YOUNG actors Caitlin Stasey and Deniz Akdeniz both had the same reaction when given the opportunity to star in a film adaptation of Australian author John Marsden’s Tomorrow series of books: they couldn’t say yes quickly enough.
Tomorrow, When The War Began is based on the first book in the seven-book series, telling the story of a group of teenagers who form a guerrilla force to fight back against troops from a coalition of foreign nations that have invaded and occupied Australia.
In Perth to promote the film, Stasey and Akdeniz told the Guardian Express they were thrilled to get the chance to act in a rare Australian action film complete with explosions and big stunt-driven set pieces.
The shoot itself took place in the bush and required weeks of physical training to prepare.
Known to many as Rachel Kinski from Neighbours, Stasey said roles such as heroine Ellie Linton were a rare commodity.
“There aren’t many young female roles out there like this, with this gravity,” Stasey said.
“I think she’s an incredibly deep character. Often with female roles, they are generally more like a romantic heroine, following men around and stuff, but Ellie steps up for herself.”
Making his feature film debut, Akdeniz plays Greek-Australian Homer Yannos.
Akdeniz said making the film was a huge thrill because he had been a fan of the books.
“I read them when I was 12 years old,” he said. “My brother was a big fan and he passed them on to me.”
The two said they would have to wait to see how audiences embraced the film before finding out if sequels would follow.
Akdeniz said they had been encouraged by positive reactions from die-hard fans who attended the film’s premiere.
Stasey has family in Britain and has lived there for long enough periods to pick up a slight British accent so she actually took vocal training to get her Aussie accent back for the film.
“It was funny because there was a British girl (Rachel Hurd-Wood, who plays Corrie) trying to sound Australian, while I was an Australian girl trying to sound more Australian, but we were both being voice coached by an American,” she said.
- Tomorrow, When The War Began opens in cinemas on September 2.