Lilliana Bowrey could be forgiven for feeling like a fish out of water amid a sea of Australia’s television industry “whales” and celebrities at the 2023 Logie Awards this month.
Two years ago, the then 16-year-old hadn’t even contemplated an acting career and had no experience or drama lessons to tap into.
As one of the nation’s hottest young surfing talents, she was completely focused on one day making the World Surf League (WSL) professional tour.
But the born-and-bred Tewantin surfer is now also “riding the lip” of small-screen success following her role in the Netflix teen series Surviving Summer.
That’s led to her nomination for the Graham Kennedy Most Popular New Talent Award.
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Surviving Summer also has been nominated for the Most Outstanding Children’s Program in Australian television’s most prestigious and hotly contested annual awards.
The Australian original series had its global premiere on June 2 last year, telling the story of rebellious New York teen and skateboard enthusiast Summer Torres (Sky Katz, from the Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home), who is expelled from two elite private schools and exiled to Victoria, to stay with the family of an old friend of her mother. She then proceeds to make waves among a young competitive surfer’s inner circle, leaving havoc in her wake.
Filming took place on location along Victoria’s Surf Coast, in areas including Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Lorne and Bells Beach, with one production unit shooting the drama and a separate one capturing the surfing footage.
Lilliana, now 18, has proven to be a natural in the role of determined surfer Poppy (‘Pops’) Tetanui in the 10-part series that finished filming a second season in April.
Not only is she able to show off her surfing prowess right from Episode 2, Lilliana’s age and life experience also bring authenticity and vulnerability to the character.
“That’s me: I’m Poppy. Poppy’s me,” the five-time Queensland junior surfing titleholder and 2022 open women’s state champion told Sunshine Coast News this week.
“It definitely felt very natural. I feel like I didn’t really have to act much on the surfing side.”
Lilliana – a Billabong-sponsored surfer, ranked No.30 in the WSL Women’s Qualifying Series (QS) this season – has had to juggle the exhausting demands of both production units, doing surfing stunts and having her own plotlines within the script.
She is now taking acting lessons and learning as much as she can on set about how to truly inhabit her character.
“There’s just so much depth to it,” she said.
“It’s challenging trying to be in the right state of mind. But at the same time, the surf also balances that out – being in the ocean.
“As an athlete, I’ve always loved a great challenge. So, I’m going to push myself a bit more to chase more acting gigs.
“I’m definitely going to give surfing a go – that’s been my first dream. I didn’t ever dream of anything else.
“I never really wished to chase acting but I think I’m going to see how I go with chasing both.
“And whatever works out will work out.”
The former Sunshine Beach primary and high school student told her 112,000 followers in her latest Instagram post on July 17: “I still cannot believe I’m going to the Logie awards, let alone being nominated for the Graham Kennedy most popular new talent award.
“The thought of going up against these nominees, or even working in this industry, never crossed my mind. But here we are …
“It just proves that no matter where you come from, how popular or small you are, or if you have other goals in life and opportunities come your way, Frkn take them!! Life is short. Be spontaneous. Anything is possible!
“Thank you (series creator) @joannamwerner for this incredible opportunity you gave me and for seeing potential in me. It’s so great to see Surviving Summer also nominated for most outstanding children’s program! Double wammy.
“Also a huge huge thank you to everyone who has already taken their time out of their day to vote. I’m so grateful for all the support. If you haven’t already there’s still time! Head to my Bio or tvweeklogies.com.au. Let’s go win this thing!!”
Within 24 hours, her post had garnered 11,300 likes on the social media platform.
Her co-stars are equally stoked for Lilliana.
Kai Lewins (who plays Ari Gibson) commented: “Killing the game pops.”
Sky Katz added: “Woooo (heart emogi).”
And Savannah La Rain (Bodhi Mercer): “Cant wait lil!!! gonna be such a fun night (two heart emogis).”
On July 30, she will be up against an impressive lineup of fellow nominees that includes Amy Shark, a judge on the Seven Network’s Australian Idol; Ayesha Madon and Chloe Hayden, from Netflix’s Heartbreak High; Flex Mami, from the Nine Network’s Love Island Australia; and Kween Kong, from Stan’s RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I was going to be on a Netflix series, that I would be a main character, and then get nominated for a Logie and, hopefully, I’ll be able to say winning a Logie,” Lilliana told Sunshine Coast News.
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“I didn’t even want to audition for this Netflix series but my parents were like, ‘You know, take every opportunity you get’.
“And I’ve definitely learnt that. Shout out to Mum and Dad for pushing me.”
Lilliana was in Indonesia, taking part in a QS event, when she heard the news of her Logie nomination and phoned her proud mum Alisa, who is also her manager.
Alisa describes her daughter as “beautiful inside and out”, friendly by nature and an inspiration to her fan base that stretches around the globe.
“Lil would get messages from people who lived in the desert in the United States and they’d say, ‘I’ve never seen the beach before but you’ve inspired me to want to learn to surf’,” she said.
Of course, Alisa has watched the series a few times and her favourite episodes are the ones heavily focused on Poppy.
But Episode 3 never fails to give her goosebumps when Poppy bluntly replies to Summer’s interrogation about her parents: “Dad’s away. Mum’s dead.”
“I’ll still watch it now … and when Poppy talks about her mum, I don’t know whether it is because I am her mum, but you can feel her energy and her emotions,” Alisa said.
“Even though it was something so little, you can just feel the rawness from her and it always makes me cry.
“She’s mostly away travelling for surfing and then the acting (four months), and in between she’s still auditioning for other roles.
“I manage her at the moment. She’s got her acting and sports agent but I keep her on schedule. It has just been so full-on and so intense, and it feels like everything is happening so fast and you’re trying to keep up with all the opportunities.
“That’s why it’s really important to just make sure she’s still having fun because she’s still only young, keeping close to home and being grounded.”
With only one ticket for Australian television’s “night of nights”, Alisa will be Lilliana’s red carpet guest. But Mum plans to head back to their hotel, order room service and settle in for the TV coverage.
The planning for Lilliana’s all-important outfit starts next week with her dress fitting.
“I feel really excited and overwhelmed, to be honest,” Lilliana said.
“I don’t know really what to expect. I’ve never really watched the Logies myself.
“I have a great team behind me. I’ve got a stylist and a whole hair and makeup team.
“I do want something that stands out and is eye-catching and awesome.
“There’s nothing in particular I have in mind. I’m very open minded. This is my first and hopefully not last Logie Awards.”
The 2023 Logie Awards will be held on Sunday, July 30, in Sydney and will be broadcast on Channel 7 and 7plus from 7pm.
Vote at the official website.
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