It’s been an incredible year for local Tess Haubrich. Between acting alongside Chris Hemsworth in Netflix’s Spiderhead; playing an accused murderer in Nine’s acclaimed After the Verdict; and starring in Paramount+’s highly anticipated The Last King of the Cross, it seems Tess is everywhere you turn.
Peninsula Living sat down with the 32-year-old star to chat about motherhood, working with film greats and embracing her dark side.
Growing up on the Northern Beaches and attending Pittwater High, were you always interested and involved in the arts?
I played piano and saxophone from when I was five years old –that was one of the main reasons I went to Pittwater High. The band and the drama programs were really incredible. I think I always wanted to be an actor, but the drama program there was just exceptional.
You were talent spotted at 17-years-old and began working as a model a year later, walking international runways for brands, including Jean Paul Gaultier. How do you think working in the fashion industry at that age shaped you?
It was never in my plan to be a model. I was in David Jones at Warringah Mall, and all these girls walked past, and it ended up being Australia’s Next Top Model. I auditioned for it and got in, but I chose not to do it because I wanted to act. But then, I ended up going overseas for modelling.
It was a really amazing experience, because I went to a lot of places in the world that I definitely wouldn’t have gone to at that age. It definitely made me realise that modelling wasn’t what I wanted to do! [Laughs] But it was very good for being aware of being on camera – what goes on behind the lens.
You then decided to pursue acting before having back-to-back breakthroughs working with film legends Ridley Scott and Jackie Chan. What was it like working with two of the biggest names in cinema?
It was really incredible. They were just absolute professionals and made it all seem easy, even though it’s really not.
I’d just had my daughter as well, at the time. She was about four months old when I started filming Alien – Covenant and Bleeding Steel. In a way I think it was good that I had a newborn, because everything was really in perspective.
Since then, you’ve played characters ranging from bad-ass fighters to struggling mothers. You once said you’re drawn to strong yet vulnerable women. Does that influence how you choose a role?
I really just take on roles where I find the character has depth and is interesting. Especially now at this stage I’m at – I’m just trying to really push my limits with the characters that I’m choosing.
I seem to have fallen into this sci-fi/horror niche, but I do really love acting in it. I also want to play a variety of characters and I don’t want to be typecast in any way.
I believe that roles come to you and, so far, I’m just trying to make the most out of each opportunity.
A lot of your characters also have quite sinister pasts and/or meet grim ends. What draws you to these darker characters?
I just find it really interesting, and it’s something quite removed from my life. Because, away from acting, I’m a single mum and quite normal.
All of us have those facets within us. Everyone has light and dark within their personality. I feel like, as an actor, you can explore that a little bit more.
When I get a character that has a dark past, it’s really interesting for me to delve into that for a couple of months –and then go back to making lunches! [Laughs]
Your career has skyrocketed at the same time as you’ve been raising your daughter, Juniper. How has she adapted to your career?
Honestly, she gives me so much perspective and is the reason to keep doing what I’m doing.
I think the older she gets the more aware she is of what I do, so it’s easier to have those conversations about my work with her. The travel we’ve experienced together and the memories we’re making I’m so grateful for.
You’ve had an incredible year, with the success of Spiderhead and After the Verdict and the soon-to-be-release of The Last King of the Cross. You’re also filming a new Australian horror, The Red. What has it been like juggling this range of projects?
It’s been really great, because as a Sydneysider After the Verdict and The Last King of the Cross (LKOTX) were both filmed in Sydney. LKOTX was incredible – just the sets that they built. We were out at Raging Waters theme park, and they built the whole Kings Cross strip from the 1980s and 90s.
Now, I’m talking to you from outback Queensland in a tiny town called Cracow filming this new movie, The Red. I’ve been fortunate enough when I did Wolf Creek and Pine Gap, they were outback in Alice Springs and the Flinders Rangers. So, I love getting to see unique parts of Australia.
I haven’t done a horror in a while. They’re always really fun to film, even though they’re traumatic to watch! [Laughs]
Much of your career is spent jet-setting, however, you’ve chosen Sydney’s north as your home for a long time. What keeps you in the area?
My family still live in the same house in Mona Vale that I grew up in since three-years-old, and my bedroom’s still the same! Mona Vale really is my home, and my daughter lived there for her first year of life too, so it’s home for both of us.
I live in Mosman now and, because my job is so all over the place, it’s nice to be somewhere that’s really beautiful and calm to live.
With so many projects on the go, what’s next for Tess?
I just want to keep challenging myself and I want to keep getting great roles. I’ve got a real fire in my belly about it, and I just want to keep working. It’s really important for me, as well, to have that life/work balance.
I’m just going to keep doing my best.