Words by Carol Wright |Photo courtesy of Project Four PR

We got to chat with Tamara about when she first fell in love with acting and her role in Ghostwriter.

Your first role was in Annie at age 10. Do you have distinct memories of that performance?

I absolutely do! Firstly, I remember the audition process for this show. My first time going up, I was singing in this soft voice and they asked me to get a bit louder and I was terrified I’d be too loud. I sat down, and at the end of the auditions, I got back up and asked if I could try again. This time, I was shaking but managed to belt out “Maybe”. I remember everyone looking stunned. I was very petite, 9 years old, awkward and shy, with this massive voice all of a sudden. I felt connected to those words and something about connecting with my voice in that moment introduced me to a feeling I haven’t gotten sick of yet: sharing my own understanding of a truth, using someone else’s words. 

They booked me and would have to teach me how to technically sing all of the songs. Turns out, I couldn’t just belt it out. It took stamina and I needed to fine-tune my ear to notice when I went off-key or got too quiet. They want you to be on tune? Know how to use your breath? Right, right. I have to be able to repeat this for a couple of weeks in front of an audience? I spent every recess and blocks after school working on the singing, then rehearsals with the rest of the cast. It was a big performance we did at our school and then took it to the Sr. school next door. It was my first time performing for an audience where I was leading the show and it ended up being incredible. The fear melted away once I started singing and I believe that was because of the extensive preparation. I am grateful that my elementary school allowed us to put up this performance and that I had a patient music teacher who taught me how to find vocal range and control. 

It was an unforgettable experience. Also, those teachers who supported a nine-year-old who wanted to get up that second time and audition? Badass. They taught me to trust myself, and that sometimes a perceived failure may just require an adjustment. 

You had a big career change when you went from working at a company to acting. Were you nervous to take that leap? 

Yes, and no. It was terrifying to leave security, stability, and friendships with my colleagues, but once I’d made the decision to move on and try, nothing was going to stop me. The nerves stemmed from fear I could be making a big mistake walking away from a career that took some time to build and thrive in, to completely unknown territory. On the other hand, I’d managed to do well previously by putting in the work, the 10,000 hours, and figured this would be true for acting, as well. 

To be honest, the most challenging part was going to work at restaurants at first. I didn’t know what to expect, and it’s harder than one thinks. I have so much respect for the hospitality industry and the people in it, and most of my best friends have come from these restaurants. I also went back to work at a tech job last year, wondering if it was possible to manage both at the same time. Turns out, I couldn’t give each the attention they deserved and I don’t think I slept for the last year. I left that job a few weeks ago and it was more difficult to walk away from it than I thought it would be, considering I’d done this before. The company was incredible and I worked with an even better team. Though bittersweet to move on, I’ll hold that experience dearly. It was nice to shake things up again and led to much personal growth. Since this was a recent experience, I have a bit more clarity on how I’ve made these decisions, and found it basically comes down to priorities: what matters most, what can I commit to, and what can’t I give up right now. From there, my decision making is relatively straightforward. A mix of practicality and many many feelings. 

Why did you want to be apart of Ghostwriter?

Oooof, how couldn’t I? This show was a massive part of my childhood. This was equal parts nostalgic and exciting. I got the audition and it was fun to get creative with the world I imagined in these flashbacks, and how I saw Young Grandma Tess in it. I found the process collaborative and the entire team was incredible, every step of the way. I will always want to be a part of Ghostwriter! I can’t say enough about that team. 

You play Young Grandma Tess who is a central character in flashbacks. How do you go about getting into character?

I’ve been taking this really cool class for the last couple of years with Penelope Chater called Character Creation. For Young Grandma Tess or any other character, I get to work on, I make some choices on what character type I believe they are. From there, I think of their physicality based on these character types, and then find where their voice sits in my body. It was nice to have this framework because at times I wouldn’t shoot for a couple of months at a time, and these pillars were a practical way to consistently find Young Grandma Tess in my body. It also helped to have the hair, makeup and costume support a very specific look and time. 

Apple TV+ is still a relatively new service. As viewers start to find Ghostwriter on the platform, what can they expect from the show?

It’s creative, it’s fun, it’s imaginative. There is mystery, adventure, and I have to stay vague to not give anything away, but the season unfolds in a great way. I’d say it’s great for the kids, parents, brothers, sisters, puppies, kitties, basically everyone. It’s gonna be good! 

What advice do you have for aspiring actors?

Take classes, nurture your life outside of this profession, and have strong boundaries. Trust yourself, but also do your best not to have your ego steer the ship. Exercise kindness and compassion while navigating this industry. 

I was once asked “Why do I want to act?”, and I had an answer that was a bit of runaround, which prompted the follow up “Why do I need to act?” My teacher had told me not to answer publicly because no one else needed to know the answer, but she thought it was important that I take some time and concretely know this for myself. It was such a significant moment because that’s when it became bigger than just a dream. There was a purpose fuelling me. I could book jobs or not book jobs, my goals were clear and I would find a way to tell the stories I wanted to tell. It reminded me why I wanted this in the first place, why I quit my career, and the contribution I want to make with art. So, the ‘why’. It’s an excellent constant. 

Confidence. We can be confidently shy, or confidently vulnerable, confidently whatever, and it’s all beautiful. Anything that is preventing you from being confident is worth investigating. If you can do this internal work on yourself and can find ways to show up with confidence, it makes the whole process a lot easier. 

Lastly, you’re not defined by your wins or losses. If you’re crushing it- amazing! If you’re not at the moment – No big! It’s all cyclical and a wild ride if you’re open to it.