Colin From Accounts favourite Helen Thomson reveals the career pivot she made that scored her an Oscars invitation
Veteran Australian actress Helen Thomson on Thursday told how her breakout role in a Hollywood film earned her an invite to the 2023 Oscars.
The Colin From Accounts star, who has appeared in many Australian productions since 1990 including Home and Away and Blue Heelers, played Elvis’ mother in the 2022 Baz Luhrmann film of the same name.
She said news.com.au she had an incredible ‘career pivot’ after an acclaimed American actress pulled out of the Queensland-filmed production due to Covid restrictions.
“Covid happened and everything was reset, and then Maggie Gyllenhaal couldn’t do it. So Baz had to turn around,” she began.
“I had auditioned the first time and I think he went back to the auditions which he really liked… I got the job.”
Veteran Australian actress Helen Thomson (pictured) told on Thursday how her breakout role in a Hollywood film earned her an invite to the 2023 Oscars
Thomson said scoring such a high-profile role in a huge Hollywood production – playing the mother of Austin Butler’s character – opened a lot of doors for her.
‘It was a special experience. Last year I got to go to the Oscars. We were in the running for Best Picture, and that was just amazing.”
Thomson attended the Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles last year on March 12, together with other Elvis stars. However, the film lost the Best Picture award to Everything Everywhere All at Once.
The Colin From Accounts star, who has appeared in many Australian productions since 1990 including Home and Away and Blue Heelers, played Elvis’ mother in the 2022 Baz Luhrmann film of the same name. (Pictured with actor Austin Butler)
Helen currently plays Lynelle, the mother of lead actress Harriet Dyer, in the hit Binge comedy series Colin From Accounts.
Last month, Binge dropped the trailer for the second season of the hilarious Australian comedy Colin From Accounts, starring Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, which premiered on May 30.
The new season continues to follow the misadventures of characters Gordon and Ashley as they navigate life and love in modern Sydney.
Helen currently plays leading actress Harriet Dyer’s mother, Lynelle, in the hit Binge comedy series Colin From Accounts (right)
The new cast, including comedian Celeste Barber, joins returning members Tai Hara, Helen Thomson, Emma Harvie, Genevieve Hegney, Darren Gilshenan, Annie Maynar and Michael Logo.
Season one of Colin From Accounts spans eight episodes and explores the lives of Ashley and Gordon, two complex individuals brought together by a fateful car accident and an injured dog.
After season one, Brammall and Dyer took home an AACTA Award for Best Narrative Comedy Series and two Logies for Most Outstanding Actor and Most Outstanding Actress.