roles in Nine Perfect Strangers and The Lost Flowers Of Alice Heart, to produce the show. Keddie found it helpful rather than challenging to be a producer as well as an actor. 'Being able to produce and being in conversation about how we can write it, how we're going to perform it, where it's gonna be, all the different millions of choices that you make on the entirety of a production, it's so involving for me that it's almost easier to be a bigger part of it in that way than it is just to deliver a performance,' she says. Despite loving the production side of things, Keddie isn't stepping away from acting. 'Oh no, I'm not gonna give up my day job,' she says. 'I love acting. I always have. I enjoy it more now actually than ever so no, I still love what I do but I just like combining the two.'
Courier-Mail
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
90s sitcom star joins hit Aussie series
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News. The highly anticipated Season 2 of the breakout Aussie series Strife premieres on Thursday, May 8 and the cast celebrated its upcoming return with a star-studded event in Sydney overnight. Beloved actress Asher Keddie led the way at the exclusive launch party held at Island Radio restaurant in Redfern with her co-stars Matt Day, Emma Lung, Maria Angelico, Tina Bursill and Bryony Skillington also walking the red carpet. Asher Keddie attends the Strife Season 2 launch party in Sydney. One star set to steal the show this season is Mary Coustas, who was rose to fame on the 90s sitcom Acropolis Now. In Season 2 of the BINGE series, which follows the messy and relatable life of digital publisher Evelyn Jones (played by Keddie), Coustas plays the media mogul's psychologist Sylvie, who she consults regularly after Evelyn's former deputy and friend launches a rival website. Stream Strife Season 1 now and Season 2 from May 8 on BINGE, available on Hubbl. Mary Coustas wowed the crowd at the event held at Island Radio restaurant. Coustas, who hosted the event's Q&A with the stars and creatives behind the show, looked unlike the loud and flashy character of Effie Stefanidis she portrayed on Acropolis Now. Coustas is well known for playing her Greek-Australian alter ego Effie on Acropolis Now. Source: Supplied Coustas joins Season 2 as psychologist Sylvie. Picture: Binge The OTT bouffant hairdo and thick Greek accent were no more as 60-year-old Coustas took to the stage with Keddie, screenwriter Sarah Scheller and executive producers Bruna Papandrea and Mia Freedman (the Mamamia founder whose 2017 memoir, Work Strife Balance, is based on the book). Instead, Coustas now 60, rocked sleek hair and looked chic in a baby blue power suit. Maria Angelico plays Keddie's on-screen rival on the show. Matt Day returns as Keddie's ex-husband on the series. The series is based on publishing mogul Mia Freedman's 2017 memoir Work Strife Balance. 'I love that this [show] is about a woman trying to do something that hadn't been done before on a very large scale,' she told The Daily Telegraph in a separate interview over the weekend. 'I know Mia. I was around when that was all happening for [Mia] at the beginning,' Coustas added as she recalled the launch of Freedman's Mamamia website. Season 2 premieres on Thursday, May 8 on Binge. 'I know what it's like for any woman that juggles a lot. To just get through the day is a miracle, let alone pull off something miraculous, like an online platform with a million people working for you and getting into trouble a lot.' As for Keddie, she too loves how the series embraces the calm and the chaos women juggle every day. 'I found so much of the story relatable and knew it would be relatable to many women no matter what industry they're working in, not just the media industry,' Keddie previously told Strife Season 2 premieres Thursday, May 8 at 8:30pm on BINGE, available on Hubbl, and on Showcase at 8:30pm and is available On Demand with episodes dropping weekly Originally published as Popular Aussie sitcom star Mary Coustas joins Season 2 of hit Aussie series Strife
News.com.au
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Popular Aussie sitcom star Mary Coustas joins Season 2 of hit Aussie series Strife
