I do acting for the awards... and cash money.

I think that is a really good message, especially for young girls to hear. The fact that someone like me from the western suburbs of Sydney could become an actress in movies who didn't look like a regular actress, and that I can make it I think gives a lot of hope to other girls who are really creative and don't necessarily follow the standard of what some people consider beauty to be.

At school, nobody thought I was smart and I became smart. Nobody wanted to be my friend and then I had lots of friends.

I contracted malaria in rural Mozambique. I was a youth ambassador for Australia. For a year after high school, you give positive speeches about Australia and as part of it I traveled to lots of different countries.

Usually when I ask people to reach into my velvety pouch it means something different.

As a kid, I never thought I'd be an actress. Never, ever, ever, no way. I was really shy - bordering on social disorder shy - and I was really academic.

I think I appear very innocent and soft, but I'm actually very dark and edgy. It's a weird dichotomy.