Hunter Page-Lochard, star of the new dark comedy series 'Reckless', openly embraces his status as a 'nepo baby', crediting his creative family for his unconventional career path. With a father who is a renowned choreographer and artistic director, and a mother who danced with the New York Ballet, Page-Lochard was immersed in performance from a young age. 'By the time I was 10, I had probably done more shows than some drag queens,' he recalls.
His first acting role was a cameo on 'Water Rats' at age five, facilitated by his father. Since then, Page-Lochard has built an impressive career, with feature films including 'Bran Nue Dae', 'The Sapphires', 'Spear', and 'Kid Snow', and TV credits such as 'Barons', 'Critical Incident', and 'The Newsreader', for which he won an AACTA award.
In 'Reckless', shot in Fremantle and co-starring Tasma Walton, Page-Lochard plays Charlie, a loyal man whose life unravels after covering up a hit-and-run with his sister. The series is an adaptation of the Scottish thriller 'Guilt' and is described as having an 'unapologetically West Australian' feel. Page-Lochard praises the script by Kodie Bedford and Stuart Page, noting it offers a fresh lens on Aboriginal stories by showcasing urban Indigenous characters.
'I think what's really important is showcasing urban Indigenous people,' he says. 'In the Australian film and television industry we tend to only have a lens for the rural Aboriginal person. But having them in Freo, being in a law firm and owning a record store and actually being quite assertive and in control of their urban life is really, really cool.'
Beyond acting, Page-Lochard co-founded production company Djali House with his father in 2020 and has a film in development. Now a husband and father of two, he reflects on how his definition of success has evolved from industry recognition to creative freedom and the ability to mentor the next generation, following in the footsteps of actors like Aaron Pedersen and Deborah Mailman.
