The winning circuit
Actress Tammy Clarkson was demure as she accepted a Logie Award for her role in The Circuit on SBS, but the once shy West Australian schoolgirl isn't afraid to speak her mind about the challenges facing indigenous performers. By Resli Buchel
By Resli Buchel
Get used to seeing Tammy Clarkson on television
How does it feel to now be a role model for young Indigenous Australians? It's incredibly overwhelming. In fact, if I think about it too much I overwhelm myself, so I'm just staying focused. I've been in the acting industry for about 12 years now, [and] there are times when you kind of go ‘ok, why are you doing what you're doing?'...I always come back to the fact that I would love to do my bit to inspire indigenous youth.
What was it like to work on The Circuit? The best thing about The Circuit, I think, is to have so many black faces on screen. I may be wrong, but [I] cannot remember in Australian TV history ever seeing and having so many Aboriginal faces on screen. The extras were beautiful, they made us laugh every day, and they were the real stars. Another first with The Circuit is that it's the first production ever that has had crew, cast, writers and director all being indigenous. I really hope to see that this has led a really good example.
Was it important to film The Circuit on location in Western Australia? Our aim was to be as authentic to Indigenous communities as possible, because a lot of the audiences don't realise what it's like to live in an indigenous community... so if we're going to do it, we need to do it as authentically as possible.
Is it harder to be an Indigenous performer than a non-Indigenous performer? It absolutely is. As indigenous performers we have a huge responsibility on our shoulders. We have and extremely high respect system within our family unit - that's something that we're all raised with - and it's community mind, it's community responsibility, and you can't fight that stuff... well you can fight it if you like, but you'll end up very tired. I think you just have to embrace the beauty.
Does that extra responsibility ever frustrate you or make you angry? Oh, look you can be like that, but I that you'd do your head in. Honestly, I'm very proud of my culture, so I can't think of it being any other way anyway. In the same breath, I definitely do hope, and will do my best to steer my future career, in the direction of playing as many non-indigenous roles as possible.
Is it difficult for you to reconcile being a performer with being an indigenous Australian? Oh, it's really sad isn't it? I've done fifty million interviews over the last 24 hours and this is the one question that's popping out. It's ridiculous that we don't see black faces on television... it's absurd. I would like to see the community and the networks actually consciously, actively working harder at making roles for indigenous and non-indigenous roles on television.
The Circuit is currently shooting a second series.