#5: Catharina Schindhelm
Hall St, Bondi Beach
By Annette Ekin
You sound German. Are you?
I am. I only moved here six years ago. I came here on my own and my parents are still overseas.
Where in Germany are you from? Between Dresden and Leipzig, but I only lived there for a few years. Then I went to Berlin, then Switzerland and then I came to Australia.
So you were around for the fall of the Berlin Wall? Yes, I was dancing in the street with my mum. When I was growing up you were never allowed to go anywhere so if you crossed that certain line…well you didn’t because you’d get shot.
What do you do in Sydney? I finished drama school at the Actors Centre in Surry Hills last year. Now I’m with an agency and getting commercials. I want to get into theatre.
What kind of project would you like to be a part of? The Shape of Things by Neil La Bute. You watch, thinking, “this is fun”. By the end you feel you’ve been punched in the face.
What are you working on at the moment? I’ve been doing commercials. The beaver commercial (Kotex tampons) on TV at the moment. I’m the girl in it and I would never have thought it would cause such uproar. It’s outrageous how prudish people are in this country. Otherwise I work as a cocktail waitress in Darling Harbour. I’m a walking cliché! [laughs]
What do you like about Sydney? I love Bondi. I would never want to move back to Germany, unless it’s to Berlin. Berlin is my favourite city.
Is it true that Bondi is a bit of a vortex and people don’t leave? Yes, on the weekends you don’t really need to go anywhere else. It’s like a village. But I’m not really a big fan of the people. I can’t talk because I’ve been a tourist myself but it is really touristy and they don’t respect this area as much as a resident would.
Tell us about your outfit. This dress I got from Vinnies where you picked me up. I’m op-shop addicted. These boots are from Max’s (Bondi). This denim jacket was $5 from a little church market just off Blair St.
What makes a good ensemble? Wear it with attitude and it’ll work.
Is fashion a big part of your life? Are you a natural redhead? No. I’ve been colouring it like this for 10 years. I love redheads – they’re fiery!