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Nicole da Silva is sharing her time between TV and the stage. Picture: Manuela Cifra Source: Herald Sun

Slipping from cop to con artist

And on stage as Marilyn, she's required to make some athletic moves that might even impress Sen-Constable Stella.

"Doing this, doing any role, you need to be at the top of your game mentally and physically," she says.

Boxing and meditation played a part in her preparation for A Behanding in Spokane, "but, really, any exercise allows creative outlets to open up. It gets you into your body so you can just allow it to happen".

Da Silva has no showbiz genes to speak of, but since graduating from Theatre Nepean in 2003 the work has kept coming, with continuing roles in All Saints and East West 101, a part in Joel Edgerton's The List (2007) and theatre credits ranging from Paris in Hell (about Paris Hilton) to The Hayloft Project's B.C. in 2009.

"Coming out of drama school, I knew I was going to definitely keep trying," she says.

"When you 'have it' within you, you're compelled to do it. You have no choice in the matter."

Asked to name some heroes, Da Silva nominates Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett and Jacki Weaver (nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar this year).

"I'm so thrilled for Jacki. She's nutted out an amazing Australian career and finally she's got this (international) recognition. I have every finger crossed that she wins," she says.

Da Silva's game plan is to "keep creatively buoyant" and "go where the interesting roles are".

"I want to stay in Australia, but if there are dry patches — and inevitably there will be — maybe America. Why not?"

In the meantime, another series of Rush is in the offing. Da Silva relishes playing Stella — "she's definitely naughtier than me" — and knowing now what real-life officers go through, there's no way she would trade jobs.

"Could I be a policewoman? Probably not. I'm quite happy with my job. I get to do it all. I might be a lawyer next, or a doctor. You get to explore all the facets of other people's lives," she says.

A Behanding in Spokane is at the MTC Sumner Theatre until March 19.

By Simon Plant
February 19, 2011
Herald Sun