October 8, 2025 • 19 mins
Welcome to She Built That, the podcast series where we discover incredible women and girls who didn't just dream big...they BUILT their futures!
In this episode, Chloé Hayden tells us how she overcame obstacles, and built her dream life as an actor. She even shares how she turned what some others saw as a challenge, into her superpower. Tune in to find out how Chloé went from playing Princess Aspien on her YouTube channel to starring in a hit Netflix TV show and more!
This is a co-listening podcast for parents and kids to enjoy together.
She Built That was made in partnership with LEGO Girls.
THE END BITS:
Discover more Mamamia podcasts here.
Email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au.
Send us a voice message and one of our podcast producers will get back to you ASAP.
CREDITS:
Host: Annaliese Todd
Audio Producer and Writer: Thom Lion
Producer: Tina Matalov
Script Consultant: Jacob Round
Executive Producer: Courtney Ammenhauser
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
You're listening to a Mother Mea podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hello, old friend, I'm Annalie Todd, host of Mumma MEA's
new podcast, She Built That, And I'm dropping into your
That's Incredible feed because I think you're going to love
this just like That's Incredible. It's a co listening podcast
for you to enjoy with your kids. She Built That
is all about courageous women who've turned their dreams into reality.
These women didn't just dream big, they built their futures.
(00:33):
Each episode, I sit down with inspiring female entrepreneurs, athletes,
and game changers who've created something extraordinary from the ground up.
We take you on a journey through storytelling with beautiful soundscapes,
diving deep into their winds, the hard times, and the
moments that sparked everything for them. You're about to hear
our first episode with Chloe Hayden. You might know her
(00:53):
from Netflix's Heartbreak High, but she's also built a platform
that's changing the conversation around university and representation. Her story
has ups, downs and roundabouts and it's fascinating. So gather
up the kids, stick around, and if you love what
you hear, make sure you subscribe to She Built That.
Wherever you get your podcasts for more incredible episodes, enjoy,
(01:14):
Hello Future Builders, and welcome to She Built That, the
podcast where we discover incredible women who didn't just dream big,
they built their futures. Every episode we'll explore how these
amazing women stack their talents, overcame obstacles and created something
(01:36):
spectacular that changed the world. I'm your host, Annalise Todd, MMA,
MIA's lifestyle writer and head of the Dreaming Department. Now,
before we activate this episode, can you guess who we're
talking about today? Okay, Mum and dad switch on now.
You don't want to get beaten here, think about your pride.
Clue number one. This young builder is an actress who
(02:00):
portrays an autistic character in a hit Netflix series and
is proudly autistical. Clue number two. Her hair color has
been various forms of red and she's a big one
direction fan. Clue number three. She wrote a book called
(02:20):
Different Not Less and has won an Audience Choice Award
at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards.
Can you guess who it is? How'd you go? If
you guessed Chloe Hayden, You're spot on today we're talking
(02:42):
about actress, author, and disability rights activist Chloe Hayden, who's
building a more inclusive world by championing authentic representation for
neurodivergent people one conversation at a time. So get ready
to embrace your individuality After this, The audition room was
(03:07):
bright and humming with nervous energy, But for Chloe, the
world seemed to shrink to the size of her own heartbeat.
Her hands trembled as she clutched the script. This was
the moment she dreamed of, but also the one she
feared most. Would they understand her? Would they see her
for who she truly was? As the casting director called
(03:29):
her name, Chloe took in a deep breath, feeling the
weight of every time she'd ever been told she was
too different, too much, not enough. And then she stepped forward.
Picture this a young girl in Australia feeling like she's
crash landed on an alien planet. That was Chloe Hayden,
(03:52):
And for real, everyone else may as well have spoken alien,
because that's how it felt at times. From the very start,
Chloe knew she was different. The world around her felt
loud and confusing, eye contact, weird, small talk even weirder,
And why did everyone seem to expect her to fit
(04:13):
into a box that just didn't feel natural. I mean,
most adults spend half their lives in meetings about thinking
outside the box, but kids are just expected to get
in and stay there. But there was one thing that
Chloe discovered that made her feel right at home, and
that was acting. So she would escape into film and
(04:34):
so mister mcgorriam's wonder implorium would always make her smile.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
The store upstairs immediately.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Now, we all need something to make us dream and
feel good about ourselves. So I asked Chloe why performing
was so special to her growing up.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I always knew that I wanted to do something in
the entertainment space. I wanted to be a singer. I
wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be on
stage and perform and play pretend because weirdly, by playing pretend,
I felt more myself than I did any other time.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Chloe found freedom in practicing characters behind closed doors. But
still her early years were anything but easy, and by
the time she was thirteen, she'd already attended ten different
schools yep ten and eventually Chloe's parents decided to homeschool
her to protect her well being. It was at this
time Chloe got a diagnosis she was autistic. Now, autism
(05:36):
is a natural variation in how human brains work, not
a flaw, just a different way of experiencing and processing
the world. Later, she'd also learned she had ADHD. I
asked Chloe what it was light getting this news and
how it made her feel.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Being diagnosed as autistic as a thirteen year old girl
was really scary in some ways and really validating in others.
