Exclusive! Toni Collette on India's win at Oscars 2023: It was fantastic; we all need to be seen and understood and represented in every way

In an exclusive interview with OTTplay, the multi-award winning actress spilled some serious beans on the art of acting and how women are finally being seen and heard. Read on for more...

Toni Collette plays Margot in Prime Series The Power

Yes, she has always been the toughie we love to root for on screen (Untouchable, for instance) but when it comes to free-flowing conversations, Oscar-nominated actress Toni Collette is a fun—FUN!—girl.

In a recent (virtual) exclusive interview with OTTplay for her web series The Power (Amazon Prime Video), the The Sixth Sense actress told us how she seldom reads the source material of an adaptation she's a part of, why 'everyone' needs to be seen and understood and represented in today's world, and rued over not having watched India's Best Original Song winner at the Oscars, Naatu Naatu, yet.

Edited excerpts from our chat with the global star:

I read somewhere that you mentioned, you took on the role of mirror marble without even reading the source material. So, I wanted to know from you, what are the what are the positives of taking on a role without reading the book first? And what is the flip side to it?

TC: Well, I personally think if I focus on the scripts, then I'm really focusing on the themes and the ideas that the writers intend to explore. Sometimes, there's excessive material in a novel that can kind of muddy up the focus for me. But also, I had been told that my character wasn't similar in the novel, and it wasn't actually going to help me. And I had a very short period of time to prepare for the role. So, I kind of focused more on the material that I was working with, rather than the source material.

In my opinion, The Power highlights the place of women in politics. Do you think that slowly, but surely, women are also being heard, and they are getting their new place in politics?

TC: I think in every industry that women need to do fill up much more space. And we're coming into a time, we're definitely in a time of transition where that that is potentially going to be allowed, you know, there's going to be there are going to be more and more women taking those roles. Because we're much more aware as a society, I think so much has changed in the last very, very recent history. And we can't go backwards, we're awake to it. Now we're conscious of the fact that there needs to be inclusion. (And) there needs to be equality. And that's exactly what this show is about. And what it explores. Yeah, I hope to see I mean, a woman president United States, and I mean, you know, that's going to happen. I mean, it almost happened with Hillary and Kamala Harris almost became president, I think we're at a time where women are going to be in charge, and we're all going to be okay with it and realize, why wasn't this done sooner?

Speaking of equality, and the recently concluded Oscars, we saw that people of color were being recognized, especially the Asian community. So what do you have to say about that? The two of you

TC: Oh my god, it's storytelling! We all need to be seen and understood and represented in every way, not just storytelling, but especially, that's where we see ourselves, you know, that's what art does for us: it reflects who we are back at us and permits us to thrive. I mean, it was fantastic. It was so fantastic. I loved that film (Referring to Everything Everywhere All At Once). It was so original and so incredible.

My last question to you all so the India also had won two Oscars and the recently concluded Yes, did you all manage to watch now to not do and what did you think of it? Now original song

TC: I can't believe I haven't seen it. It's right up my alley. Next thing on top (of) my list.

Don’t you have any favorites like you mentioned you all love Bollywood. Do you have anything in mind in terms of movies or even Indian film stars?

TC: Oh my god. I do but I can't remember the titles. There was a big period action-thriller but I can’t remember the name; my son loves it too. You know, there was actually—please forgive me—but I heard that there was an Australian woman when Bollywood films were shot in black and white. No one could tell that she was white with red hair, but she was this big star in Bollywood.

TC: Do you know about her?

OTTplay: No, actually, even I don't I'm sorry.

(John Leguizamo chimes in): Maybe it was you. You have red hair? Yeah.

OTTplay: It’s fake (laughs!)

John: Maybe hers was fake, too (laughs!)

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