COVER STORY ‘Hardships in life Heart to heart teach you more than the good times, and I’ve had my fair ‘I’ve learned share of both’ to count my blessings’ Beloved soapie star PAULA DUNCAN, 62, and her daughter JESSICA ORCSIK, 31, share with Morgan Reardon the high and lows of being in the spotlight HOUSEHOLD NAME Paula shot to fame s she poses for what will be touch ups and posing for the camera, as Detective Danni Francis in Cop Shop her 50th magazine cover, it’s Paula is trying to organise a Special clear Paula Duncan was born Olympics event – to date she’s raised Ato entertain. The star, who first more than $9 million for charities and found fame with roles in Cop Shop and received an Order of Australia medal Prisoner, and later to a whole new for her contributions to entertainment generation as the face of the hilarious and the community. She’s checking off Spray n’ Wipe ads, is still unashamedly a to-do list with Jess while fielding candid. In between shots, Paula has the phone calls about a missing champagne team in fits of laughter revealing blush- order. The result is pure chaos but Paula worthy anecdotes from her illustrious loves it. “This is my roller-coaster life,” career. At one point she recalls the time she says with a smile. Playboy asked her to pose nude. “Back When we manage to grab a moment then they offered me $50,000 to take of peace with the seven-time Logie my clothes off. These days they offer me award winner she reveals that behind $150,000 to keep them on,” she laughs, the laughter and industry accolades, a cheeky glint in her eye. life hasn’t always been perfect. But her While we’re told this is actually drive to support those less fortunate, a quiet day in the Duncan household, along with the support of her daughter, to most it would look like a circus. has helped her bounce back. Alongside our five-person crew, there’s y Paula’s daughter Jessica, a couple of : You recently revealed that you’ve friends visiting from Melbourne, her had a long struggle with depression. dogs Rocky (pictured with Paula, right) What triggered such low points? and Tinker and their walker bustling Paula: I had a sequence of emotional around the house. In between make-up losses in my life, in particular 8 Turn the page COVER STORY y relationships, and each one proved : Everything? but they don’t give up. They just need to be harder to cope with. After my Jess: Everything! I’d really rather not someone to believe in them. marriage to John Orcsik sadly ended hear about her sex life but she tells me y REAL-LIFE we transformed our relationship into anyway. She says it’s payback because : Does that mean you’re done ROMANCE a true friendship. I then took the brave, I talk to her about mine. Our relationship with acting, Paula? In 1982, Paula Paula: weds her Cop enormous step to do it again [Paula shifts between mother-daughter, sisters, My charity work is my marriage Shop co-star married Steve Mason in 1999]. It felt and friends constantly. but acting is my affair. I returned to John Orcsik. safe but it wasn’t. While filming Strange[ TV with ABC’s Hiding recently and y Now divorced, Bedfellows with Michael Caton and : What’s the best advice your I loved it. People kept saying “You’re they remain mum has given you? close friends Paul Hogan] I had to read in the paper back!” – I didn’t know I’d left. that he had finally found his true love Jess: To stand up for myself. I went y – whilst still married to me! That was through a really tough time in 2013, : If you could have any role the straw that broke the camel’s back. when I lost someone very close to you wanted, what would it be? me. There was a lot of backlash in Paula: I have a concept I’d like to see y : What did you do to get through the media and I pretty much had turned into a miniseries where I’m the that dark time? a nervous breakdown. The scrutiny interfering agent of a bunch of young BABY LOVE Paula: Paula and I turned to my closest friends, was horrendous but Mum stood by girls. I’d also love to do a show again John defy among them Judy Nunn and her my side and taught me to be brave. with Judy Nunn [they worked together the odds to husband Bruce Venables. They helped on Home and Away]. welcome y me find faith in myself again and : Paula, you daughter didn’t want Jess to y: Would you Jessica on allowed me to grieve. I also had Valentine’s professional help, medical support and follow in your acting like to see more footsteps did you? TRUE roles for mature Day, 1984 was on medication for some months. CALLING Paula: No, definitely Paula’s love actresses on TV? y : What advice would you give not. It’s a very of acting is Paula: still strong to other women who are suffering? insecure industry Absolutely, Paula: Do something for someone else because you but we need so you wake up every morning with a never know someone to sense of purpose. My charity work gives if you’re up write them first. me so much joy. Find comfort in the or down and These days the things you love and surround yourself I was worried she focus is more PARTY GIRL with people who give you hope. Seek ‘Find comfort in t he things you love wouldn’t cope but about the look Kicking up professional help and always remember I underestimated her. of someone than her heels for to look at the good things in your life. and surround yo urself with people Jess: It was in my blood, the talent. In Cop Shop a good cause my DNA. I was determined and Prisoner there wasn’t one at a charity y: What are some of those good who give you hope’ event with to make this my career. member who wasn’t a trained actor, actor and things in your life? who hadn’t been to NIDA [National y author Bruce Paula: Loving Jess, my baby, all over : Jess, you also inherited Paula’s Institute of Dramatic Art] or WAAPA Venables again and watching her grow into a charitable streak? [Western Australian Academy of remarkable woman. Every night before and Away or She’s shooting a film or She’s there are still scars there, even though Jess: Definitely. I’ve been working Performing Arts]. But that doesn’t bed I acknowledge what I’ve learned filming a miniseries. I know she loves me. I just hope with Mum closely on the Nova seem to matter anymore. that day and I’m thankful for it. I leave this world finally being the Employment Focus On Ability Short y y : Paula, do you wish you could have best mother I can be. Film Festival (focusonability.com.au), : Does that mean you wear your age y : Jess, your first photo shoot was given Jess a more “normal” upbringing? which is aimed at raising awareness and experience like a badge of honour? y when you were three hours old – you Paula: I do feel a lot of guilt because : Jess, you’ve just returned home about the abilities of disabled people. Paula: Look, I’m not mad about being have truly grown up in the spotlight. I don’t think I was the best mother. after living in LA for the last nine months. I’m also working with the Special in my sixties, but what else can you MEDAL OF Jess: One of my first jobs was on the She was brought up by nannies, swapped What’s it like moving back in with Mum? Olympic Dancers. Their dream is to go do? People criticise me for talking HONOUR Jess: Former NSW show Richmond Hill. They needed schools and was bullied for having It’s so nice, I really missed her. to New York and dance at the Broadway about my age but I couldn’t care less, Governor a little boy for the show and Mum famous parents. In a lot of ways Jess People were like, “You’re living with Dance Center. They’re incredible. it’s easy enough to find out so you Marie Bashir said, “Oh, Jessica’s got really short hair. became an adult long before her time. your mum?” but we don’t have that kind Paula: I might have seven Logies might as well embrace it. Hardships awards Paula We could just chop it.” And so I of relationship where she’ll freak out but seeing the Special Olympics in life teach you more than the good an Order y: But you’re making up for that of Australia became Jesse. At school I would hand about me coming home late or bringing Dancers perform on stage, that’s just times and I’ve had my fair share of both in 1997 in notes saying, Jessica won’t be in school lost time now though? a new man over. We’re so open with irreplaceable. These are beautiful people – those are the invaluable experiences Paula: PICTURES: HAHN/BAUERSYNDICATION.COM.AU DAVID STYLING: REBECCA O’HEARN HAIR AND MAKE-UP: DEANNE DORITY for two weeks because she’s doing Home I’m trying desperately to.