Growing up in a really tiny country town, autism it
wasn't really something that people knew about, and when they
saw me, they definitely didn't see what their expectation of
(06:13):
autism was. And that made being autistic feel somehow even
more isolating.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
But through it all, Chloe still dreamed of becoming a performer,
even as she struggled relating to people outside of the home.
She would watch her favorite performers and then try to
emulate their mannerisms, always building on her acting skills. Her
dad would drive her to acting lessons and community plays too.
This was the one place where Chloe could find her
(06:44):
own self expression. It lit her up inside. I wanted
to know what Chloe loves about acting and why having
someone else write the rules can sometimes be the most
freeing thing of all.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
There's something about performing, whether it be on stage or
in front of a camera, that just takes me to
my happy place. I get to literally play pretend as
a job. Would that not be everyone's happy plays, but
there's just something so wonderful for me as a neurodivergent
person where the lines are written for me, my emotions
(07:18):
are written for me. I don't have to play this
game and figure out what I'm supposed to be or
how other people are expecting me to be. I just
get to do what the words on the paper say
and play pretend. And there's something so oddly freeing about
doing that.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
So let's call a spade a spade here. Teenage short
is hard enough trying to find your identity, but Chloe's
teens were next level tricky, being isolated from her peers
and abandoned by some friends for not acting how others
thought was normal. And for all you mums and dads
out there, just think back to that one year of
truly questionable fashion and blue eyeshadow. Perhaps that you survived
(08:03):
and we salute you. But this was truly a time
Chloe felt everything was stacked against her, but she continued
to stack on layers of expression in any way possible,
Even outside of acting. Chloe was embracing her own unique,
if you will, magnetism, and she decided to tell her
(08:25):
own story to see if anyone else out there could
relate to her experiences, starting an anonymous blog under the
name Princess Aspian, hoping maybe, just maybe someone out there
would understand. To her surprise, thousands of people did. Messages
poured in from kids and teens who felt just like her, different,
(08:46):
alone and desperate for acceptance. Chloe realized she wasn't alone
after all. Soon Chloe was building a community, and her
difference was her superpower. I asked her about the moment
she discovered she wasn't as alone as she thought, and
how that changed everything.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
When I started my online blog, I wasn't expecting people
to see themselves in me. I was hoping to see
myself in other people. I was desperately reaching out, desperate
to find one person who made me feel like I
wasn't from an alien planet and that I was supposed
(09:28):
to be here, And many, many, people reached out and
responded to my blog, and the rest is history. But
that initial realization that if I was from an alien planet,
there was millions of people out there that were from
the same planet was instrumental in my growth and instrumental
(09:49):
in my understanding that I was supposed to be here
and that I was supposed to exist, and people like
me have existed for as long as humankind have, and
they will exist for as long as human kind will.
It is so important for people to be able to
see themselves and to be able to have an understanding
that their brain is supposed to be here and that
(10:10):
they are supposed to exist, and that community and that
social aspect of being able to find that is life changing.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Her blog led her to YouTube, where she made videos
about her life as an autistic girl.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Hi guys, my name is Chloe. I know I learned
Prince's Askian executive functioning.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
What's that?
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Don't know her?
Speaker 2 (10:32):
She became a powerful voice for neurodiversity, showing the world
that being different wasn't just okay, it was amazing. As
her online momentum Snowboard, Chloe grew more confident in who
she was. She embraced what made her different instead of
trying to fit in. As the years passed, her acting
career was moving slowly but still growing. She did roles
(10:55):
in theater, plays and short films, but was yet to
find her big break. But in twenty twenty one, at
age twenty four, something incredible happened. Chloe was invited to
audition for a role as an autistic team called Quinnie
on a new Netflix show called Heartbreak High.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
I knew the second that I saw Quinnie's character that
she was mine. I was actually competing at a cowboy
event in Bonnie Doon when it got sent through to me,
and I knew I had to get this job. And
so there's actually a video of me circulating somewhere of
(11:36):
my mouth moving while I'm doing this competition, and my
mouth is moving practicing the script in the middle of
me competing. I sent it off and I was hounding
my manager almost daily being like, do you know anything yet?
