The Last Word Julia Zemiro
She has fronted everything from Eurovision and RocKwiz to New Year’s Eve and Home Delivery , and now the 56-year-old Logie-nominated Fisk actress is wandering back
to her hosting roots in new TV series Great Australian Walks . Words CAMILLE HOWARD Photography CLAUDIO RASCHELLA
Hosting, acting, writing, comedy – what’s your favourite? I’m going to say hosting.
Five words your loved ones would use to describe you? Generous, patient, funny, talkative, loud!
What inspired your new series? The production company reached out and said, “We have this idea about walking, do you like walking?” I didn’t drive until I was 35 years of age, so walking is absolutely in my wheelhouse. Favourite walking guest? One of my absolute favourites is [surfer] Pauline Menczer. She’s an absolute card. She’s 53 now, and we met her at the Byron Bay walk. She was World Champ in 1993, did it on the smell of an oily rag – the trophy they gave her was broken, she didn’t get any prize money. Your most memorable walk? For pure spectacularness, Bondi to Coogee [in Sydney]. I found the Canberra walk really great – it was like this perfect urban walk. The one that spoke to me the most was the Melbourne walk, the Main Yarra Trail. It’s this amazing walk all along the Yarra River that starts in the CBD. And so many people used that walk during lockdown. What are three things you can’t live without? My contact lenses, walking – I have to go at least once a day or I go insane – and my partner.
What is your biggest pet peeve? Entitlement. And I can’t stand the way our elderly are treated, like they’re babies. That condescending tone, it drives me nuts. Your guiltiest pleasure? Any baking show: the British Bake Off , the Canadian Bake Off , the Australian Bake Off . Oh my god I could watch baking for an age. In fact, I baked bread today!
A skill you’d like to master? I would love to be able to dance really well.
Best advice you’d give to your teenage self? Always have your own money. You need your own money, you never know what’s going to happen. It’s important, it’s freedom.
Biggest fear? Losing the amazing health I have. It’s the most important thing, that your body is strong and you can do things.
Julia’s 10-episode series Great Australian Walks is on SBS and SBS On Demand now.
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DARE SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023
SENIORS.COM.AU
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