Charlotte shines in new Paul Hogan movie

When Paul Hogan’s new movie screens on Amazon Prime on July 17, Charlotte Stent and her family will be ready with popcorn in hand. The Scarborough actor plays Hogan’s granddaughter in the film.

Charlotte, 11, can’t wait for the film to screen and has a pyjama night planned with her family to celebrate.

Sadly, there will be no red carpet premiere, but the youngster says that’s not important given the COVID-19 pandemic. She just hopes The Very Excellent Mr Dundee will make people laugh because we can all do with a good laugh.

“It’s amazing we get to watch this film in this time. It’s such a sad time for the industry, but if we all stick together we’ll get through it,” Charlotte says.

Experience of a lifetime

The movie was mostly filmed in Melbourne last year, before COVID-19, and Charlotte says the audition was one she won’t forget.

“It was the best. We were in the audition with the director Dean Murphy, writer Robert Mond and casting director Bec Asha Rothkopf … I’m so thankful for them … the butterflies in my tummy were gone,” she explains.

“Paul was in the room. I thought he might be on the phone or something, but he was there. He was just the best, he’s genuinely an awesome bloke.”

What’s the film about?

The Very Excellent Mr Dundee features a star-studded cast including John Cleese, Chevy Chase, Olivia Newton-John, Shane Jacobson, Julia Morris, and Wayne Knight; and Paul Hogan as a fictionalised version of himself.

The Synopsis explains: “When his granddaughter Lucy finds out he’s been offered a knighthood for services to comedy and tells all her friends, Paul reluctantly accepts the offer and has six weeks to stay out of trouble before the ceremony”.

“But wherever Paul goes, trouble follows, and we see Paul’s reputation hilariously put through the ringer the closer we get to his important meeting with his biggest Royal fan.”

What was Paul Hogan like to work with?

Charlotte says he would check on her to make sure she was OK and made her laugh by telling jokes and pulling funny faces.

The Southern Cross Catholic College student felt at ease playing Lucy, a confident and kind character, and enjoyed working with the other big names in the cast.

Change of pace

Charlotte’s next film will be a psychological thriller called Sweet River. It’s another Australian movie filmed before COVID-19.

The youngster plays a leading character called Violet, who’s pretty scary.

Beyond that she, like others in the film industry, is waiting for COVID-19 to ease and filmmaking to begin again.

“I’m hoping everyone stays safe and we can be on the film sets and I’ll meet some more wonderful people,” she says.

Charlotte is very grateful to Charmaine Gilchrist from Gilchrist management for the opportunities she’s found for her so far.

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