Show Notes
Debra Lawrance joins Tak for a warm, candid and deeply personal conversation about Home and Away, Neighbours, Please Like Me, nearly 50 years in acting, learning to listen to her body, surviving the industry and the moment she finally became Debra rather than simply Pippa.
What we get into: · Stepping away from the Steel Magnolias tour · Why actors push through illness and exhaustion · Learning to rest after nearly 50 years in the industry · Discovering acting and leaving Melbourne for NIDA · Training alongside Judy Davis, Mel Gibson and Steve Bisley · Learning not to envy another actor’s success · Missing a major role and the advice that stayed with her · Taking time away from acting for family · Returning through Blue Heelers · Life after Pippa and becoming Debra Lawrance · The responsibility and social impact of television · Please Like Me and telling stories without labels · Coaching young actors on Neighbours · Jackie Woodburne, Alan Fletcher and on-set mentorship · Playing Liz Conway and crossing from Summer Bay to Ramsay Street · Working through grief while filming Home and Away · Signs, dreams and unexplained moments after loss · Acting coaching, career mindset and creating your own work
just tak. is an interview platform dedicated to unmasking the reality of the creative industry. Hosted by Australian actor and presenter Takaya Honda, the show strips away the polished PR narratives to ask the most important question in performance: Why?
Support Just Tak on Patreon: https://Patreon.com/justtak
Promotion / Links: Debra Lawrance on IMDb https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0492592/
Watch Please Like Me https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2155025/
Sponsors: BeautyBoat.com: use code BIN25 for 25% off your entire order. https://beautyboat.com/ RØDE: thanks for the mics making us sound so good.
Support: If you’re having a tough time, please don’t struggle alone. Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14, 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention. If life is in danger, call 000. United Kingdom: Text Shout to 85258 for free, confidential 24/7 crisis text support. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.
Watch just tak on YouTube (and subscribe so you don't miss special live events).
Catch up with all things @justtakpod on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from just tak
Broadcaster, writer and podcaster Rachel Corbett joins Tak for a conversation about dementia, caring for both of her parents, family, career and finding contentment. Rachel spent almost two decades with dementia as a major part of her life, first with her mum and then, almost immediately afterwards, with her dad. She opens up about how her mum’s Alzheimer’s unexpectedly helped heal their complicated relationship, the guilt she felt trying to continue building a career while caring for her parents, and the reality of caring for someone when the relationship itself hasn’t always been easy.
Jessica Redmayne joins Tak for a deeply personal conversation about Home and Away, acting, grief and dementia. Fresh from her final episode as Harper Matheson, Jessica reflects on leaving Summer Bay, tackling a domestic violence storyline, losing her mum to younger onset dementia and the family history that continues to shape her life.
Ben Hall joins Takaya Honda to talk Pretty Woman: The Musical, Neighbours, Better Man and the relentless drive to keep improving. He opens up about life on tour, building chemistry with Samantha Jade, surviving live theatre disasters and the sacrifices required to make a living as an Australian actor.
Georgie Stone joins Tak for an honest and moving conversation about Neighbours, acting, trans representation and life after Mackenzie. She reflects on online abuse, advocacy, Harry Potter, finding her identity beyond the show and her upcoming move to London.
Shuang Hu joins Tak for a huge conversation about going from The Family Law to building a global audience of millions, generating more than 8 BILLION YouTube views, and taking control of her own career.