Have I got the job? Is the next stage of
the audition coming? Like do you know anything? And lo
(11:57):
and behold, I got a second audition, and then I
got an audition in front of the cast and producers
and the directors and the producers of the show.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
This was a dream role for Chloe, and she knew
she had to nail the audition. But then as Sue
turned up at the front door, all uninvited self doubt.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Hello, just like that.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Relative who shows up at Christmas but never RSVPs. So
arriving at the audition, questions arose in her mind. Would
they really get her? Would they like her, love her
for who she truly was. As the casting director called
her name, the blinding lights shone in her eyes, just
for some extra pressure if there wasn't already enough, and
(12:39):
everyone there began to murmur. Chloe took a deep breath,
and then with a quiet confidence, she stepped forward, letting
her authentic self shine through every word, every gesture, channeling
years of feeling misunderstood into Quinnie's vulnerability and strength. When
(13:00):
she finished, the room was silent for a beat. Everyone
was in awe. Chloe had done it. She hadn't just
played the part, she owned it, turning her difference into
her greatest power.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
This might seem naive to say, but I do truly
believe that everything happens for a reason. And if I
could go back in time and take away little Chloe's pain.
I would in a heartbeat, but I can't do that,
and so I have to believe that the pain that
I went through growing up made me the person that
I am today and gave me the opportunity and the
(13:34):
life experience to be able to perform Quinny the way
that I do.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Working with the director Chloe helped shape Quinny's character, crafting
and stacking layer upon layer, making sure she was real, honest,
and nothing like the stereotypes she'd seen growing up.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
When I got the role of Quinny, I knew straightaway
that she obviously was autistic. Originally she was just neurodivergent, coded,
I believe, And when I got the job, I had
discussions with the producers the directors and told them how
important it was to me that Quinny wasn't coded autistic,
because we have enough coded characters. We need to see
(14:13):
an actual, real life underlined bold. I tell a sized,
this person is autistic on screen. And so I was
really lucky to be able to work with them to
help create this character that we know and that we
love today. But we also had the most incredible autism consultants.
Quinny was written by an autistic person, and I think
(14:34):
she shows the importance of representation, not just in front
of the camera, but behind the camera, to make sure
that experiences truly are and the characters that we are
seeing truly are a real version of a person, and
that real people can look at these characters and go, oh,
my gosh, I see myself and I think Quinny is
(14:57):
the perfect example of that.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
The audience and critics loved Quinnie. Chloe had made this
character so authentic, and for the first time, kids like
Chloe saw themselves on screen.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
I don't want to be a burden, but I've never
given any time or wanting to prepare. It's just not fair.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Chloe won an Actor Award for her performance and was
nominated for a Logi Award. She made history, but more importantly,
she gave hope to thousands of neurodivergent young people who
felt invisible. After the success of Heartbreak High, it became
clear there was a void to be filled for a
(15:37):
neurodivergent voice to raise awareness so that people like her
would be better understood well. Chloe stepped on into that
space like a perfectly cast lead. Word by word, page
after page, she poured her heart, experience, and knowledge into
her debut novel, and it was a best seller if
(15:58):
you don't mind called different not less. Sharing her journey
and encouraging others to embrace who they are, she became
a motivational speaker, traveling the world to talk about autism, kindness,
and the magic of being yourself. Today, Chloe Hayden is
a role model for kids everywhere. She's shown that you
(16:18):
don't have to fit in to make a difference. In fact,
it's the people who stand out, who dare to be
themselves who change the world. So what's Chloe's advice to
young people looking to embrace their individuality?
