781. Fearlessly Failing - Actor Thomas Cocquerel

Fearlessly Failing with Lola Berry

Aussie Actor: Thomas Cocquerel

What happens when an Australian actor lands roles alongside Hollywood legends and discovers the stark contrast between drama school and real-world filmmaking? Thomas Cocquerel opens up about his journey from NIDA graduate to starring alongside Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning in the psychological thriller "All Her Fault." which is out now on Binge in Australia, Peacock in America and Sky in the UK.

Thomas takes us behind the scenes of his career, from the surreal experience of filming "The Gilded Age" during COVID to working with Anthony Hopkins fresh out of drama school. With refreshing honesty, he reveals how he navigates the emotional toll of darker roles through music, creating character playlists that help him decompress after intense scenes. His journey through theatre training to television sets highlights the resilience required when scripts arrive last-minute and character arcs take unexpected turns.

Timestamps:
10:15 - Breaking down his character Richie in "All Her Fault" and the show's exploration of modern motherhood
15:30 - Getting into NIDA (Australia's prestigious drama school) on his first try
28:40 - The challenges of filming "The Gilded Age" during COVID restrictions
35:20 - Working with Anthony Hopkins and learning to shoot out of sequence on film and TV sets
42:15 - Using music to decompress after emotionally demanding roles
47:30 - Advice for young actors fresh out of drama school

Tom's insights reveal the stark reality of the acting profession - the gap between drama school idealism and industry pragmatism, the need for self-reliance, and finding joy in the audition process itself. His passion for visual storytelling and musical expression offers a glimpse into how actors maintain their creative spark between roles.

Listen to this episode if you're pursuing any creative field - Tom's advice about maintaining your sense of self while navigating rejection and uncertainty applies far beyond acting. His journey reminds us that resilience, adaptability, and keeping your passion alive are essential ingredients for success in any creative pursuit.

hope you love this ep as much as i do!

Here's the trailer to All Her Fault: watch the trailer here

You can follow Tom on insta here: Tom's Insta

Big love,

Lola

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