Who is Karla Tonkich?
I am a 24 year old bubbly, confident, fun, free spirit who loves to be surrounded by friends and family and always wants to have fun and be happy. I am a singer/actress/dancer and I am 100% passionate and dedicated to my art, it is one of the things that makes me the happiest. I am a city and beach girl in one. I love being in my bikinis with no make up and messy hair running around on the beach and enjoying nature and on the other hand I love putting on a sexy dress and heels, having my hair and makeup done and going out on the town and having my girls around me for a night of dancing and cocktails. I love going to the beach, watching movies, shopping, gym and going to cafes and restaurants.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
Absolutely nothing. I am loving every minute of my life at the moment. I feel very blessed to be involved in this industry, and have the best family and friends.
Who inspires you and why?
My mum is the person who inspires me the most. She is the most driven, strongest and the most loving person I know. She succeeds in everything she puts her mind to whether it be her work, her marriage or us kids and she can multitask like a boss! She has also been my biggest supporter and always encourages me to chase my dreams and to never give up.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I’d love to create a ‘happiness program’ of some sort for people to come and feel inspired and confident to be themselves. I’d want to talk to people about being truly happy and to not let society rule how they look or act and put pressure on them about their sexuality.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I have yet to travel to Europe and America and know I would absolutely enjoy those destinations. But out of the countries I’ve visited it would have to be Thailand. It was the free-est and most liberated I have ever felt in my life. The country has the most beautiful beaches and sunsets that were so serene and the ocean water was crystal clear, I literally jumped out of a boat and started swimming in the middle of the ocean, it was so fresh. The people are so giving and happy even in conditions we might associate with being ‘poor’, yet they were the happiest, most generous people I have ever met. Spending couple months in Thailand opened up my mind and gave me a perspective on the life that I lead and forced me to live in the moment and cherish and appreciate every opportunity that is presented to me. It changed my life.
When friends come to Melbourne, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I will always take them to St Kilda to sit and enjoy the Ackand st cafes and go to St Kilda Beach to Captain Baxters to have some bevies over the ocean.
What are you currently reading?
I’m reading the Bronze Horseman. It’s a beautiful love story set in wartime Russia.
What are you currently listening to?
My iTunes Radio is set to Florence and the Machine, so everything in that style is suited to the lifestyle I’m living in Newcastle at the moment.
Happiness is?
Make the most of every opportunity and enjoy every experience without any hesitation or resilience. To be truly happy is to be 100% yourself and not care what other people have to say about it. Stand up for what you believe in, treat people the way you want to be treated and whatever you want to do make it happen because everything is achievable.
What does the future hold for you?
I will definitely be traveling the world and I wish to be touring Australia with another musical hopefully as a lead role. My dream is to perform on Broadway so hopefully it’s only a matter of time.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Karla Tonkich began dance training at age five and was accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. Karla’s ongoing professional work started at a very young age including voice-overs, TV commercials, feature films, TV shows, Carols by Candlelight and The Morning Show.
Karla made her professional musical debut at seventeen years old in the Australian tour of High School Musical Live on Stage. In 2012 Karla graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts as a Music Theatre student and immediately joined the Australian touring cast of Legally Blonde. She was then cast in Grease The Musical as Marty and understudy to Sandy. She was recently a Top 6 Finalist in the Rob Guest Endowment.
Karla is appearing in Spiegelworld’s Absinthe currently playing under the Spiegeltent on the Rooftop at Crown Melbourne. For more information, visit: absintheaustralia.com for details.
Image: Karla Tonkich – photo by James Terry Photography