H20 STAR DIVING IN TO LOS ANGELES AUDITIONS
ACTOR Cleo Massey is ditching her Aussie “twang” to further her push into the American TV and film scene.
The 23-year-old rose to prominence as an emerging actor on the Gold Coastfilmed H20: Just Add Water and is hitting hard the US pilot season, spending most days at auditions.
And that often means talking like an American so casting agents take her seriously.
“If you go into the room as an Australian then switch your accent they’ll spend the whole time picking at how you do an American accent,” the Mermaid Beach actor said.
“But there are some benefits to being an Aussie ... they like us over there because we’re hard workers.”
Ms Massey said getting into the US to chase her dream was a mini-series in itself.
“To get a visa it took six months and a lot of money ... not only do you have to prove that you’re already successful in Australia but you need up to 10 references from industry professionals and a company to sponsor you,” she said.
“I usually stay here for three to four months during pilot season and spend most days at auditions. You usually get your lines the night before and sometimes there will be 14 pages.
“You can spend hours driving to an audition or doing your hair and makeup to get 20 seconds in an audition room. It can be very frustrating.”
Ms Massey and fellow Gold Coast actress Jessica Green have scored invites to elite soirees in LA, notably a pre-Oscars event attended by Paris Hilton and Moonlight director Barry Jenkins.
“Paris Hilton was very Paris, you weren’t allowed to go near her,” Massey said.
“The location was secret so we had to meet down the road from where the actual Oscars were being held and get shuttle buses.”
Massey said she was already planning her next trip to LA.