Chat Ed : Welcome Claudia!
Claudia Karvan : Hello, welcome to the chat. I'm here in Syndey and it's 9am.
nick : where does your last name originate from Claudia?
Claudia Karvan : Ohh that's an interesting question, my step father is greek and his original name Karvaniardos and when his family came out to Australia the imigrants were given a really hard time so they changed their names to disguise their origins. But my real father is English, so different name, but I ended up with Karvan.
Ryan : great show claudia
hellchild : Claudia,how did u get the part for Secret Life Of Us?
Claudia Karvan : Thanks a lot Ryan, I'm glad you like the show.
stevie baybee : we all LOVE the show!
Claudia Karvan : Hellchild, I got given the script for the tele-movie, the first 2 episodes and was offered the part and lept at the opportunity as I had never read such good scripts in Australia before.
WeeWeeWee : We just saw the episode with the dinenr where you are telling each other defining moments in life... did you haVe a real life defining moment?
Claudia Karvan : Oh, erm ... I can't think of a one-off moment. But a life-defining influence has been Yoga. I do like slipping into a bit of lotus every now and again.
bradley : Did you think if someone did to you what Alex did to Gabby, you could ever forgive them?
Sallyfrom Home And A : DO you think it's realistic that your character and Gabby (sp?) would remain friends after such a betrayal?
Claudia Karvan : Bradley, I suppose the only circumstance I'd forgive a girlfriend for doing that is if I loved her more than I did the boyfriend and if it made me realise that there were a lot more problems in the relationship. I don't know how realistic it is Sally, we rationalised it by thinking that Alex was in so much pain from gabby's action, that she has punished herself enough. There was that one bit at the pool where she says 'I loved Jason, but I really loved you.'
Maybe she's secretly in love with Alex!
Claudia Karvan laughs
TheMightyRechecki : You and Gab have the most convincing on-screen girl-girl friendship I have ever seen. Are you lucky enough to have a girlfriend who is as close to you in real life?
Claudia Karvan : Absolutely, I've got 2 of the most beautiful girlfriends anyone could ever wish for. I've known them both for about 10 or 12 years. One is about 8 yrs older than me and the other is the same age as me.
marco : Claudia, you're an excellent actress (and so gorgeous !) Why can't we see more of you in Europe ? Are you planning to work more in the States or Europe in the future ? It's just a shame not to mention unfair that we have so few chances to see your work out of Australia !
Claudia Karvan : Ah, thanks marco. I do have a Visa to work in England and I would love to do so. A lot of the films I do in Australia just don't get released in Europe or America. I do have one scene in Star Wars though, the one that's coming up, Episode 2. Blink and you'll miss me though!
Aussie : Kewl what do you play as in star wars?
Claudia Karvan : Natalie Portman's older sister.
Srag : Perfect!
Johnny Wedge : Claudia...Who's idea was it to make the Secret Life more surreal after the fourth episode?
Claudia Karvan : I don't really know what you mean by surreal. Each director had a lot of creative freedom. No-one played a fish. How many surrealists does it take to change a lightbulb..?
Claudia Karvan : Answer: A fish.
Johnny Wedge : Sorry, by surreal I take the Football Characters as an example...Pure Genius...
Claudia Karvan : Ah yeah that's right. That was the individual director's idea. Each director was given as much encouragement to bring their own personal vision to the episodes and Stuart MacDonald maximised this opportunity.
chris : could you be the most wonderous woman in the world?
Claudia Karvan laughs
Claudia Karvan : Probably not! But thanks for asking.
paul_P : if you could change one thing about the series what would it be?
Claudia Karvan : That's an interesting question... Let me think.
Claudia Karvan : Maybe I'd ask them to stretch out the distance between Gabby and Alex for longer and to make that reunion a bit more difficult.
Angelus : Do you think the series is anything like real life in Australia?
Claudia Karvan : Well obviously with a bit of creative licence, but yes, that's the reason I was attracted to the series, because there were so many little truthful moments, and so much honesty between the characters.
Max : Does alot of your real character go into Alex ?
Claudia Karvan : I thought while I was playing Alex that I was maybe playing myself a bit. But when I watch the series back she is a hell of a lot more neurotic than I am and anally retentive and perhaps bossy, but I still really like her for these traits. You can't help living with a character for 6 months and subconsciously allowing yourself to influence that character.
