Peter Thurnwald

Interview by Roman Portnoy
Photography by Ryan West
Styling by Benjamin Holtrop

Peter Thurnwald is a newly emerging Australian actor, director, and producer. Adopted from South Korea as a baby and raised on the Gold Coast, Australia, Peter’s school years at Somerset College were focused on academics and sport.

What was your favorite moment while filming for your new show “XO, Kitty” on Netflix?

I had so much fun filming “XO, Kitty “so I don’t know if I could pick just one! In general, just hanging out with the cast in Korea was incredible. There was always something to do with the locals, whether that was hiking with Gia, bouldering with Sangheon, or eating KBBQ with Minyeung. My favorite scene to shoot in the show was the one at the night market with Kitty. It felt like I was on this massive budget feature film with all the food stalls and extras walking around. I also got to know Anna really well on that evening, which almost paralleled the relationship between Alex and Kitty.

Who’s been the biggest influence on your acting career?

I’d have to say, Gareth Harris. He was my first acting coach in Brisbane, and I still work with him in every role I play. He pushed me to pursue acting even when I didn’t even know I wanted to pursue it. I owe a lot of my success to him.

Name three actors that you would love to work with and why?

Well, my number one is Steven Yuen. I’ve watched him ever since he was on “The Walking Dead” and followed his career as he moved into feature films. There are so many things about him that inspire me; his acting abilities, the fact that he’s a Korean in Hollywood, and the way he’s maneuvered his career to produce and act in some of the best television/films I’ve ever seen. It’d be great to work with Anna again on a different project apart from “XO, Kitty”. She has amazing energy and brings a lot to any role she plays. She wouldn’t tell you this, but I think she’s also going to become a great comedic writer sooner or later, which I am all for! The last would have to be Gary Oldman. I love the way he approaches the craft and one of his most recent shows, “Slow Horses”, was simply amazing. It would be an honor to work with him in any capacity, so hopefully one day I’ll be able to make that happen!

What’s been the most challenging role so far in your career?

If we’re talking about television, then it’d have to be “Players”. The role itself wasn’t the most difficult, but the filming conditions were challenging. If you’re not familiar, it’s a mockumentary on the world of e-sports, specifically League of Legends. We shot all ten episodes at the same time on location, so it was hard to get a grasp of the story. The way it was shot was also different, with a lot of iPhone footage being used, loose camera work, and improvisation. For the longest time on that set, I felt like a fish out of water working with Tony Yacenda, but as time went on, I managed to get the hang of it. Because it was such a hard experience, it’s been the most rewarding show I’ve been on, and I think it deserved way more attention than what it got

What film genre best suits your abilities and what’s your dream role?

Good question. I have no idea… I think I CAN do comedy, which has been the backbone of my television career so far, but I’ve also done a lot of theatre spanning Shakespeare to American contemporary. If I had another ten years of experience under my belt, I’d be able to say what my strength is, but I haven’t had much time in the industry and still have a lot to learn. It’s the same with me having a dream role. I wouldn’t say I have a ‘dream role’, but I do know what an amazing role looks like when reading it on the page. I’d want to play something in a large-scale science fiction, so maybe something like “Dune” or “Star Wars” comes to mind? But again, ask me in a few years and I’ll be able to give you a definitive answer.

On top of acting, you also directed a short called “Running”. Tell us about that process and whether you see yourself mixing acting and directing again in the future?

So “Running” was my directorial debut working with some people from the Western Australian Screen Academy. That project helped me understand how I liked to move the camera, what I preferred in the edit, and how well I can solve problems when under pressure. We shot the film over seven days as most of it was at dawn or dusk… Which by the way I’m NEVER doing again because the filming windows were so tight.

Directing has interested me ever since I began acting, and it’s something I’m looking at pursuing very seriously in the future. I think all actors should direct something at some point because it gives perspective and insight into the project you’re working on. I have a few more projects that will hopefully be released publicly soon, and these should help me secure better projects in the future to keep the goal moving forward!

What country would you love to film a movie or show in?

Australia – I really want to build the Australian film industry as much as I can. So many films come here to shoot, but Australia doesn’t have as much original content as some other countries who invest time and money into it.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I’m a very active person when it comes to my hobbies. Of course, a large majority of my free time is spent writing scripts and producing, however I also play a lot of golf, I write music, rock climb, hike – just spend a lot of time outdoors and soaking up the Aussie sun. My hobbies are the only thing that has kept me sane in an industry that is so fickle.

What advice would you give to aspiring actors?

Your art is your food. Without the right food, you get hungry, you get tired, you lose the will to do things day-to-day. If you truly want to find success in anything, please find the right ingredients. Are you doing self-tapes (NOT auditions) that are scenes YOU want to do? Are you writing? Are you meeting other actors? Are you being KIND to yourself? These aren’t suggestions; these are steps in a recipe to make the most nourishing acting poke-bowl. Yes, acting is a waiting game, and the way to win is by finding ways to sustain yourself until you can have the privilege of working with other creatives on projects that are meaningful to you and your community.

What’s a fun fact about you that people are not aware of?

I can do a backflip!

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.