'I found my voice in my 30s.' Phoebe Tonkin on her career, famous friends and the Stan Original Film Transfusion.

When Phoebe Tonkin first read the script for the Stan Original Film Transfusion, she knew it was a project unlike any other she had done before.

Throughout her career, Tonkin has worked on some stellar hits - Bloom, Safe Harbour, and early successes in H2O: Just Add Water and The Vampire Diaries franchise.

So when Transfusion came on her radar - a film that follows a father and young son attempting to reconnect after a devastating loss - she knew it was something she had to say yes to. 

"Immediately the relationship between the father and son hooked me in. It's such a beautiful observation of a family dynamic and the lengths a father who loves his son will go to," Tonkin said to Mamamia.

"So often in Australian film, and even in our culture, there's this idea of the 'macho man' that becomes the dominant representation. So to see this tender, vulnerable portrayal of a husband who has experienced loss - that's pretty powerful."

Tonkin stars in Transfusion alongside Sam Worthington - the pair acting as husband and wife. 

Image: Stan.

Worthington plays a retired SAS Australian Army soldier who suffers from PTSD while trying to reconnect with his wife, (Tonkin) and look after their young son (played by both Edward Carmody and Gilbert Bradman at different ages throughout the film).

After experiencing a family tragedy, Worthington's character is left in quite the emotional pickle - desperate to stop his son from being taken away from him.

"Working alongside Gilbert Bradman was amazing," Tonkin said. 

"When you're working with a young actor and filming such a graphic accident scene as we did, you want to make sure they're looked after and not traumatised by it all. And when you work on Australian film sets, it really does feel like a family dynamic - everyone's on an equal playing field and there to do the job."

And while being back down under after multiple years working in the US, Tonkin said she's grateful to be working with fellow Aussies again. Because unlike in the US, there's a bit more fun to be had when filming for "uniquely Australian projects".

"It doesn't feel like there's any hierarchy on set here, where sometimes in America it can feel like that. I don't think actors in Australia are ever divas - it feels like you're all one big family, crew and actors alike, as opposed to one actor being treated like they're some sort of 'special entity'," Tonkin said.

And in particular, for Transfusion, Tonkin said the film's casting was another reason why she decided to take the part. Namely, because Worthington is a close friend to Tonkin in real life, along with his wife Lara Worthington (née Bingle).

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"It was really, really lovely. We were filming during COVID times and my only bubble was my mum, Sam, and Lara. I would go over to their house and look after their kids, and Lara would also come on the set to visit and have a cup of tea with me, and then Sam and I would go off to work," Tonkin said.

"I had never worked with Sam before, we only knew each other socially. And I was so impressed by his work and passion. The fact he's a father himself, he definitely brought that energy to the role."

Just recently, Tonkin has been in Australia working on the film adaptation of Trent Dalton's Boy Swallows Universe and along with Transfusion, feels that she has now found the roles she was always meant to play. 

"I just feel so fortunate to be where I'm at in my career. I would never have dreamed of being able to play these sorts of roles, or any Australian original project," she said.

"Seven or so years ago, I didn't have the confidence to be playing these sorts of roles, nor the life experience. I was always told by my wonderful agent that the best roles come to you in your 30s - and that's starting to ring true."

Now aged 33, Tonkin has been in this world of television and film for just about half her life, after starting out age 15 on H2O: Just Add Water. And in those years since, Tonkin said it's now far easier to set clear boundaries and go for roles outside of the box.

"I've found my voice for sure in my 30s. It took patience and determination, but now I'm finally coming into a place in my career where I do get to be a little bit more in charge of the types of projects that I'm on and I can set better boundaries."

Watch the trailer for Stan's new film Transfusion. Post continues below.

Video via Stan.

Front of mind are projects that spark conversations, tell important stories, or have universal themes. Of course, this has always been the drive for Tonkin, and for any actor. But with more professional experience, comes a greater ability to make more opportunities happen.

"When I first landed in LA, I was grateful to even get an audition, let alone get a job. I think why I love going back to work in Australia is that I do get to play the types of roles that are really interesting to me, and I don't have to fight off as many other actresses for those roles," she said to Mamamia. 

"It's also nice to see fellow actors from my generation doing amazing, like Ryan Corr. There's this big group of us who back in the day were fighting for any roles, and now we are able to celebrate each other and our successes. And that's a really beautiful thing."

With such a large public profile now as well, Tonkin said it's funny to see how different people recognise her for different roles. 

For some, they shout "Cleo!" (from H2O: Just Add Water). Others are avid fans of her time on The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. 

"I am so grateful that I worked on two shows in particular that have such rabid fan bases. But of course you also want people to recognise you for the other work that you've done. I never want to be boxed into playing one specific type of role, and I think now when people watch the films I'm in they get quite a shock. Diversity is key," Tonkin explained. 

And that's exactly why Tonkin is keen for people to see Transfusion.

"It's such a great portrayal of the ways in which we deal with grief and pain. And any story that has a different take on the macho masculine stereotype and typical Australian family dynamic is really interesting. There's beauty in vulnerability."

The Stan Original Film Transfusion is in select cinemas 5 January, and streaming only on Stan from 20 January.

Feature Image: Stan.

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