Megan Peta Hill is an Australian-born, award-winning, and Leo-nominated actor who has trained and worked professionally in film, television, and theatre internationally. Megan has worked on numerous network series including Riverdale (The CW), The X-Files (Disney), The Flash (The CW), Big Sky (ABC), Kung Fu (The CW), and Supernatural (WB). The actress currently stars in ‘We Are Zombies’, adapted from the comic book ‘The Zombies Who Ate The World’ by Jerry Frissen and Guy Davis. We caught up with her to discuss her career.
Thank you for agreeing to catch up with Occhi Magazine. Congratulations on your career to date. For readers unfamiliar with your background, how did you get into the acting?
Thank you, and I’m grateful to talk with you!
Well, for me there wasn’t one defining moment where I decided to be an actor. I always just knew. Even as a very young child, I would pester my parents to let me be an actor, even though I didn’t really understand what that meant and no one in my family worked in the industry. I had this insatiable desire to be a performer. So, with the support of my parents, I joined a theatre company at eleven years old and then signed with an agent. I started out by working as a background performer on Australian shows filming on the Gold Coast and auditioning for every role I could in film and television. The first film I ever worked on as an actor was ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’. It was such a formative experience at such a young age – to see how a huge professional set functions, it was awe-inspiring.
While auditioning and working on short films here and there, I went to university and studied for a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Theatre. It was fascinating to learn about the history and theory of theatre, and about different acting processes and tools, some of which I still use to this day.
After graduating, I was working in theatre and ended up moving to Sydney to pursue more opportunities on screen. Ultimately, I knew that making the leap into the North American industry was where I needed to be. So, with the support of my family and my then-manager, I moved to Canada in 2014 and haven’t looked back!
You’ve worked on several popular productions including “Prey for the Bride” (Tubi), “Allegiance” (CBC), “Riverdale” (The CW), “Kung Fu” (The CW), and “The Flash” Working on these projects, what’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about the industry.
That’s such a great question. I’ve been so fortunate in my career so far to work on some incredible projects that have taught me a lot. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that in order to be a professional artist, you need to be both formidably strong and tough, while also remaining open and vulnerable. It’s a very delicate balance to try to maintain. The strength and mental fortitude is required to ‘keep on keeping on’ (as my Mum would say), as this business it littered with disappointments and rejections. However, in order to step into these characters and tell these stories honestly, your heart needs to be so open and empathetic, and vulnerable.
You have a prolific voice-over career that spans video games, feature films, narration, and commercials. How does voice-over acting compare to working in front of the camera, and which do you prefer?
I love them both in equal measure. Working in front of the camera will always be my first love, but there is something so pure and delightful about working in voice that I have fallen in love with. Voice acting requires a complete childlike sense of abandon and imagination to bring these characters to life using only your voice. If I’m lucky in my career I’ll continue to work in both!
Of your many achievements is there one you’re most proud of?
That’s a very difficult question to answer! I have a number that I’m very proud to be a part of! To work on iconic comic book adaptations like The Flash, Riverdale, and iZombie were an absolute dream, and I have had the honor to work with some incredible artists and filmmakers in my career.
If I had to select just one, I’m proud to bring Maggie to life in We Are Zombies. Working with writer-directors RKSS was an incredible experience. They’re wonderfully creative and hilarious and have such a unique style of filmmaking, and my cast-mates Derek Johns and Alexandre Nachi were extraordinary to play opposite, and they have both become such good friends of mine. Ultimately, bringing Maggie to life, who is this strong, physically capable, intelligent, and hilarious leading lady, is something I’m really proud of.
I was fortunate enough to be at the theatrical premiere of We Are Zombies in Montreal, and after the screening, a woman approached me and thanked me for playing such a strong female character on screen. I think female representation in film is so important, and to be part of telling stories centered around women who are strong, unapologetic leaders is an honor.
Audiences can see you in “We Are Zombies”. We Are Zombies is adapted from the comic book The Zombies Who Ate The World. Please tell us more about the production, your role, and what audiences can expect.
Yes, We Are Zombies is a comic-book adaptation about three very unlikely heroes who go on an adventure to save their grandmother and take down an evil mega-corporation. I play Maggie, the self-appointed leader of this trio, who is a no-nonsense, foul-mouthed, straight shooter, who along with her brother Karl and their friend Freddy end up trying to rescue their kidnapped grandmother and save the world.
It’s a hilarious, wild ride of a film with an incredible amount of heart. It’s quite genre-bending, with elements of comedy, gore, adventure, and a good dose of zombies. It’s definitely one to watch with a group of friends and a big bag of popcorn!
What attracts you to a role?
Usually, the first thing that draws me to a project is the writing. A beautifully written script has you caring for the characters, empathizing with their plights, and rooting for them to win. From there I’m most interested in playing complex, complicated, and messy characters. Just as in life, humans are never just one thing, we are a multitude of conflicting desires and hidden secrets. So, characters that embody those qualities always draw me in!
What projects are you currently working on?
I have another film being released at the moment called Boot Camp, which is an adaptation of a Wattpad novel. It’s another project I’m very proud to be involved with as it is a coming-of-age film that explores themes of body image and self-acceptance. It’s a really beautiful film. Currently, I’m working on an Amazon mini-series that I’m not able to say too much about just yet. But stay tuned, as it’s a very exciting project!!
Where can our readers find out more about you?
The best place to find me is on Instagram @meganpetahill and for any other career updates, you can always check out my IMDb page at www.imdb.me/meganpetahill
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