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Rebecca Breeds: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The 'Clarice' Actress

Rebecca Breeds has come a long way from being the bullied overweight kid in Australia to becoming Hollywood's most notable stars.

Rebecca Breeds

Rebecca Breeds is doing a great job portraying Clarice Starling in the CBS television series 'Clarice.' She's proving herself worthy of the iconic role previously portrayed by Jodie Foster and Julianne Moore in 1991 and 2001 film adaptations.

Rebecca Breeds is no stranger to the acting world. She's already proven her knack in front of the camera after appearing in numerous shows like 'The Originals' and 'Pretty Little Liars.' Her acting credits include 'Home and Away,' 'We Are Men,' 'Notorious,' 'Slam,' and 'The Code'.

From a bullied fat kid to a Hollywood star, here's everything you need to know about Rebecca Breeds. 

Rebecca Breeds

1. She Trained Hard To Master Her Stunts For Clarice

Rebecca Breeds is not afraid to execute complicated stunts by herself. She revealed to People's magazine that she had rigorous training for the series.

"We did quite rigorous FBI training because that visual part of the storytelling is so important," the actress said

"And you know how hard she has to work to break through the glass ceilings to even be there. It has to be so apparent. So technique was so important. So we did a lot of training, especially with Lucca De Oliveira, who plays Esquivel. Him and I did a lot of training together, doing our quick draws and how to hold the gun and where to hold your finger when you're not shooting. We were clearing rooms together and kicking in doors and learning how to handcuff, all really cool stuff. I love that physical element. I love stunts and things, so that was really fun."

2. She Is Not Closing Her Doors For Music

There is a trend that sees Australian actors and actresses shift to musical careers and become pop stars. The move proves beneficial, especially to some former actresses like Natalie Imbruglia. Back To The Bay asked Breeds if she is also planning to take a similar road, to which she replied:

"I wouldn't seek a pop career but (maybe) if there was an opportunity to record some music I really enjoy doing, that was maybe a bit more personal than the pop scene or more humble. I don't like flashy lights. I like sitting on a stool with a guitar. That would be more what I'd like to do. You've got to see what opportunities come along. If they don't, they don't. If they do, we'll see what happens."

Rebecca Breeds

3. She Is Married To Co-Star Luke Mitchell

The actress met her husband on the set of 'Home and Away.' She began dating the Australian actor in 2009, and after a whirlwind engagement, they married in January 2013. They both enjoy a blissful married life while supporting each other's career growth. 

4. She Was Raised In The Suburbs Of Sydney, Australia

Rebecca Breeds grew up in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, from a middle-class family. Back then, she had no idea that people could make money out of acting. Her parents were very supportive of her passion and even went out of their way to make sure she gets into a drama group when she was young.

"My mom and dad were always so onboard and incredibly supportive," the actress told People.

"We were just middle-class suburban people. We didn't really have any access to this industry. I didn't even know you could make a job out of it. My dad joined a drama group because I was too young, and they wouldn't take me, but they'd take me if dad became a part of it. So both my parents were amazing. I think they just knew that I wouldn't be happy doing anything else. So they just were really supportive. I was really lucky."

Rebecca-Breeds

5. She Moved From Australia To Hollywood To Pursue A Bigger Acting Career 

Shortly after she left 'Home and Away,' Breeds decided to move away from Australia to try her luck in Hollywood. She made the right decision. 
She landed her first US role as Abby Russo in Rob Greenberg’s 'We Are Men'.

Although the show was canceled after low ratings, TV execs saw Breeds potential, and in 2015, she was offered a role in season 6 of 'Pretty Little Liars.'

6. Her Acting Career Started At School

Rebecca Breeds discovered her passion for acting at St Andrews Cathedral School, where her involvement in the school’s amateur productions prompted her to become the Drama Captain.

After discovering her love for the craft, she enrolled in a double degree in music and performing arts at the University of New South Wales while actively auditioning for roles.

Rebecca-Breeds

7. She Loves Speaking In Clarice's West Virginia Accent

Accents are very vital for a convincing portrayal of roles. Lucikly for Breeds, Clarice's West Virginian accent almost comes naturally for her. The actress doesn't know exactly how she was able to master the accent so easily, but she knows she is having a lot of fun doing it.

"But it's also fun. I love it," Breeds told People. "I love how it feels in my mouth. I love how it completely creates a different character. And it's funny, I can't give anyone a lot of science to how I did it. I just listened to it, and then I just kind of did it, and it works. Sometimes it's just a bit of magic. Some accents just really work with you more than others. And this one just sits in my mouth so easily, and it's really fun to do. I don't know why. It's so thick. It's something that it's really fun to speak with. So yeah, I love doing it."

Rebecca-Breeds

8. She Was Teased For Being A Fat Kid

Rebecca Breeds was not a conventional Hollywood superstar material growing up. She revealed to Daily Telegraph back in 2012 that she was overweight when she was young and got teased for it. The experience resulted in an exhausting and constant struggle against body issues.

"I was a fat kid. I can laugh now. But I got teased about being an Oompa Loompa and stuff like that. I've always been healthy . . . but it's the voices in my head (I've had to beat)," she said.

Luckily she was able to rise above the harrowing experience.

"It's definitely something you have to learn: that you are going to be judged and scrutinized, but you have to decide how much you listen to and how much you let other people's opinions in."

9. She Has A Pet Dog 

Rebecca Breeds has an adorable and energetic fur baby named Alfred Hitchcockapoo Mitchell. Sometimes he calls him Alfie, other times, she calls him Fred, and in some instances, he refers to him as Crispy Fried Chicken. She often shares photos of her beloved pooch on Instagram, and they seem to have a lot of great adventures together. 



 

10. She Developed A Special Chemistry With Clarice During Audition

Landing the role of Clarice Starling is such a big break for Rebecca Breeds, considering the popularity of the 'Silence of the Lambs' character. The actress is showing everyone she's the perfect person to portray the iconic role. It's safe to say that deep inside, she somehow already knew she's meant to play the part.

"As an actor, you try not to get invested in a character too much while you’re in the audition process. But some characters, you just have a special chemistry with, like you do with people. I definitely have that with Clarice. It was pretty special to have that feeling with her and then to be able to carry on and make the series with her. It’s just been awesome," she told Collider.