Strife actor Emma Lung on starring opposite Brian Cox and Hugo Weaving

Strife actor Emma Lung on starring opposite Brian Cox and Hugo Weaving



When you act with Brian Cox [the pair co-starred in the 2012 miniseries The Straits], you are in a masterclass from beginning to end. You could tell that Brian genuinely loved the craft of acting so much, as he wanted to share that with every person on the set, especially with the younger ones. That experience with him was quite extraordinary.

The first time I met my husband, writer and director Henry Zalapa, I went weak at the knees. Nothing came of it, though, as we were both in relationships. Henry then moved to London and I moved to Los Angeles. I shared a house in Beachwood Canyon, under the Hollywood sign, with [Australian] journalist Peter Stefanovic, which was a really fun time.

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Four years later, Henry and I were both single. He had returned to Sydney and I had also returned to shoot the [2009] film Triangle. Henry’s brother, who I knew, told Henry he was going to a warehouse party. At first, Henry declined to go, stating he was tired from shooting all day, but when he heard I was going, he grabbed his jacket. That night we hung out. We didn’t even kiss. I told my mum I had met my husband. We’ve never lived without each other since: that was 17 years ago.

I play Lucy, best friend of Evelyn [Asher Keddie], in the second series of Strife. Matt Day plays Jon, Evelyn’s ex-husband. Matt is such a brilliant, funny man. His character is grounded and calm and is like a metronome, while Evelyn is offbeat and erratic.

My husband and I are like that, too – I’m off the wall. I call Henry a metronome, but there’s also a kindness to that, in terms of our shared outlook on life.

Season two of Strife is streaming now on Binge.

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