Prior to appearing on the big and small screens, Greta was a practicing lawyer in Brisbane, Australia. Halfway through her degree, she discovered her love of acting. Greta has since appeared in numerous productions including Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok, and The CW’s Supergirl, and landed the lead role in the Christmas romcom TV movie, Meeting Mr. Christmas which recently aired in the USA on Crackle TV. Most recently, Greta was seen as the lead in the TV thriller, The Pregnancy Scheme. We had the pleasure to speak with her about her blossoming acting career and what’s next on the agenda!
Thank you for agreeing to catch up with Occhi Magazine. You were a practicing lawyer in Brisbane. What drew you to a career in film?
Thank you for having me! I was indeed. Seems like a lifetime ago. For me it was this unknown drive and interest that pushed me toward acting but an incredibly strong (and eventually unrelenting) one. I was reminded recently by my mum of the moment I was drawn toward acting. It was a Grade 10 oral presentation where, after reading To Kill A Mockingbird, students were tasked with choosing a character, writing an inner monologue of the character about a certain part of the story, and performing it for the class. I memorized it and performed it – Southern American accent and all! It was extremely nerve-wracking but absolutely invigorating. While that was the moment the acting “fire” was sparked, I didn’t pursue it until much later.
I completed a dual degree – Bachelor of Laws and Commerce (majoring in Finance) at the University of Queensland, in Australia. I was about 2 years from finishing when I finally had the courage to find an acting class and start attending once a week. But… I wanted to cancel every week! I was so anxious but every time I went, I loved it. When I was performing, when I was playing a character, it was like nothing else. I didn’t really know where else to take it, so I continued learning and finishing my degrees. I went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice to practice as a lawyer in Australia. After a few years, although there were aspects I liked about being a lawyer, there was a very big hole when it came to fulfillment. I had been trying to pursue acting at the same time but it’s hard to juggle the workload of a lawyer and a creative pursuit on the side (in a city where there was very little film/television industry).
Eventually, I made the tough decision to leave the law and start an acting career. Soon after, I moved to Vancouver where the industry was significantly bigger than in Australia.
Who were your early influences and how did they impact your career?
Fundamental to my professionalism, creativity, and ambition are my parents. My parents, my sister, and my boyfriend are my number one fans and have been my confidants throughout all stages of my career – providing perspective on both my triumphs and setbacks. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to receive their unwavering support and encouragement in all my pursuits.
My friends – I have a tight-knit group of friends back in Brisbane and they have consistently championed me and every victory (no matter how big or small), which invigorates me in times of self-doubt and challenges.
During my practice as a lawyer, I was privileged to be under the guidance of accomplished legal mentors, who taught me the nuances of people management, human behavior, organization, patience, and negotiation which have proven invaluable in shaping my acting career so far.
In Vancouver, my acting coach, a seasoned veteran in the industry, has been a fountain of knowledge. His years of experience in the industry have equipped him with profound insights, which have, in turn, enriched my understanding and approach toward my craft.
Your first experience with a big production was a small role in Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok. How did you get the role, and please share your experience on set.
It was! And what a thrill. I had an agent at that time but I didn’t audition as such. I believe I had the body measurements they were after to conduct wardrobe tests for various background characters. I was at the studios on two occasions trying on fantastic costumes and having eccentric hair and makeup done – which was viewed and considered by the director, Taika Waititi, to help him decide which direction to go in. From there, I think I was offered a small role, through my agent, which I jumped at the opportunity to take. In the film, I had the most elaborate costume and makeup – I was unrecognizable, with a long black and red wig and floor-length, high-neck green gown! I was in a few scenes with Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, and Jeff Goldblum. Chris, Jeff, and Taika created a joyful vibe on set – laughing and joking between each take and really enjoying themselves which made it special to be a part of. That has been something that has stuck with me – to keep having fun during the process.
How much did it influence your move to Canada?
Watching them work really solidified my desire to be where they were. At that point, I was still practicing law and I didn’t even know about Vancouver being a hub for this industry. What I did know is that I wanted to be in front of the camera, on big sets, playing characters, and telling stories. I wanted to be somewhere where that was possible. While some big projects come to Australia, I didn’t feel like the opportunities were there regardless of whether I was in Sydney or Melbourne, or Brisbane. I wanted a bigger pond.
