Conversing with Indian-Australian model Julia Datt is like watching a Woody Allen movie: unusual, exotic, wickedly intelligent and has you yearning for more. From scorching the beaches of Sydney to sashaying down ramps across India and a display of histrionics through theatre, Julia’s persona screams eclectic from the rooftops.
We catch up with the bikini beach babe who has worked with designers like Salvatore Ferragamo, Lina Tipnis etc and been a part of the Kingfisher Calendar Girl Hunt and Next Door Diva recently, about her career’s steady upward rise.
Life before modelling:
My parents moved to Melbourne 42 years ago; we are one of the oldest Indian families to settle in Melbourne. After working in theatre, television and short films, notably the internationally award-nominated web-series Looking at You, I moved to Sydney to be a fashion and beauty journalist. I also trained at the NIDA drama school.
Being an Indian-Australian in the glam world:
Fashion-wise, I have an advantage because of western looks that can be tailored very quickly for Indian movied by applying a bindi and kajal. I relished the challenge of training myself for the Indian movie industry and wanted my USP to be that I am a trained foreign actress who is proficient in the national language. I kept a relatively low profile while studying, learning as much as I can. Now I'm ready to dive into films.
Theatre love:
Theatre and live performances have been a way of life for me. The simple joys that come with being someone you're not, learning to speak in different accents, walking with a different gait, crying on demand — all of these captivate me. The child in me still feels nervous by the high exposure which comes with this glam job. Even after all these years, acting is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s a lifelong learning experience.
Kingfisher Calendar Girl Hunt:
Kingfisher was an incredibly exhausting and rewarding experience — in addition to modelling for every situation, I learned patience, tolerance, how to perform when the body is not in peak condition, how to diplomatically answer ‘loaded’ questions on the spot. Milind Soman and Ujjwala Raut were fantastic mentors. We’d shoot anywhere from 22-26 hours straight with just a few hours of sleep, shower and eating time in between.
Fitness regime:
Being a former professional beauty nut, I am fanatical about taking care of my skin and body. I’m crazy about food but try to eat as healthily as I can- lots of grilled protein and vegetables, carbs in the morning only. Exercise-wise, I do stretching, light yoga, kickboxing and dancing. I take fish oil capsules daily and use rosehip oil on my skin - it’s more hydrating than moisturiser.
A bit about me:
I swing from being a reclusive hermit to a very social being, like a typical Piscean. I like a lot of outdoor activities: jet-skiing, fishing, etc. I’m obsessed with fashion and style —- all inspired by Gossip Girl! In the future, I’d love to do roles where the female has an element of depth and complication to her- even attempt to play a guy later in my career, just like Hilary Swank in the Hollywood flick, Boys Don’t Cry. That would be the ultimate challenge!