Celebrity Access: Danielle Catanzariti

If you haven't heard of Danielle Catanzariti yet, trust us, you soon will. She is the lead character in hot new Aussie flick, Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger, starring alongside Toni Collette and Keisha Castle-Hughes. BB meets up with her for a chat about her new-found fame

At just 15 years of age, Danielle fronted up to auditions for extras for the filming of this new movie being made in South Australia. The movie's director plucked her out from the crowd and asked her to read for the lead character, Esther. She got the part, got to work with some amazing Australian talent and is now holding court with the nation's media in a flurry of interviews to promote the film.

We meet her in a five star hotel room and to say the room engulfs her is an understatement. This cute as pie, tiny girl, all smiles and gorgeous manners, gets up to greet us and you are instantly drawn to her infectious loveliness.

There's also a remarkable likeness to her character in the film, Esther. Dressed in full '60s style skirt, cinched in at the waist with a belt and teamed with little socks and ballet flats, there's an immediate impression of a strong individual. Here's a girl who has her own way of doing things and is not afraid of doing things her own way.

This is your first feature film, tell us about the experience?
It was amazing! It has been such a journey and I've met so many incredible people. I could not have asked for anything better to happen.

Have you always wanted to act or is it something you stumbled into?
I've always wanted to act. I was the one constantly pushing my parents about acting. I was part of a local theatre group in the country town I grew up in and did that for about six years. I was involved in every single production and immersed myself totally in that world.

It was through this small community theatre group that I met my drama teacher, Wendy Danforth. She took me under her wing and taught me everything. She was the one who pushed me to move to Adelaide to follow my dream.

How did you get the lead part in a feature film?
I saw an advertisement in the paper and I went for it. The ad was for extras on the movie and I thought, "wow that would be amazing to be an extra on this film". I was there with hundreds of kids and Cathy, the director, picked me out and asked me to read the part of Esther Blueburger. I was thrilled at the chance of being an extra so you can imagine what I felt when I was asked to read for the lead!

How did you hear you got the role?
During auditions my teacher, Wendy, became very ill with cancer. I was visiting her in hospital and she was asking me if I'd heard anything, at which point I hadn't. We were 5 minutes down the road from the hospital when I got the call telling me I'd got the lead role. We turned around and went back to the hospital to tell Wendy! Sadly, Wendy passed away before I started filming but I was just so glad she got to know I had the role as she had such a big part to play in me getting here.

Do you think you share similarities with Esther?
There are some similarities. We certainly share that certain quirkiness and some aspects of personality. Like Esther, I've always been a bit different - I dress differently and say what I think. We're both definitely quirky. I wouldn't do the things that Esther did when she was 13. I can relate to what she went through and why she did what she did but that's not me.

You're referring to a specific scene in the movie that has caused a bit of discussion due to its confronting nature. Yet, that scene reflects teen pressure to fit in. What has prevented you from succumbing to peer pressure?
I'm really sure of my friends and I know I can trust them. In the movie, Esther tries so hard to impress Sunni but only realises in the end that Sunni liked her - Esther Blueburger - and not this other person Esther has become as she tries to fit in. I guess it's about being true to yourself and who you are. If you have that then there's less chance of being pressured into things.

Your first movie and you are teamed with Toni Collette and Keisha - how amazing! Tell us what that was like?
I know. Working with Toni was incredible and I couldn't have asked for a better person to share the lead with than Keisha. Keisha is amazing and we have become good friends. We went to see Toni in Little Miss Sunshine together and hung out a lot.

Toni was only on set for 5 days and she is this huge character and she really brought that to her role and her character in the film. I was really glad she was filming her parts in the first week so I was able to really watch and learn. Her larger than life portrayal was something I was able to take away as inspiration for my role.

Esther has some tough times at her private school. Can you relate to that?
I'm really lucky as I go to this fantastic small country school. Everyone gets along really well. I don't think I would find the same acceptance in a bigger school. I am really small and would imagine I could have experienced that singling out due to looking different to everyone else.

Esther looks to Sunni as her role model, who is your role model?
My drama teacher, Wendy. She had taught me so much and had such a belief in me. She was so amazing. The productions she put on in this small community were incredible - I can't explain it.

Cathy our director is another one. It's almost as if when Wendy died she passed me over to Cathy. They share so many similarities. Sometimes Cathy will say something and it is exactly what Wendy would have said. I'm very lucky to have two such incredible role models in my life so far.

What do you think is the biggest challenge for teens today?
I think technology. With MySpace, sms and everything else online, we live our lives behind our computers. You might go online at home after school and chat to friends and then at school the next day it's like you never had that correspondence. I think a lot of kids who see themselves as outsiders hide behind their computers.

Your advice to teen girls…
Be different, take risks. Who cares what other people think, just be yourself.

Now, on the first day of filming you and the other girls received a gift pack from Bellaboo. Tell us about that.
Yes, it was amazing. We got this gorgeous pack with the Bellaboo skin care. We were all so excited. I love the design, the colours - to me it's qurky, like Esther. I love using the products and even went looking for it to buy once I'd run out!

Now for the fun questions….

Fave actor: Audrey Hepburn

Fave hot guy: Hamish Blake (Hamish & Andy 2 DayFM), as I just love his humour

Fave thing to do with friends: Eat…we eat a lot and we love to eat!

Catch Esther Blueburger at the movies now! Watch out for Danielle, who is being touted as one of Australia's hottest young and upcoming actors. She is next starring alongside Natalie Imbruglia in Elise and was hand-picked by Cate Blanchett in the Sydney Theatre production of Blackbird.