As a practicing lawyer, you’ve adhered to professional standards and practices. Do you think they’re transferable practices you feel you’ve utilized in the film industry, particularly regarding acting opportunities or negotiating contracts?
Absolutely and they will probably become more useful as my career grows. At the moment, it’s a tricky balance because while I have the knowledge of, for example, the contracts and how they would be enforced, often I’m not in a position to negotiate. I have to pick my battles and remember that it doesn’t have to be written the way I would write it! Perfectionist tendencies often creep in. I think I bring a very professional approach to my roles, to time on set, to my auditions. I view this as a business first and that informs how I interact with others. I spend a great deal of time preparing and “doing the work” so that I can be the best person to work with, create a memorable and positive experience for everyone and learn as much as possible on every job.
Which three traits define you?
I’d have to say determination. I couldn’t have gotten this far without that. Also, emotional intelligence and – very importantly – a sense of humor!
Since arriving in Vancouver, you’ve appeared in numerous productions including The CW’s Supergirl and ABC’s A Million Little Things. To date, what has been your most memorable experience, and why?
It is surreal to work with people whom you have watched on TV – like Alison Miller and Chris Geere in A Million Little Things. It’s fun to get to work with people you admire – and to have friends or acquaintances contact you after seeing you on the show (not knowing I was in it) and being so thrilled. I suppose my first lead role – Meeting Mr. Christmas (which aired in November last year in US, Canada, Germany, UK, and Latin America) – would be the most memorable for me currently though because it was my first lead. Everything was new being #1 but I felt so at ease with the crew and rest of the cast. I learned a great deal and really loved the experience. I have to say though, each role has been a dream because any opportunity to act is such an absolute joy.
Please tell us about your latest project The Pregnancy Scheme
It’s a thriller – released on June 11 on Lifetime channel in the US – about Julia, a newly pregnant and newly single woman facing a financial catastrophe when she loses her job. An unlikely lifeline arrives in the form of her new friend Alana (played by Ruth Bidner) who says she knows people who would pay top dollar for positive pregnancy tests. But it comes at a cost, and Julia finds herself in dire straits when she tries to get out of the scheme. I play the lead, Julia. It’s a wild story that I understand was inspired by a real scheme! It was a challenging and immensely enjoyable shoot – filmed in and around Langley (about a 40 min drive from Vancouver) in some gorgeous locations. The cast and crew were diligent, hardworking, and thankfully enjoyed my humor! Our director, Ann-Marie Fleming really let me play and collaborate which was an invaluable experience. I will forever be grateful for working with this talented group of people.
Congratulations on the lead role. Experience in the industry and opportunities differ for each actor, particularly for those at the start of their careers. Do you feel you’re already in a position to be more selective about the roles offered?
Thank you very much! Truthfully … no. I mean of course, we can choose whether to audition for a role or if offered, choose whether or not to take on that project but this is a feast or famine business and I think it’ll be a while before I turn down any opportunity to act. Purely, because I love it so much and I want to take every chance to learn, grow, improve, and play different characters. Having said that, there may be roles my agent effectively turns down for me in a strategic sense to push my career toward bigger and better roles, but in terms of roles my agent sends through I don’t think I’d be turning anything down at this stage.
What other projects are in the pipeline?
I have just finished recording Season 3 of Escaping Denver which is a scripted podcast in which I play “Sara”. It is about Sara and Noah, who wake up in complete darkness, trapped miles below the Denver International Airport with no hope of escape. The listener joins their journey as they struggle for freedom from a mind-bending labyrinth filled with unimaginable horrors. Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Apple podcasts and Spotify and the Season 3 release date is imminent! In this project I get to use my natural accent (Australian) which differs from my other roles which are American apart from A Million Little Things wherein my character was British.
I have also penned a rom-com tv movie which my co-writer and I are in the process of pitching to be sold.
Where can our readers find out more about you? (please share your social media feeds)
@greta.carewjohns on Instagram
Thank you so much for your time!
Our pleasure!
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