“It’s very moving and quite sad”: Georgie Parker is pressing pause on Summer Bay
The actor is helping spread awareness of the dangers of RSV this flu season.
Like so many Australians, Georgie Parker didn’t know much about RSV and its prevalence in the older community until she was struck down by a serious respiratory illness last year.
“I was not someone who ever really got seasonally sick from the flu or anything,” Georgie, 61, tells Woman’s Day.
“So I think when I got the respiratory illness, I was really amazed by how much it impacted my life and my ability to do my job.
“But also, I couldn’t see my parents, which was a big thing. I realised that it’s not just Covid you have to worry about any more. I have my 96-year-old dad and my 92-year-old mum and they’re my primary focus when it comes to me being healthy enough to spend time with them. And they’re very susceptible in that age group – it’s a very contagious illness.”
With RSV cases soaring this winter as the temperature plummets, Georgie is urging Australians over 65 in particular to be proactive about getting on top of their health.
“The main message for the RSV campaign is to talk to your doctor, talk to your pharmacist,” she says.
“The options for people will vary and it’s really important that you talk to someone who knows you well enough to know exactly what your options are and how you can make sure you have a healthy winter.
“The thing is to always be aware that it’s not just your own health you’ve got to be looking out for. If you have other dependent people, if you have kids or if you’re going into a workplace where there are a lot of people and you’re not really sure of everyone’s health profile, it’s that responsibility to look after yourself.”
FLEXING HER ACTING MUSCLE
Never one to rest on her laurels, in her latest sojourn from Summer Bay, Georgie takes on the role of Rose in the six-part Paramount+ series Dalliance.
The star-studded drama – premiering on August 27 – features a who’s who of Australian talent, including Hugo Weaving, Heather Mitchell, David Wenham, Catherine McClements and David Roberts.
It centres around 60-something couple Rose and Billy (Hugo), whose lives intersect with Dani (Heather) after a chance meeting on a Sydney ferry.
“Billy brings her home because he’s drunk and happy,” Georgie previews.
“And then Rose and Dani meet and they kind of form a very quick friendship and connection. But then – and it’s no spoiler alert because it’s what the show’s about – Billy dies in Dani’s company, so the whole show is about the fallout effect of that death on our friendship group.
“There’s a marriage break-up and someone else starts screwing someone. [After] 40 years of friendship, there are still as many questions now in their lives as there were when they were in their 20s. It’s funny, it’s very moving, it’s quite sad, it’s very emotional but it’s also hilarious and very relatable.”
Getting the opportunity to take time out from Home And Away to sink her teeth into other projects is imperative to Georgie’s creative process – especially after 16 years playing Roo Stewart.
“It’s really important to me. It’s like if you play the same song all the time, you’ll forget how to play other notes,” she says.
“You’ve got to flex it and work the muscle.”
READY TO CELEBRATE
With the TV WEEK Logie Awards fast approaching on August 16, Georgie can’t wait to let her hair down and catch up with her friends, cast and crew as they celebrate the best of Australian TV. She admits she could do without having to get all dolled up, though!
“I’m not a big fan of getting dressed up, I have to say, but I do love the night,” she says with a smile.
“I love going. I love seeing everyone. I love that TV in Australia gets celebrated. I love that everyone’s work is acknowledged – it’s a great night.”
As a two-time Gold Logie winner, her advice for this year’s nominees is simple – prepare a speech no matter what.
“Don’t get up there on stage and say, ‘I didn’t expect it,’” she warns.
“‘This is such a surprise,’ isn’t an acceptable speech. You only have such a short amount of time to thank the people that need to be thanked.
“My only advice is to know who you want to thank and be surprised later, because it’s never the one person who puts themselves up there. So many people’s work is represented when someone gets up on stage, so it’s really important you reflect it back to the people who worked on whatever you were a part of.”
