Who is Amanda King?
I’m Amanda, I work as an actor and creative in Melbourne but I grew up in Sydney. I was the actor in a family of scientists, but I don’t think those two professions are mutually opposed. I grew up listening to science talk at the dinner table, so I probably have more of a scientific lens to the world than most haha.
On the other hand, our family social time was always watching movies or tv shows after dinner, having an intermission for cups of tea and dissecting it the next morning. That’s probably where my love of acting came from. I started going to the theatre and there was no turning back haha. Even now my downtime is consuming stories anywhere I can find them and creating my own.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
They say that those who can’t do, teach. But I disagree. I have a great passion for knowledge and an even greater passion for passing it on. It’s unfortunate that our educational system isn’t properly set up to support our teachers because they are the ones shaping future generations, and in my eyes there’s nothing more heart-warming than to see someone catch spark with the same passion you have.
Who inspires you and why?
I’m a big fan of Bryan Cranston, I read his memoir a number of years back and found his approach to life and acting a game changer for me. These days when I’m trying to secure an acting job I ask myself, “What would Bryan Cranston do?”
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
For many people, making a difference in the world isn’t about one big moment like some Brad Pitt movie, it’s about what you do on a daily basis. If I think about the little things I can do to make the world a slightly better place for even one person, it’s telling stories and listening to the stories of others.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
A little house in Bawley Point on the south coast of NSW. My grandma built a bungalow there in the 70s, almost right on the beach. I spent a lot of time there with my family growing up and it has a rich history of friends and family coming together since before I was born. Even though Bawley Point has become a pretty popular place now, it’s still my quiet little slice of paradise.
When friends come to town, what attractions would you take them to, and why?
Savers haha, my friends from Sydney hear me talk about it often enough that we usually end up going. I treat Savers the same way my Dad treats fishing; you may get nothing, or you may get a whole lot but it’s the doing that makes it so therapeutic. You want to know where the best fish are? Footscray Savers!
What are you currently reading?
Shogun! It’s a great read but I’m the type to read in small bites so it’s been a companion on my bedside table for the better part of a year.
What are you currently listening to?
The BBC Robin Hood audiobook on Spotify, narrated by Richard Armitage. I was obsessed with the tv show it’s based off when I was a little girl, my family and I would watch it every week and I had a huge crush on Robin Hood (played by Jonas Armstrong). I had a magazine cut out of Robin and as soon as the opening titles would play, I would wave it in the air and sing the whole opening haha. It’s definitely a nostalgia trip.
Happiness is?
For me, a boundless collection of everyday moments. Today it’s the way the sunlight is shining onto my herb garden.
What does the future hold for you?
I want to explore other forms of art a bit more deeply. Photography has been a long-time hobby but now I want to see how I can marry that to my acting as a form of expression. I’m also starting to write which is a bit daunting but baby steps, right?
Amanda stars in Jaimee Doyle’s Fruitcake – currently playing at The Motley Bauhaus, as part of the Melbourne Fringe, until 6 October 2024. For more information, visit: www.melbournefringe.com.au for details.
Image: Amanda King (supplied)