Star Power: Charlee Fraser On Reinventing Herself

Charlee Fraser and I are speaking at that time of year when people reflect on the 12 months gone by, but the model-turned-actor has always had more reason to than most. With her birthday falling on one of the very last days of the year (Christmas, in fact), she has long adopted the practice of taking time to reflect on all that she’s done and achieved – and 2023 was nothing short of remarkable. 

“I think that’s something we potentially don’t do enough of. We’re constantly living in the future, comparing ourselves to other people’s journeys and their achievements,” says Fraser, back on this side of the world after attending the premiere of her debut film, Anyone But You, in New York. 

Fraser recalls her return to Australia in 2020 after four years living in New York, when she quickly assumed the role of ambassador for First Nations Fashion and Design (FINFD), mentoring an all-Indigenous cast for the launch event, a runway showcase in Far North Queensland. 

“I’m constantly reminding myself that even without an objective towards culture, everything I do represents that,” she says. Two years after that first mentor role with FNFD – and after walking exclusively for Australian Fashion Week’s first all-Indigenous show in 2021 – Fraser was appointed to the board of directors.

“I take a lot of pride in that. I just hope whatever I’m doing; whatever I choose to do, continues to inspire everyone, and especially my culture, and just keeps paving the way.” She adds: “I think the thing for me with First Nations creativity that I would like to share with everyone is that it’s there, it exists, it’s powerful and it tells a story. And that relates to all First Nations creativity across the entire spectrum, from art to dance to fashion – everything we create is powerful and tells a story. It’s how we share a lot of our knowledge and our history and our experience. It’s how we connect to the earth, the land.” 

A listen to the Spotify playlist that she used to ground her portrayal reveals self-love anthems such as Miley Cyrus Flowers and all-out, good-vibration songs such as Beyonce’s Cuff It’ and Menna’s ‘Sex In Public’ (Fraser would listen to the playlist each time she was about to step onto the set). 

“To be truly, authentically yourself and in many moments, to have shamelessness about being yourself – I thought that was a really, really cool thing to have found with her and experience with her and then explore with her,” she says. Fraser shares that when director Will Gluck cast her, he said he was looking for people who were very much their characters, giving her cause for self-reflection. 

“I really loved my journey with Margaret – going in and finding parts of myself that are Margaret, and truly leaning into what Will said and believing him, and believing in myself that what he said is true and taking that on,” she says. “Like, he’s holding up a mirror and saying this is you and I had to believe that and accept that and be like, Okay, I am that. So what do I need to do to truly believe that about myself?”

Days before our interview, Fraser took to Instagram to post the movie trailer for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the upcoming instalment of one of the country’s most successful movie franchises. The post contained no comment about her involvement, but most tellingly, her voice narrates the introductory seconds of the clip. The film follows the journey of a young Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron in the prequel) and while details surrounding Fraser’s character cannot yet be disclosed, it’s safe to say from the dystopian nature of the series that it will be a stark departure from the relatable Margaret. So did Fraser most enjoy drawing from her own likeness? Or inhabiting a character presumably nothing like herself? 

“I actually really loved doing both. What I did find is that you kind of need to do this as an actor – well, I feel like I need to do this as an actor… She corrects herself. You need to find how you connect with every character, whether they are created and imagined or whether they are set in reality. That’s your job as an actor, to find how you connect with them. I loved the experience of both because I found that you find aspects of yourself in both.” 

As she looks ahead to the coming months and all the possibilities yet explored, Fraser is gearing up for another big year. First, all the other avenues that feed her creativity, which she intends to devote more time to in 2024: her continued involvement with FNFD as well as the Clearly Music, Art & Wellness Festival, a wellness and community-centred event that Fraser co-founded, and which held its inaugural event this past November. 

“None of those things I necessarily manifested for myself,” she says. “But I was just open and excited to get into the new year and take on whatever opportunities came through the door.” Then there is, of course, the prospect of roles yet to come. Unable to land on just one dream role, she ponders aloud the experience of playing a fantasy character, being the voice of an animated character or a Bond-type action woman. “Maybe there’s another Charlie’s Angels in there somewhere?” she says, laughing. “I’m starting now, I’m going to put it out there into the universe.” Wherever the year takes her next, we’ll certainly be watching.