Toni Collette on 'The Way, Way Back'

Actress Toni Collette spoke with The Feed's Marc Fennell about how one of her early performances was so convincing it landed her on an operating table.

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Few actors possess the ability to truly transform themselves into the character they are playing.

Toni Collette has been applauded around the world for her ability to convince audiences and become the person she is playing.

Collette admits to enjoying using different foreign accents in her roles, but there are some she finds tough.

"I'm pretty hopeless with South African. And I find Welsh really hard. It's very sing-songey. I always end up sounding Indian."

Her latest film, The Way, Way Back is a coming-of-age comedy. Toni Collette plays a mum who takes her boyfriend (Steve Carrell) and her awkward teenage son on a vacation.

"It was awesome. It was a family holiday. And we all lived on one street," Ms Collette said of the experience. "It was very cool and special and fun."

She describes the process of losing herself in her characters similar to the feeling of wellbeing and serenity one achieves when meditating.

"I think the easiest way to describe it for me - or how it feels - is when I meditate and it's really good meditation. You do just become one with everything and something else just takes over. And it's kind of an out-of-control and wonderful experience where anything could really happen."

"It's kind of like acceptance. You're not judging your thoughts."

And she admits that one time her skill for acting did go a bit further than she anticipated when she faked Appendicitis and had her appendix removed.

"I was 11, I had a slight pain, I just exaggerated," she says. "I know it's strange. In retrospect I can't believe I did it."

The Feed airs weeknights at 19:30 on SBS 2.


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2 min read

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By Marc Fennell
Source: The Feed


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