LAKE Macquarie actress Emma Monk continues to make a name for herself in America, scoring roles in movies and on US television, including the spin-off to the popular Catfish TV series.
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“I’ve been living in Los Angeles since January and I’ve been lucky in the fact that I have booked both TV and film roles during my time there – a lot of which are set to come out next year,” Monk said.
Among the projects she’s excited to be a part of is Catfish: The Untold Stories.
It’s a spin-off to the world-wide hit Catfish series which follows the lives of people who have had online relationships but never met in person. Often, at least one of the people in the online relationship turns out not to be who they said they were.
“Generally it’s a reality show. However now they have the spin-off or special episodes called Catfish: The Untold Stories which are re-enacted stories of people that have been ‘catfished’ in real life,” Monk said.
“I play Kristen, a girl who is catfished by a girl named Stacey.
“Kristen originally thinks that Stacey is a boy when they meet online, in a game. It then comes out, over time, that Stacey is a girl. After Kristen’s initial shock and hurt caused by Stacey’s lying, things happen, they reconnect, and they end up together. It's a lovely heart-warming story.”
Monk is also set to appear in a documentary alongside fellow Australian actors who are chasing their dreams in America.
That’s not a Knife is billed as a behind-the-scenes look at “how hard it is for an Australian actor to actually make it in America”.
The documentary is due for release in 2018 and promises to give audiences a glimpse of “the workshops, industry meetings, dodgy hotels, manager meetings, auditions, driving on the wrong side of the road, arguments, tears and throw-the-towel-in moments” endured by Aussies in Los Angeles, Hollywood and New York.
Audiences might also spot Monk in Wormward Asylum, an Australian gothic horror TV mini-series; an episode of Corrupt Crimes, the TV documentary series; and Tough Love, the Australian movie due for release in November 2018.
In the meantime, Monk is enjoying a few days at home in Lake Macquarie to visit family. Work dictates that she’ll jet back to Los Angeles on Wednesday.
“I'm primarily home to visit family, and have a little break from ‘Hollywood’,” she said.
But the actress – who also writes and produces – has found the time to squeeze in some work during her brief visit home.
“Since being here I’ve also been working with my business partner Benn Allsop putting the final touches on the pilot episode of Love Ya. Not So Much! - a project that has been a long time in the making,” she said.
“It’s a comedy based around the dysfunctional relationship of a brother and sister that have been brought together by a series of unfortunate yet hilarious events.”
Monk describes the project as an American-style sitcom set in Australia. Part of it was filmed last year in Cooranbong and Awaba.
Monk created the concept for the show, and is co-writing it with Allsopp who also co-stars. Julia Nalbach is the director.
Monk said she had no way of knowing what 2018 had in store for her.
“Well, that's always a mystery. I have a fair amount of TV and film projects coming out next year so hopefully that leads to more work,” she said.
“I have a few of my own projects I want to finish. And I am currently co-writing a comedy feature with an amazing American that we hope to get off the ground shortly.”
Catfish, meanwhile, is aired locally on the ABC and Stan. Monk’s episode of Catfish: The Untold Stories (Part 10) is available through Foxtel on demand.