Ross2 : Claudia, who would you like to play you, if your life was a film??
Claudia Karvan laughs, oh god! I'd probably ban such a film from being released (it'd all be lies!) I love Lili Taylor though. But she might be a bit intense to play me.
Jasmine : I really love can't wait to see the forethcoming storyline btwn Gabby and her new bloke, as i can identify with losing the love of my life... so can't wait to see if she can be happy with another!! Will I be disappointed??
Claudia Karvan : You might be. But I think generally the show has a feeling of optimism so I don't think you'll be too devastated. I think the strongest relationship that Gab continues to have is her one with Alex. The breakdown of her relationship with Jason does continue to be analysed throughout the whole series. But she gets some good loving on the way.
AJAY : Does that mean there's a lesbian scene coming up??
Claudia Karvan chuckles
Claudia Karvan : There is.
Sam : wahey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Claudia Karvan : But I'm not saying who it involves and it's not that salacious, so don't get too excited!
choco : oh my god, i'm sooo happy, how long do we have to wait?!!!
Tom Tom : Alex chose the hunky but unfaithful lawyer over the not so hky but safe doctor...who would Claudia choose? :)
Claudia Karvan laughs at choco
Claudia Karvan : I can't remember choco, maybe around ep 16. Tom Tom, I would choose Evan, my flatmate that I live with who is my best friend.
dude : ahhhhhhhhhhh sweet!!!!!!! so glad to hear that!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oliver : It looks like there's a lot of chemistry within the cast - did you know each other before you started filming?
Claudia Karvan : I knew Joel, who plays Will, quite well. And I'd met Deborah a few times and adored her. But the fact that the rest of us enjoy going out regularly, having a meal or just getting pissed, is incredibly lucky. Often the chemistry within a cast isn't fantastic and it can make a job that much harder to do. But fortunately with this we all genuinely really like each other and enjoy hanging out together.
Susie : What have you done since filming the series? Are you going to be doing another one?
number1fan : please say there will be another series!!!
Claudia Karvan : We've all got our fingers crossed for series 2 to be given the greenlight. I've been doing bugger all since we finished filming 6 weeks ago. I've been spending time in the Bush and catching up with friends back in Sydney.
And I completed a thousand piece puzzle. That was my way of winding down.
_matt : has the series been as big in Australia as it has been over here in the UK?
david williams : is it as popular there as it is here?
Claudia Karvan : How big has it been in England? I don't really know. Here we're only up to ep 4 and it's had very good reviews. We've had a good time slot but tough competition from the other networks. But a lot of people stop me in the street and say 'Love the show' and that's always a real thrill.
Rachel_B_80 : If you weren't an actress what would you be?
Claudia Karvan : A dead beat. Completely lost and confused. I've been acting since I was 8 yrs old, I don't know if I have any other use, Rachel.
dutchbint : what are you going to do after you finish this chat? how are you going to spend your day?
Claudia Karvan : I'm going to a Yoga class. Gonna wriggle into Turtle pose. And I'm doing another interview for England later on tonight. Painting my flat too. And I might pick up my guitar and bash out a terrible tune.
hel1 : give us some gossip about future plot lines
Claudia Karvan : Keep an eye on Evan my flatmate. Not that you probably haven't been already! And expect a big turning point in Will's life around episode 18.
Chat Ed : That's it! Thanks for coming Claudia, that was fantastic. And thanks for all your questions, folks! Hope you all enjoyed it. Apologies to those of you who didn't get a question asked, but unfortunately in our half hour we just don't have time to do 'em all... there were over 600 questions, so well done to those who did!
david williams : THANKS CLAUDIA, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL!
Johnny Wedge : Thanks Claudia...Thaks Ed....
Sams back : PROPER CHANNEL 4 STUFF
Claudia Karvan : Thank you very, very much for supporting the show, it means a lot to the whole cast that the show is finding success overseas.
EOIN IN IRELAND : I LOVE YOU CLAUDIA
AJAY : Cheers Claudia! Cheers Ed!
Claudia Karvan : And I hope you all really enjoy the next 13 episodes.
FlamingRed : bye Claudia, thanks for chatting
Claudia Karvan : Hope to see you in the 2nd series!
Claudia Karvan leaves the room
