Zoe Terakes (/təˈrækɪs/[1]) is an Australian actor. They are known for playing Reb Keane in the series Wentworth (2020–2021) and Hayley in the horror film Talk to Me (2022).
Early life and education
Terakes attended SCEGGS Darlinghurst for high school.[citation needed] Terakes had not considered acting as a career, until their[a] grade 11 drama teacher recommended visiting an agent who ended up securing their work.[3] They completed their HSC whilst appearing on stage in A View from the Bridge, a theatre production in Sydney from director Iain Sinclair.[4][5]
Career
Their work on A View from the Bridge led them to receive Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production, and as joint winner, the Best Newcomer Award.[6] The production also scored Terakes a Helpmann Award nomination.[7][8]
Other theatre credits of Terakes include Metamorphoses and The Wolves for The Old Fitz and Henrik Ibsen's theatre production of A Doll's House Part 2 at the Melbourne Theatre Company.[10][6]
Terakes played Reb Keane, a trans man, in season eight of Australian TV series Wentworth, the critically acclaimed reboot of Prisoner: Cell Block H. About the experience of obtaining the role, Terakes stated: "I really fought for it. I emailed the producers to let them know how important it was to have a trans person telling this story. It was also terrifying, because suddenly I had the role and I felt the weight of the trans community on my shoulders. I didn't want to get it wrong."[11] Their character, Reb, was a trans man (assigned female at birth) and was terrified of being sentenced to prison after a robbery goes wrong.[9][10]
In 2022, Terakes joined the cast of the Marvel project Ironheart.[15]
In 2023, Terakes appeared in Australian horror film Talk To Me and appeared in 2 episodes of Creamerie.[16] While Talk to Me garnered success during its release, it was banned in Kuwait, reportedly for Terakes' appearance in the film.[17][18] Terakes expressed their disappointment about the news on social media.[18] On 9 August, the Kuwaiti authority formally announced the ban of Talk to Me, claiming that it was to protect "public ethics and social traditions".[19]
In 2023, Terakes was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Talk To Me[20] and took out GQ's Actor of the Year Award.[21] On 19 August 2024, Terakes was named as part of the cast for the Australian version of The Office.[22]
In November 2020, Terakes signed a petition criticizing the lack of LGBTQ representation in the Australian production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and expressing "disappointment" over the casting of actor Hugh Sheridan in the lead role of Hedwig, whom many believe to be a transgender character.[26][27] They, along with David Campbell, Michaela Banas, and others, shared an open letter on Instagram addressed to the Sydney Festival, explaining why trans representation is vital when telling the story of a trans character.[27][26] The Australian producers, Showtune Productions, cancelled the show.[28] Sheridan later came out as non-binary in an Instagram post on 26 June 2021,[29] and also bisexual,[30] speaking of the hurt and serious mental health issues that arose from the cyberbullying around this incident.