One of Aotearoa and Australia’s favourite leading ladies tells me with a broad grin that acting has been her only child’s passion for some time. In 2016, the Tasmanian-based family had temporarily relocated to Queenstown and were about to return, but it was Zac’s idea for them to stay on this side of the ditch.
“It has all the beauty and benefits of Australia without the snakes,” laughs Rebecca, 57, whose son has just finished his last year at King’s High School in Dunedin.
He was keen on university and thought he might study zoology, but a boys’ lunch with his dad, Kiwi filmmaker Richard Bell, changed his mind. Rebecca was on a shoot in Australia when Zac told her husband, “I can’t study acting at university.” Richard replied, “Yes, you can!”
Rolling her eyes as she recounts the story, Rebecca mutters, “Thanks, Dad!” She knows all too well the precarious nature of acting. One minute, you’re flavour of the month and, the next, you’re cast aside. But she’s thrilled Zac is pursuing his passion. “He’s tough – that’s what I love about Zac. He has resilience that I didn’t at his age. He’s comfy in his own skin and much more secure than I was. What I’m proudest of is that we’ve been able to raise him to be secure.”
This story is from the February 2022 edition of Australian Women’s Weekly NZ.
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This story is from the February 2022 edition of Australian Women’s Weekly NZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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