Jane Larkin is an Australian actress, filmmaker and former Australian pro-elite sprint athlete. Jane is best known for her acting role in MGM‘s Thirteen Lives (2022) by Ron Howard. She is Penny in the Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe (2024). The Australian road trip mystery series Darby and Joan (2022) and NBC‘s Young Rock (2021).
Jane recently show-ran the independent feature film The Edge (2025), which she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in. Inspired by her experiences on the Australian and international athletics circuits. The film follows the lives of three (3) female athletes. The Edge was selected for the 2025 lineup at the Gold Coast Film Festival. Before its domestic release on Netflix ANZ. It has gone on to be nominated for the Septimius Awards 2025 (Best Oceanian Film; Best Asian Actress).
indieactivity: What’s your first on-screen role? What’d it teach you about acting craft or work in the industry?
Jane Larkin (JL): My first on-screen film role was in Spiderhead. We were filming during COVID, and it was surreal to see Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller on set. I was fortunate to connect with the crew and even spend time with the production office. Which showed me just how vital a great producer is and what a professional set really looks like. I was watching the director, Joseph Kosinski, block scenes so precisely. This made me realise I wanted to be on both sides of the camera. You only see me for a few seconds in the final cut, but the experience left me hungry for more.
The Official Trailer for The Edge Directed by Jane Larkin
You started out as an elite sprinter before turning to acting and filmmaking. When did you know storytelling was your path, and who do you credit with supporting you in those early years?
Jane Larkin (JL): I think I always knew storytelling was part of my life – even as an athlete. I was fascinated by the stories behind the sport. Transitioning to acting and filmmaking felt like a natural evolution. My mum always supports everything I did. I’m also lucky enough to have a beautiful partner, Brad. He is always encouraging me to pursue my dreams too. Now, we have a family. I don’t think I could do all the things I want without the love and support I have. So I’m eternally grateful.
How would you describe your acting style? Do you draw on your sporting discipline and focus in the same way you prepare for characters?
Jane Larkin (JL): I’ve trained in the Ivana Chubbuck technique, but my approach is always about preparation and flexibility. I treat acting like elite sport: I put everything into it, I train hard, prepare thoroughly, and then try and stay open to the director, to scene partners, and to where the scene might go on the day.
What kind of creativity and energy do you bring into preparing for your roles – whether it’s a Netflix drama or your own feature film?
Jane Larkin (JL): I think you owe every project your best. I like to immerse myself in the director’s previous work before stepping on set, and I read and break down the script multiple times. But I never want to be rigid as I truly believe the most magical moments often come from improvisation and spontaneity.
You’ve appeared in productions like Thirteen Lives, Spiderhead, Boy Swallows Universe, and now The Edge. How has each project shaped you as an actor and filmmaker?
Jane Larkin (JL): Every project teaches me something new. I love taking on roles that are completely different to who I am. In Boy Swallows Universe, I had fun playing a character that couldn’t be further from me – and it reminded me of the joy in stepping into another life. Each role adds another layer to my growth as an actor and storyteller, or at least that’s what I aim to do!
How do experiences differ when you’re acting in a major international production compared to working on a homegrown independent feature?
Jane Larkin (JL): I take every role seriously – big or small, international or local. A day on set is always a privilege. That said, The Edge was uniquely challenging because I was wearing so many hats at once, as an actor, writer, director, and producer. It required me to compartmentalise and perform under pressure, but my background as an athlete really prepared me for that level of discipline.
Thinking of a specific role – perhaps in Thirteen Lives or Boy Swallows Universe – how did you prepare physically and mentally for that environment and story?
Jane Larkin (JL): I was already a huge fan of Boy Swallows Universe before it became a series, so I had read the book more than once. When I auditioned, I was also reading Trent Dalton’s Love Stories, and I wanted the role so badly. For Thirteen Lives, I immersed myself in the Thai cave rescue – reading books, news reports, and firsthand accounts – so I could get to set as prepared as possible.
When you step into character, what techniques help you embody the role? Do you rely more on direction, script work, or your own lived experiences?
Jane Larkin (JL): I draw from everything: training, workshops, and lived experience. I’ve studied Chubbuck, Larry Moss, Eric Morris – the list goes on – and I try to stay open to finding whatever works. I always use my own emotions too; for example, I might not know what it’s like to be in an open relationship, but I know what betrayal feels like, so I try to embody that. In comparison, reading a script is very different to acting one out, and then I love chatting the scene through with the director to better understand what they have for the overall vision.
What are the principles you hold to on set – when balancing your dual role as actor and director in The Edge?
Jane Larkin (JL): Confidence and humility. You need a clear vision to lead, but you also have to be open to better ideas from your team. Wearing different hats taught me to see things differently: as an actor or director, you get attached to a scene, but as a producer, you have to make tough calls for the good of the film. It taught me to balance passion with pragmatism.
Share a creative choice you made during The Edge that changed a scene or brought new depth to the story?
Jane Larkin (JL): While working with Mei, I asked her about her experiences as a para-athlete, and she shared how often athletes like her are unfairly compared to able-bodied competitors. That really got to me. So, we made sure to include a scene where these girls are gossiping about Ed’s positive drug test, anand somehow it’s fallen back on Yui, perhaps even more than Ed. I really liked the fact that Yui has not made the mistake, and yet she suffers the consequences.
You’ve released The Edge on Netflix. What excites you most about this project and the conversations it’s sparking?
Jane Larkin (JL): Someone told me, “We know the challenges women and female athletes go through, but we don’t want to think about it. This film doesn’t let us forget.” That might be the best feedback I’ve ever received. I love that it’s sparking conversations around women in sport, para-athletes, First Nations athletes, mental health, and more. And Netflix provides the biggest platform possible to amplify those voices.
You’ve worked across both the Australian and US industries. How do you see them differing in opportunities, culture, and approach? Has that transition been challenging?
Jane Larkin (JL): Every set is different. US productions can feel very different to Australian ones, but both have their strengths. I try to approach every job the same: with curiosity, professionalism, and a desire to learn. I don’t really get starstruck – I just love watching talented people work, understanding different creative processes, and taking away lessons from each experience.
Let’s have your comments below or on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter
Socials
Website
IMDb
TikTok
X
Instagram
Facebook
FILMMAKER INTERVIEWS