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Learning that I was autistic and having that diagnosis was
so incredibly powerful, And I wish that I could go
back and tell thirteen year old Chloe, or even younger
than that, who wasn't diagnosed with anything, and be able
to tell her that she has got such an incredibly
bright future. And most importantly, what I want every young
(16:55):
person to know that has ever felt different is their
brain is exactly how it's supposed to be. I've always
seen in dreams as you need to dream as big
as you possibly can, because everything that I am currently
living and doing was beyond what expectations were for me,
(17:18):
but I dreamed for it and it happens.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
So the next time you feel out of place or
worried about what others think of you, remember Chloe Hayden,
the girl who turned society's walls into stepping stones, paving
her own way to become a performer and a voice
for change. Yep, she built that.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Gosh.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Thinking about Chloe's story, I know I've had many times
where I felt that urge to change myself just to
fit in with everyone else, don't stand out, particularly at school.
It can be hard to not go with the flow.
But this week, let's flip that like Chloe did. Now
it's your turn. I've got a challenge for you. It's
(18:04):
called the Celebrate your Difference Challenge. Bit of a mouthful,
isn't it, But I do think Chloe's right. Embracing what
makes you you is a far better path to happiness
than trying to follow others. Here's the challenge. Think of
one thing that makes you unique. Maybe it's a special interest,
a talent, or even just the way you see the world.
(18:27):
Maybe it's a thought or opinion that's a little bit different.
Write it down, draw a picture about it. Or tell
a friend or family member. When I was at school,
I was told I was too much and I talk
too much. And now I'm talking on a podcast that's
a celebration of what I was told was a challenge.
(18:48):
Remember your difference is your source of insight, just like
Chloe's was. Share it proudly and see how it makes
you feel. Of course, if you're comfortable doing so and
in a safe space, you might even inspire someone else
to celebrate what makes them unique too. Thanks for listening
(19:09):
to She Built That, and remember, incredible girls don't just dream,
they built. Today's episode was written by Tom Lyon, who
also did the sound design, and produced by Tina Mattiloff.
The executive producer of She Built That is Courtney Ammenhauser
and my name's Annalise Todd. I'll catch you next time
when we tell the story of an Ossie girl who's
(19:31):
taking the surfing world by storm. Bye, Mamma Mia acknowledges
the traditional owners of the land. We have recorded this
podcast on the Gadigul people of the Or nation. We
pay our respects to their elders past and present, and
extend that respect to all Aboriginal and torrest rate Islander
(19:52):
cultures
You're listening to a Mother Mea podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hello, old friend, I'm Annalie Todd, host of Mumma MEA's
new podcast, She Built That, And I'm dropping into your
That's Incredible feed because I think you're going to love
this just like That's Incredible. It's a co listening podcast
for you to enjoy with your kids. She Built That
is all about courageous women who've turned their dreams into reality.
These women didn't just dream big, they built their futures.
(00:33):
Each episode, I sit down with inspiring female entrepreneurs, athletes,
and game changers who've created something extraordinary from the ground up.
We take you on a journey through storytelling with beautiful soundscapes,
diving deep into their winds, the hard times, and the
moments that sparked everything for them. You're about to hear
our first episode with Chloe Hayden. You might know her
(00:53):
from Netflix's Heartbreak High, but she's also built a platform
that's changing the conversation around university and representation. Her story
has ups, downs and roundabouts and it's fascinating. So gather
up the kids, stick around, and if you love what
you hear, make sure you subscribe to She Built That.
Wherever you get your podcasts for more incredible episodes, enjoy,
(01:14):
Hello Future Builders, and welcome to She Built That, the
podcast where we discover incredible women who didn't just dream big,
they built their futures. Every episode we'll explore how these
amazing women stack their talents, overcame obstacles and created something
(01:36):
spectacular that changed the world. I'm your host, Annalise Todd, MMA,
MIA's lifestyle writer and head of the Dreaming Department. Now,
before we activate this episode, can you guess who we're
talking about today? Okay, Mum and dad switch on now.
You don't want to get beaten here, think about your pride.
Clue number one. This young builder is an actress who
(02:00):
portrays an autistic character in a hit Netflix series and
is proudly autistical. Clue number two. Her hair color has
been various forms of red and she's a big one
direction fan. Clue number three. She wrote a book called
(02:20):
Different Not Less and has won an Audience Choice Award
at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards.
Can you guess who it is? How'd you go? If
you guessed Chloe Hayden, You're spot on today we're talking
(02:42):
about actress, author, and disability rights activist Chloe Hayden, who's
building a more inclusive world by championing authentic representation for
neurodivergent people one conversation at a time. So get ready
to embrace your individuality After this, The audition room was
(03:07):
bright and humming with nervous energy, But for Chloe, the
world seemed to shrink to the size of her own heartbeat.
