Folks We Love with Tammin Sursok, actress/producer/director/writer/singer
Photos by Sarah Keayes/The Photo Pitch
Tell us a little bit about your journey and how you’ve come to arrive here.
So, I’m 34. I’m an actress and producer. Some of the shows I’ve been on include Home and Away, Hannah Montana, The Young and the Restless and Pretty Little Liars. I’m married to my wonderful hubby Sean. We’ve been together for over 10 years which is like 55 years in Hollywood terms! We’re parents to our gorgeous daughter Phoenix who’s four and live in a beautiful art-deco home in LA’s Hollywood Hills area.
I’m a big believer in kids getting a good education and developing solid skills which lead me to my latest venture ““ as ambassador for educational online reading program ABC Reading Eggs Junior aimed at kids aged two to four. Developing good reading skills is something I’m passionate about.
Who’s in your family?
My husband Sean is 42 and our daughter Phoenix is four.
How did you choose Phoenix’s name?
At first I was going to call her after an artist. However, when she arrived she was about 4.5kg (9.9 lbs). I then saw a picture of a little girl with wings, so I decided to name her Phoenix – like a mighty phoenix rising!
Location?
Los Angeles.
Occupation?
Actress, producer, blogger and kids clothing entrepreneur
Tell me about your amazing collaboration with ABC Reading Eggs Junior, and how Phoenix is finding it?
When I first heard about ABC Reading Eggs Junior I really wanted to be involved because I think education is so important from a very young age, especially when it comes to reading. I wanted to make sure that reading was also fun and exciting, so Reading Eggs Junior was the perfect fit for Phoenix as it’s specifically for kids aged two to four. She just loves the animations, games and electronic books. She’s learning so much and it’s really helped spark her interest even more in books. Her favourites are The Giving Tree, The Cat and the Caterpillar and The Airport Book. I don’t allow screen time during the week so she uses the app on the weekend.
What’s on your manifest board?
Happiness, travel, more kids, a house in Australia and a villa in Europe one day.
Tell us some of your most loved ways to spend the day with your clan?
Normally I like to go to the beach – I like to be around the water. In LA there are beaches, but I find the water is often so cold that it’s not so nice to swim in!
What are the memorable things that Phoenix says?
The other day she said, “Mum why did you choose me?” That made me want to cry!
When you were a teenager what did you dream of? Do things look different?
I dreamed of the life I now have. I also wished I’d known from a young age that being an actress is not glamourous. When you’re older you realise just how much hard work it is.
What are some things you really believe in?
Happiness, freedom, gratitude, and giving back.
Has your relationship with your other half changed since having kids?
We are definitely more of a team now. When you’re parents there’s more chance of fighting, being irritated or exhausted, but we always work it out.
What are some of your favorite life lessons you’ve grown to love? (even if learning them at the time was hard)?
Always be the humble beginner in the room, even if you’re not. Gratitude will be one of the biggest life lessons of all. Always ask questions. Listen more than you talk. Happiness is not a destination, it’s a journey you experience. Giving rather than receiving will reward you more.
What do you wish you could’ve told yourself when you were a teenager?
That it’s all going to be okay. It always works out.
What do you find most challenging about being somebody’s parent?
The juggle of motherhood and work. My mantra for myself and other mothers is – you can have it all, you just can’t have it all at the same time. The minute I accepted that my whole life changed. I spent a lot of time in the beginning as a new mum feeling so guilty that I would leave Phoenix to work … and then feeling equally guilty that I wanted to work when Phoenix was around. You just have to be present in the moment and be grateful and not expect everything to be perfect all at once.
What do you want Phoenix to learn about the world?
I want Phoenix to feel like she has her own voice and to be an individual. I want her to know that she can fight for whatever she wants and that there’s no dream she can’t achieve. I also want her to know that being a woman is really powerful and it’s up to her to make her own destiny.
What are three things you can’t live without as a parent?
Phoenix’s toys to amuse her, knowing where the closest pizzeria is and a sense of humour.
Tammin is an Emmy nominated, Logie Award-winning actress, producer, director, writer, entrepreneur and platinum selling recording star (Sony/BMG). She has graced the covers of over 150 magazines worldwide and continues to generate international press with every step of her career.
Tammin has been seen globally as the face of Pepsi and the face of L’Oreal’s luxury skincare brand, Biotherm. Over Tammin’s career, she has won such accolades as: Australia’s Sexiest Woman (FHM Magazine), awarded the Centenary Medal by the Governor General of Australia for Service to Australian Society and Acting and was nominated for the Australian’s Of The Year Award for Excellence And Service By Australians In All Fields Of Endeavor.
Recently Tammin was nominated for Best Lead Actress in a feature by the prestigious New York International Film Festival.Ӭ
Tammin is also known for her role as Miley Cyrus’ nemesis on Disney’s Hannah Montana, (one of the most successful television programs of all time) and can be currently seen on the Freeform primetime show Pretty Little Liars as lead, visually impaired character Jenna Marshall the wildly popular villainess on the number one cable scripted television program for females 18 ““ 34.
Her producing writing and directing credits include the scripted comedic TV series, Aussie Girl (Astronauts Wanted/SONY) and the award-winning LA International Short Film Festival entry, Steve’s Big Date.
She is also producing original content for her own channel with Awesomeness/Awestruck (DreamWorks and Hearst Publishing) which brings a built-in audience of 1.2 Billion Views / 3.6million subscribers (and growing!), including her original celebrity interview series, In Bed With Tammin.
Her recently launched blog site, Bottle & Heels is a sophisticated look into the world of motherhood, fashion, boutique brands, kids fashion, beauty, travel with original written and video content.