Aussie actor Teresa Palmer says her new project had a “big impact” on her as she delved deep into the horrifying abuses of power inspired by one of the few female-led cults in history.
It was much more than the toll of inhabiting her inscrutable character Freya.
The confronting content permeated the 37-year-old actor’ subconscious, giving her feverish dreams almost nightly during the lengthy four-month shoot. She had to draw on a significant toolkit on the drive home from set so she could return to “vibrant and present Mummy” for her four kids. She says it was the dawning realisation that while she was shedding Freya’s pain once the project wrapped, others were not so fortunate.
Teresa Palmer stars in Disney Plus’s first Australian original TV series. Picture: Supplied
“It was such a strange feeling – I was sitting in this place of recognising that it was so real,” Palmer shares.
“These things are happening to people around the world in present time. There’s so much suffering at the hands of these horrendous cult leaders who are still using illegitimate use of power to control people – that really had an impact on me.
“I may be moving on to the next project and being with my kids but there are so many people still within the grip of these cults globally and that really affected me.”
Miranda Otto also stars in the show, which is loosely based on a real cult. Picture: Supplied
The eight-episode series is the first Australian Disney+ production and draws inspiration from JP Pomare’s book In The Clearing, which in turn was loosely based on the infamous story of the The Family, an insidious cult that flourished in rural Victoria.
Directed by Gracie Otto and Jeffrey Walker, it’s a veritable feast of a cast with Miranda Otto as the disturbing cult leader “Mummy” Adrienne, Guy Pearce, Mark Coles Smith, Kate Mulvany, Claudia Karvan and Hazem Shammas. AACTA-award nominee Julia Savage – the standout child star in Blaze – heads up the young talent also including Lily LaTorre and Flynn Wandin.
The captivating eight-episode series has a star-studded Australian cast. Picture: Supplies
Palmer is phenomenal as Freya who is confronting her past, raised as a member of The Kindred – one of the few female-led cults in history. It was only a mere nine months after having her fourth child and critics are already branding it Palmer’s career best. She pauses when I ask how that feels.
“You know, I think if I let in any sort of external noise – whether it be praise or criticism – I get off-kilter,” Palmer says.
“I really have been trying to dig as deep as possible and just be so focused on the character and do my best work. I think I’ve been in this beautiful, luxurious season of motherhood. And then these opportunities, these once-in-a-lifetime character opportunities have come my way in the past 12 months, and I just am showing up for it.
“I’m taking it as deep as possible and I love it. I’m so reinvigorated in terms of my work and my career.”
Palmer says she had to dig deep to bring her character Freya to life. Picture: Supplied
She really does feel this is a new season for her after being so focused on raising her babies – Bodhi Rain, Forest Sage, Poet Lake and Prairie Moon – with husband Mark Webber.
“It’s such a nice reminder when I’m on set and getting to work with an incredible group of people, that it’s really is something I also love so deeply, being an actor,” Palmer explains.
Savage plays a younger version of Palmer and – along with rest of the younger cast – brings another performance of a lifetime. Palmer said she was so inspired by her 17-year-old co-star.
“Fortunately, I started working after she had already shot for a few weeks,” Palmer explains. “So, I was able to go in and see some of her footage.
“I wanted to see how she was handling the levity of the situation and just her mannerisms and the way she was engaging with people around her so that I could pull some of that into the work I was carving out.
“I was so lucky that I had all that beautiful time to really watch this nuanced performance that Julia gave.
“It really got the fire burning within me because I was like ‘Wow, that’s a sensational performance’.”
The confronting content gave the 37-year-old feverish dreams. Picture: Supplied
Palmer laughs as she agrees it’s strange that she is now counted among the veterans on Australian productions. She hopes one day to be able to work more permanently in her home country. And feels it is very much within her grasp, given the volume of international streaming services commissioning local content.
“There’s so many more amazing opportunities here and it doesn’t just have to be exclusive to Australia,” Palmer says. “Now television does global and international shows – it’s wonderful to be able to work at home, and then you are making this content that is reaching a huge audience overseas as well. I think that’s why you see so many of these huge Australian actors coming back home to work.”
Palmer’s just about to wrap on a yet-to-be publicly announced movie. It’s early on a weekday and she’s on her way to that set when we chat, it’s the only time in her busy schedule to make it work.
The show dives deep into confronting topics including abuse of power. Picture: Supplied
“I’m glad you can’t see me – you could not recognise me either,” she shares, as I confess I am also sans make-up and in my PJs. “I’ve had a sleepless night.”
Career-wise it’s truly been one of her busiest 12 months yet. Last year also saw her star alongside Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt on the Sydney-filmed The Fall Guy.
The family was planning on heading to the States later this month, but nine-year-old Bodhi asked if he could go back to his Adelaide school and hang out with his friends.
So, Palmer’s looking forward to exhaling and just being mum. Webber’s been overseas – he missed Mother’s Day last weekend – and she’s eagerly awaiting the whole tribe being reunited when stepson Isaac joins them on their expansive Adelaide Hills property while on summer break from his US school.
“While there are moments and things I miss in the Monday to Friday when I work – I am in the position that I’m able to have my kids come to work which is such a luxury,” she says.
“So while I work really hard for months – or say like this film which is a six-week job for instance – then I don’t work for a few months.
Claudia Karvan, Kate Mulvany, Kylie Watson-Wheeler and Miranda Otto at the premiere. Picture: WireImage
“And we don’t have a nanny. So it will be just me, Mark, the kids and my mum around.
“When any of us are having wobbly feelings about me working, we all remind ourselves of that incredible luxury.”
Palmer’s next big project is just enjoying the simple life in her chaotic household – which also includes two dogs, a cat and a whole heap of snails.
“I love work so much, but there are those moments like yesterday when I’m spending the day with the kids and we’re just jumping in a playground and it is such a simple, fun day,” Palmer shares.
“Then I spent two hours cleaning out our aquarium with our 150 snails and I’m happy. It’s just a whole lot of the simple little things.”
The Clearing is available on Disney+ from May 24.