Queen of the screens: Antonia Prebble
Beloved actress across Australasia, mother, podcaster, and two-time charity ambassador, Antonia Prebble has earned a platform she now uses to give back. Metropol editor Nina Tucker caught up with the Outrageous Fortune and Westside star ahead of her role emceeing for Breast Cancer Cure’s Fashion for a Cure charity event in October.
When Antonia Prebble recounted her involvement with charity initiatives over the years, I was sure New Zealand had made the right person famous. “It is so true that we are at our most human when we’re in service to other people and not thinking about ourselves.” Years of time and energy given without expecting any kudos in return, Antonia believes it’s a pure “privilege” to be able to help. Her approach is entirely wholesome – she finds it as rewarding as she hopes it is for the cause.
Antonia first joined Breast Cancer Cure as an ambassador six years ago – a decision that needed no convincing. “All of their fundraising goes into research, and they believe that research is the greatest weapon into finding a cure. It just made sense to me.” Like many, Antonia watched countless people close to her battle the disease. “Some have made it through, and others haven’t.”
At its core purpose, Fashion for a Cure is a fashion runway event held nationwide, which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for breast cancer research. Beyond that, “it’s such a fun, meaningful, beautiful, moving night out,” Antonia says. “The designers we have in this country are just absolute world class,” she adds, as someone who always finds herself disappointed that shopping overseas never matches up to what she can find back home.
“I have quite close relationships with a lot of designers, because I’m always popping into their work rooms to borrow dresses, usually for events,” Antonia explains. “Breast Cancer Cure is really aligned with fashion and fashion designers, so it felt like an authentic alignment and a no brainer.”
At Ōtautahi’s only Fashion for a Cure for the year, Antonia will be joined by fellow ambassador Lou Heller to guide the night. Her connection with charity, whether Breast Cancer Cure or through her 12 years as an ambassador with Variety Children’s Charity (like leading a cycling fundraiser through Vietnam for families affected by the Christchurch earthquakes), is what fills up her cup. “I’m always in tears. I’m just so moved by the amount of heart and generosity and compassion that is shown at those events.”
PRESS REWIND
As a child, Antonia didn’t waste any time getting into character. “I came out of the womb knowing that I wanted to be an actress,” she remembers. “As soon as I could read, I would scour the newspaper looking for auditions.” She grew up on the stage performing in theatre, and by the time she was 11, Antonia had herself an agent. “It’s such a Kiwi story,” she says fondly. “My best friend’s family lived next door to an acting agent.” At 12, she landed her first role on television. Antonia had her foot in the door at just the right time to become a child actor. That all changed when she reached her late teens.
“I suddenly stopped getting work,” Antonia recalls, when met with a much larger pool of competition in the young adult arena. She remembers lying in bed one night, feeling so worried about the future. “Acting was the only thing I had ever wanted to do, and now that just wasn’t happening. I was miserable at the thought of having to find another career, settling for something that I wouldn’t find nearly as fulfilling.” At her lowest low and about to throw in the towel, Antonia gave the audition for Outrageous Fortune a go. Needless to say, becoming Loretta West changed her life – shaping that age transition for her because she was doing it on screen.
Even two iconic roles haven’t made her acting career linear – especially in a small New Zealand industry where it’s easy to become overexposed, Antonia says. She shares the challenges of being an actress. “There’s so much hope that comes with this job. You get an audition and you can’t help but think what it would be like if you got it.” It’s like an open home. You enter the house and envision yourself living there – cooking, decorating – and then your offer falls short.
“There’s no middle ground,” she laughs. There’s no obvious trajectory either. How can you plan for a promotion when the position doesn’t exist? “The shows that you might be cast in in the future just don’t exist yet.” Thankfully, she’s “softening and broadening” her ideas of what her life and career could look like – unlike her more fearful younger self.
REDEFINING HERSELF
The post-pandemic lull of the arts industry came at a time that aligned with Antonia’s stage of life. Whether by luck or perhaps good karma, it meant she could be the mother she’d always dreamed of without feeling like she was sacrificing her career. “It’s always been a really important value to be a real present mother, and filming hours are just not conducive to that. Being away for 12 hours at a time, for many weeks at a time, it’s just not the mum I want to be.”
At this point I start to wonder. Antonia likens her responsibilities as a mother, actress, ambassador, podcaster, public figure, and someone expanding her professional focus into producing a few new television shows to… quiet time? “It does sound like I’m really busy, but I don’t feel overloaded at the moment. I’m definitely someone who likes having a few balls in the air. That’s what keeps me really stimulated and interested and makes me feel like I’m moving forward in the direction that I want to be going in,” she says with a smile.
I decide she has a knack for exceptional time management. With super-husband Dan who she met on set of Westside, Antonia works each commitment into her schedule, and the pair balance the duties of primary caregiver when the other is busy. “I don’t feel like it’s overwhelming because most of it is self directed. I’m choosing to take on these things,” she says. With their children Freddie and Gus now at school and pre-school, “we both feel like we’re kind of able to look up from the trenches out to the horizon”, and pursue less domestic, more creative projects. She references the Fashion for a Cure show. “Every year, up until now, I’ve had to say no to this event because I just felt I can’t really justify going away from my family.” Antonia will greet an excited Christchurch audience at the charity fashion event on 9 October.
QUICK FIRE
What’s your superpower?
I’m a really good sleeper. It’s a bit of a superpower. If I’m having a really hard time, my body actually takes itself to bed.
The best character you’ve ever played?
Rita West from Westside. She was my first real grown up character, and so complex, interesting, strong, ruthless – a badass.
The piece of clothing you can’t live without?
My fluffy grey hoodie.
Your guilty pleasure?
Cereal. I’m into it, so much so that I can’t have it in the house.
One character you would love to play in the future?
Lady Macbeth.