The highly anticipated Season 2 of the breakout Aussie series Strife premieres on Thursday, May 8 and the cast celebrated its upcoming return with a star-studded event in Sydney overnight. Beloved actress Asher Keddie led the way at the exclusive launch party held at Island Radio restaurant in Redfern with her co-stars Matt Day, Emma Lung, Maria Angelico, Tina Bursill and Bryony Skillington also walking the red carpet. One star set to steal the show this season is Mary Coustas, who was rose to fame on the 90s sitcom Acropolis Now. In Season 2 of the BINGE series, which follows the messy and relatable life of digital publisher Evelyn Jones (played by Keddie), Coustas plays the media mogul's psychologist Sylvie, who she consults regularly after Evelyn's former deputy and friend launches a rival website. Coustas, who hosted the event's Q&A with the stars and creatives behind the show, looked unlike the loud and flashy character of Effie Stefanidis she portrayed on Acropolis Now. The OTT bouffant hairdo and thick Greek accent were no more as 60-year-old Coustas took to the stage with Keddie, screenwriter Sarah Scheller and executive producers Bruna Papandrea and Mia Freedman (the Mamamia founder whose 2017 memoir, Work Strife Balance, is based on the book). Instead, Coustas now 60, rocked sleek hair and looked chic in a baby blue power suit. 'I love that this [show] is about a woman trying to do something that hadn't been done before on a very large scale,' she told The Daily Telegraph in a separate interview over the weekend. 'I know Mia. I was around when that was all happening for [Mia] at the beginning,' Coustas added as she recalled the launch of Freedman's Mamamia website. 'I know what it's like for any woman that juggles a lot. To just get through the day is a miracle, let alone pull off something miraculous, like an online platform with a million people working for you and getting into trouble a lot.' As for Keddie, she too loves how the series embraces the calm and the chaos women juggle every day. 'I found so much of the story relatable and knew it would be relatable to many women no matter what industry they're working in, not just the media industry,' Keddie previously told
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Alleged intruder accused of trying to steal a Ducati motorbike from the home of Gold Logie winning actress Asher Keddie learns fate on his bid for freedom
A man who allegedly broke into the home of television star Asher Keddie before being tackled by her husband while attempting to steal a motorbike has been bailed. James Powell, 44, is accused of breaking into a garage belonging to Keddie and her acclaimed artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo on the morning of December 28. The court was previously told while he was wheeling out a $40,000 Ducati Scrambler motorbike, with the helmet in hand, Keddie heard a noise before discovering the alleged thief and screamed for her husband. Fantauzzo ran down the side path of their St Kilda home yelling for Powell to stop and reached for the accused's shoulder when Powell turned and allegedly swung, connecting with the artist's face in an effort to escape. But the artist tackled the accused, leading to a scuffle on the ground where Powell was allegedly restrained with the help of a passer-by until police arrived. The accused lost consciousness shortly after police arrested him and paramedics had to be called to take him to hospital, with a drug overdose possibly brought on by the physical confrontation. Powell appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link from Ravenhall Corrections Centre on Monday where he was bailed by Magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano. The magistrate imposed strict bail conditions, including living at his mother's Altona address and not leaving the state or contacting any prosecution witnesses. Powell must also abide by a 9pm to 6am curfew and is required to comply with the requirements of his court support program, including engaging with NDIS provider Prestige Community Care, and intervention orders. Powell's lawyer told the court his mother had been in contact with his NDIS provider and they were prepared to work in collaboration to ensure he succeeds with the program. Wearing a green prison jumper, the accused asked the magistrate if he was able to travel into the CBD on Tuesday for his first appointment. 'Get there early. If the appointment is at 2pm, get there at 1.30pm,' the magistrate responded. Powell has been charged with aggravated burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, trespass and unlawful assault. He has previously indicated he would fight the charges. Fantauzzo is a world-renowned artist who has won the Archibald Prize's People's Choice Award four times and painted former prime minister Julia Gillard's official portrait on display in parliament house. Keddie is best known for her role in Australian drama Offspring where she won the Gold Logie and has won the Most Popular Actress Logie five times in a row.
