Olympia Valance jumped from modelling onto the small screen making her acting debut in the long-running soap opera Neighbours as Paige Smith and later becoming one of the leading stars on Network Ten’s Australian drama television series Playing For Keeps as Tahlia Woods.
We asked her to share what she has been up to during COVID-19 isolation:
What are you reading?
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
What are you watching?
Unorthodox (Netflix) – it’s by far the best thing I’ve watched in a really long time.
What music are you listening to?
Zoe Foster Blake has created a couple of GREAT playlists on Spotify so I’ve just had these on rotation
What are you cooking?
Anything comfort food related: chicken, veggie and noodle soup, freshly baked cookies, roast lamb and veggies
How are you staying fit?
I’m trying to walk every day, but I’m also using this period of time as a moment of rest from the usual high intensity I run with in day to day life, exercise included.
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What is keeping you sane at the moment?
My partner Thomas and my friend Lauren who is isolating with us at the moment – I definitely couldn’t be doing any of this without them!
What is work like for you now?
The productions I was working on (Holey Moley and Australia’s Got Talent) have been temporarily placed on hold, so I’m really leaning into the quietness at the moment, watching lots of movies and reading books I’ve been meaning to read but never had the time for!
What’s something positive you’ve witnessed or experienced since COVID-19 entered our lives?
There are some really beautiful message of kindness in shop windows and walls all over Melbourne – you just have to be open to it and look around to see the best in what is a terrible situation. I have friends shopping for elderly members of their families so they are able to stay home, and there are a number of small charities that have popped up (such as Feed The Frontline) to help all the doctors and nurses who are risking their own health to keep us safe.
What have you learned about yourself amid the crisis?
That it’s actually really difficult to be still and go inward for long stretches of time! This has been such a lesson in slowing down, it definitely doesn’t come easily to me.
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What’s your advice for others to cope with the crisis?
Keep your communication channels open with family and friends and check in on at least one person a day. A lot of psychologists are also offering sessions via Skype and Zoom – don’t be afraid to ask for help. We’re all in this together.