‘I’M THE LOUDEST CAST MEMBER!’
Loved by viewers and fellow actors alike, Georgie Parker’s bubbly personality lights up the Home And Away set day after day. ‘They certainly notice if I’m not there because I’m one of the louder cast members,’ says Georgie, adding with a laugh, ‘I’ll happily tell you that!’ And now the talented star, who plays Summer Bay’s Roo Stewart, is heading back to where it all began for her – the stage. From September 7 to October 13, at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre, Georgie will portray social worker Carolyn Cox in the gripping play, Luna Gale. Written by Rebecca Gilman and directed by Susanna Dowling, the thoughtprovoking play explores ‘what it takes to protect a child – and whether it’s possible for someone to be completely healed from past trauma.
‘I read the play and was so captivated by it,’ says Georgie. ‘It’s a very powerful piece. It’s been a really stimulating process.
‘It’s a highly-charged play, but like with life, there’s also humour that is twofold.’
It’s been a little while since Georgie last trod the boards in a stage production.
‘I did Barefoot In The Park two years ago,’ she says. ‘I love doing theatre. I started in it, so I itch to get back to it all the time.
‘I was doing ballet at four, so I really do love theatre for everything that it is – for the adrenaline, for feeling the audience, and for hearing them coming in,’ the actress explains. ‘It’s such a ritual. And every character gives you the chance to find out something new.’
That’s not to say, though, that Georgie won’t be missing her Home And Away family during her latest theatre gig.
For the past eight years, the former All Saints and A Country Practice star has been calling Summer Bay home as Alf ’s (Ray Meagher) daughter Roo.
‘I love Roo because she’s so cheeky,’ she says. ‘I love working with Ray and with Emily [Symons, who plays Marilyn] and I love the relationship Roo has to the Bay through Alf.’
Clearly, it’s a role that remains close to Georgie’s heart – and one she feels blessed to have. ‘They [the producers] are very good to me,’ she says. ‘Channel Seven have always understood that it’s a real need for me to do theatre. I feel extremely grateful,’ Georgie adds. ‘It’s always so nice to step back on that set and see the crew and the cast.’
With such a busy workload, it’s no surprise the Gold Logie winner jumped at the chance during a recent filming break to head to Italy and Switzerland with her 17-year-old daughter, Holly.
‘It was fantastic,’ she says. ‘My husband [Steve Worland, right] had to work, unfortunately, so he was stuck back here with the cats, Goldstein and Pooh Bear.’
And Georgie promises there’s much more on the cards for Roo in the months ahead.
‘There’s some really interesting things coming up for her,’ she says. ‘I’m very excited about it.’