In the fast lane
New crime drama Swift Street is a thrilling, family-focused heist shot on the streets of inner-city Melbourne. Rising star Tanzyn Crawford, who plays Elsie, was drawn to the series’ diversity and dynamic relationships, writes
AS a young girl, Tanzyn Crawford would watch the movie Spice World over and over again.
It wasn’t that she had a particular appreciation for the kitsch value of the ’90s girl band’s answer to A Hard Day’s Night. Nor because she was addicted to their catchy tunes. It wasn’t even the fivesome’s messages about “girl power” that particularly struck a chord.
No, for Crawford, growing up in Perth, the 1997 movie starring the Spice Girls appealed because it made her feel represented.
“I had to really seek out media from other places [to see people of colour on-screen],” she shrugs.
“I remember my mum found it for us on VHS and we would watch it on repeat because of Scary Spice – specifically for Scary Spice!”
It was a different story for
Crawford – who is from an African American background – when she would travel to America to visit her family in Indiana.
“Even at age six, I could tell the difference between watching a TV show in Australia – where you might see one black character (and never an African American person) but someone with a similar nose or hair to me – compared to going to the US and watching TV shows over there where there are more African American people and there was just a lot more for me to relate to,” she explains. “And so, I definitely did notice a lack of my specific representation. Even now, it’s still a very white industry.” It’s with that in mind that Crawford, 23, and her castmates on Swift Street feel particularly proud that the new SBS series could break new ground on Australian TV.
“We all spoke on set about how rare it is to have a show where the first seven people on the call sheet are people of colour and how hopefully that inspires some kind of change within Australia,” she enthuses.
“I think, even on a personal level, it’s just nice to be able to be something on TV that I was missing [as a child].
“And I will feel – even if the show doesn’t go anywhere and nobody likes it – I would be satisfied knowing that we put people of colour’s voices out into the world.”
Swift Street is an actionpacked crime drama set against the backdrop of inner Melbourne. Crawford plays the street-smart Elsie, who has been looking after her old-school hustler father
Robert (Cliff Curtis) since her mother walked out.
When Elsie discovers her dad is in debt to a local crime boss, the pair join forces to get him out of hot water.
It’s a fun, Aussie take on a generational crime drama that was written by Zimbabwean-born, Australian-raised Tig Terera.
“There isn’t like one safe parent in this show,” Crawford explains of her character in Swift Street.
“There’s so much turbulence in both of Elsie’s parental relationships. And also a deep love for both of them.
“It’s nice to show a dysfunctional family on TV and not have it be a really abusive situation. It’s just a regular relationship between people who just don’t get along. But they’re still family and they still have to figure it out. I really like [exploring] those kinds of relationships.”
Crawford is no stranger to playing the role of a dutiful daughter forced to care for a troubled parent.
Her last major role was in the heartbreaking series Tiny Beautiful Things, playing Kathryn Hahn’s daughter.
“It was such an amazing experience,” she sighs.
“And I learned so much and everybody was so nice and really thoughtful about the gaps of knowledge that I had.
“I just felt so comfortable being that character and it was really easy to set up this dynamic with Kathryn because she came in with such a loving, motherly energy right from the beginning.
“I look back on that and I’m like: ‘How the hell did I get that role?’
I still don’t know.”
Crawford was initially nervous about approaching Hahn – who is best known for her roles in Bad Moms and WandaVision – but the Hollywood star quickly put her at ease.
When nervous, Crawford has a tendency to blurt out whatever is on her mind. Rather than recoiling, Hahn was only too happy to do likewise. “And I was like: ‘Thank god, this is not going to be awkward now’, because I don’t know why I had said what I said,” she laughs.
Before discovering her natural gift for performing, Crawford was studying biology and conservation at university.
She only auditioned for the
West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at the urging of a friend.
“It wasn’t until halfway into that course that I really [thought] acting was going to be a career,” she confesses.
“I think I have ping-ponged through so many hobbies in my life, that [when I said I wanted to audition for WAAPA] my mum was like, ‘OK, we’re onto the next one then!’
“I’m sure she didn’t think I was going to end up on a show in
Los Angeles or whatever, but she’s always been [supportive of anything I did], like, ‘OK, you need new basketball shoes because we’re doing basketball now?’ and ‘Oh, now it’s baseball?’”
Having been something of a serial taste-tester of careers and hobbies, Crawford believes she’s finally found her niche.
“I think this one [acting] has stuck,” she says.
“Nothing else comes close to eclipsing it… if there ever comes a time where it’s not fun, then
I won’t do it anymore… But right now, I don’t know what else
I would do.
“I love learning scripts and finding a character. I even love the auditioning. I’ve just found such joy and peace in this whole process now that it’s become a huge part of my life.”
Wednesday, 8.30pm, SBS and streaming, SBS On Demand