FROM pop star to TV host, from the small screen to the stage, Tottie Goldsmith’s career has been a wide-ranging one.
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But it’s her role as Olivia in the play Sex With Strangers that means the most to Goldsmith.
“It’s the best role I’ve ever been given outside of acting class,” she said.
“I’m incredibly lucky.
“This play is a godsend — you pray to get scripts that are well written and feature strong women.
“If I could have wished for something to land in my lap, this is what I would have wished for.”
Goldsmith’s journey to being cast as Olivia started with her 18-year-old daughter moving out of home about three years ago.
“When my daughter moved out I thought ‘this is my time now’ and I made the decision to put everything I earned and all my spare time into upskilling,” she explained.
“I went to acting classes, one after the other — voice classes, accent coaching, master classes.” It was in one of those master classes that Sex With Strangers director Lucy Freeman spotted Goldsmith and decided she was perfect for the role of Olivia.
“Olivia’s a professor, she’s way brighter than I am,” Goldsmith laughed.
“But she’s amazing and I’m being educated playing her.
“She’s strong and she’s done work on herself.”
The play revolves around Olivia meeting Ethan, a young man who she finds herself attracted to.
Ethan is played by Samuel Johnson, best known for his role in The Secret Life Of Us and for his unicycling efforts in the name of charity.
“I hadn’t worked with him before but we had met when he was doing the Love Your Sister (breast cancer research fund-raiser) and he came to me to help with that project,” Goldsmith said.
“On stage he’s fantastic and off stage he’s been really comfortable to hang out with from the word go.
“We both love acting and we come from different perspectives but we meet in the middle really well.
“We’re both playful and we love experimenting so we have a lot in common.”
When she’s not treading the boards, Goldsmith is a civil celebrant, gigs with her band The Chantoozies and has released a number of relaxation CDs.
But when asked which of her many endeavours was her favourite, she doesn’t hesitate to answer: “It’s acting.”
Tottie Goldsmith and Samuel Johnson star in Sex With Strangers at the Lighthouse Theatre in Warrnambool on June 25, Hamilton PAC on June 26, and the Portland Arts Centre on June 27.
