She has starred in Hacksaw Ridge, Berlin Syndrome, The Fall Guy, and The Choice. Now, fresh off a press junket for her new drama Mix Tape, Teresa Palmer reflects on life in Byron Bay, her most transformative roles, and why she always returns to acting, even with a wellness brand and a growing family.
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What’s your favourite destination, and why?
Byron Bay will always hold a special place in my heart. There’s something about the energy here: it’s the stillness, the nature, the laid-back ocean days that just calm my nervous system and bring me back to myself. I love the simplicity of life, the community, the barefoot mornings, and the connection to the land.
And for a holiday?
Well, we can’t go past the Maldives. Who doesn’t love bath-temperature ocean water and a whole room filled with chocolate (courtesy of Soneva Fushi’s offerings).
Who or what has been your biggest creative inspiration?
My partner, friends in the industry, and co-workers. It’s never just one person; I’m constantly pulling little threads from creative interactions all around me. It’s more of a collection than a single source, and I always try to stay in a state of learning.
What was your finest hour?
I’d have to say the final hour of birthing each of my soon-to-be five kids! Easily the most intense, primal, and challenging hours of my life, but also the most transformative. There’s something about the raw, unfiltered nature of birth that nothing else in life quite compares to. It strips you down, rebuilds you, and shows you what you’re truly made of. Each time, I’ve come out the other side changed, stronger, and I’ve never felt more feminine.
What is your most influential work of creativity?
A Little Princess by Alfonso Cuarón because it’s a deeply moving story that is visually magical and has an aching blend of resilience, imagination, and the heartbreak of loss. My biggest dream is to work with Alfonso Cuarón one day.
What makes you happy?
My happiness is very layered and rooted in things like meaning, expansion, connection, family and creativity. My children, my feeling of home, my love, my work, my friendships, nature and leaning into the magic of getting to live this adventurous life with these people make me the happiest.
What performance are you personally most proud of?
My performance in Berlin Syndrome is one I’m especially proud of. Exploring Stockholm syndrome was complex and deeply nuanced, and Cate Shortland grounded everything in a raw, believable reality.
I truly transformed for that role – I felt the character in every part of me. I don’t think I’ve ever disappeared into a role quite like that before, and that’s thanks to Cate, a brilliant auteur who understands both the craft of acting and the power of subtlety.
So much of the film’s tension isn’t in the dialogue – it lives in the space between the characters. It was a completely new and powerful way of working for me.
What performance or artwork changed your life?
A performance that means everything to me is Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown. There’s not a trace of her in it – it’s a full embodiment of someone completely different. The limp, the stance, the no-makeup look, that real trucker energy – it was all so believable.
You could feel the trauma in her body, see it in her face. She never pushed it; it just lived there. It inspired me deeply when creating my character in The Family Next Door – stripping away all vanity, letting the truth sit on the surface. I’m also hugely inspired by Toni Collette in Hereditary and Charlotte Gainsbourg in Antichrist. These are raw, stripped-back performances from women unafraid to be fully exposed. That kind of fearless, honest acting is what always pulls me in.
What are you most proud of?
First and foremost, my children. Watching these gorgeous human beings experience the world with open hearts, curiosity, and a sense of consciousness that I only wished I had as a child – it’s deeply moving. They’re kind, big-spirited, and full of ideas, and they carry this beautiful belief that no dream is too big. That, to me, is everything.
In terms of work, I’d have to say building my wellness company, Lovewell, alongside my best friends. It’s been an immense journey of growth, learning, and purpose. Hearing from customers about how our products have positively impacted their lives, especially knowing it’s all grown organically through word of mouth, feels incredibly meaningful and humbling.
If you had to pick between them, podcasting or acting?
It’s hard to pick because both light me up in different ways, but if I had to choose, I’d go with acting. It’s been my first love, my soul language, since I was a kid. There’s something so electric about stepping into someone else’s world, telling stories that move people, and disappearing into a role. That kind of creative alchemy is hard to beat.
Toughest part of the gig?
Honestly, it’s the FOMO I feel when I’m away from home – missing the day-to-day moments with my kids, the school drop-offs, the cuddles, the chaos, the funny little things they say. That’s the stuff I live for, and being on set can mean missing a lot of it. I try to make sure that if I can’t do the drop-off, I’m home in time for the pick-up. Whenever there’s a long gig, we all travel together and relocate so we can stay connected as a family. It’s always a bit of a heart tug-of-war, but we’ve found ways to make it work.
Best part of the gig?
The best part is getting to step into someone else’s shoes and live a thousand different lives. It’s like getting to play an adult game of make-believe, but with real emotional stake, and I love feeling that so much. There’s such a thrill in the transformation, in diving deep into the heart of a character. On Mix Tape, for example, I got to play a woman navigating love, loss, and reconnection through music, and it was such a beautiful reminder of how storytelling can heal, uplift, and bring people together.
Hearing that this show has genuinely impacted people’s lives just makes it all the sweeter. When a role resonates like that, it doesn’t just stay on set; it lingers. That connection and that impact are what drives me.
How do you keep your head screwed on?
Doubling down on gratitude has always been my anchor. There’s so much to be grateful for when I take a moment to look around; my gorgeous kids, the love in my life, the chance to tell stories for a living, and the beauty of nature.
Even in the chaos or when things feel uncertain, coming back to what I have presently helps me stay centred. I also try not to take myself too seriously – an Australian sense of humour goes a long way. It’s how I defuse tension, connect with people, and stay grounded when things get a bit wild. And, being surrounded by a strong support system – my husband, my pals, and my mum who lives with us – makes all the difference.
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