Her hands trembled as she clutched the script. This was
the moment she dreamed of, but also the one she
feared most. Would they understand her? Would they see her
for who she truly was? As the casting director called
(03:29):
her name, Chloe took in a deep breath, feeling the
weight of every time she'd ever been told she was
too different, too much, not enough. And then she stepped forward.
Picture this a young girl in Australia feeling like she's
crash landed on an alien planet. That was Chloe Hayden,
(03:52):
And for real, everyone else may as well have spoken alien,
because that's how it felt at times. From the very start,
Chloe knew she was different. The world around her felt
loud and confusing, eye contact, weird, small talk even weirder,
And why did everyone seem to expect her to fit
(04:13):
into a box that just didn't feel natural. I mean,
most adults spend half their lives in meetings about thinking
outside the box, but kids are just expected to get
in and stay there. But there was one thing that
Chloe discovered that made her feel right at home, and
that was acting. So she would escape into film and
(04:34):
so mister mcgorriam's wonder implorium would always make her smile.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
The store upstairs immediately.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Now, we all need something to make us dream and
feel good about ourselves. So I asked Chloe why performing
was so special to her growing up.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I always knew that I wanted to do something in
the entertainment space. I wanted to be a singer. I
wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be on
stage and perform and play pretend because weirdly, by playing pretend,
I felt more myself than I did any other time.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Chloe found freedom in practicing characters behind closed doors. But
still her early years were anything but easy, and by
the time she was thirteen, she'd already attended ten different
schools yep ten and eventually Chloe's parents decided to homeschool
her to protect her well being. It was at this
time Chloe got a diagnosis she was autistic. Now, autism
(05:36):
is a natural variation in how human brains work, not
a flaw, just a different way of experiencing and processing
the world. Later, she'd also learned she had ADHD. I
asked Chloe what it was light getting this news and
how it made her feel.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Being diagnosed as autistic as a thirteen year old girl
was really scary in some ways and really validating in others.
Growing up in a really tiny country town, autism it
wasn't really something that people knew about, and when they
saw me, they definitely didn't see what their expectation of
(06:13):
autism was. And that made being autistic feel somehow even
more isolating.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
But through it all, Chloe still dreamed of becoming a performer,
even as she struggled relating to people outside of the home.
She would watch her favorite performers and then try to
emulate their mannerisms, always building on her acting skills. Her
dad would drive her to acting lessons and community plays too.
This was the one place where Chloe could find her
(06:44):
own self expression. It lit her up inside. I wanted
to know what Chloe loves about acting and why having
someone else write the rules can sometimes be the most
freeing thing of all.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
There's something about performing, whether it be on stage or
in front of a camera, that just takes me to
my happy place. I get to literally play pretend as
a job. Would that not be everyone's happy plays, but
there's just something so wonderful for me as a neurodivergent
person where the lines are written for me, my emotions
(07:18):
are written for me. I don't have to play this
game and figure out what I'm supposed to be or
how other people are expecting me to be. I just
get to do what the words on the paper say
and play pretend. And there's something so oddly freeing about
doing that.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
So let's call a spade a spade here. Teenage short
is hard enough trying to find your identity, but Chloe's
teens were next level tricky, being isolated from her peers
and abandoned by some friends for not acting how others
thought was normal. And for all you mums and dads
out there, just think back to that one year of
truly questionable fashion and blue eyeshadow. Perhaps that you survived
(08:03):
and we salute you. But this was truly a time
Chloe felt everything was stacked against her, but she continued
to stack on layers of expression in any way possible,
Even outside of acting. Chloe was embracing her own unique,
if you will, magnetism, and she decided to tell her
(08:25):
own story to see if anyone else out there could
relate to her experiences, starting an anonymous blog under the
name Princess Aspian, hoping maybe, just maybe someone out there
would understand. To her surprise, thousands of people did. Messages
poured in from kids and teens who felt just like her, different,
(08:46):
alone and desperate for acceptance. Chloe realized she wasn't alone
after all. Soon Chloe was building a community, and her
difference was her superpower. I asked her about the moment
she discovered she wasn't as alone as she thought, and
how that changed everything.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
When I started my online blog, I wasn't expecting people
to see themselves in me. I was hoping to see
myself in other people. I was desperately reaching out, desperate
to find one person who made me feel like I
wasn't from an alien planet and that I was supposed
(09:28):
to be here, And many, many, people reached out and
responded to my blog, and the rest is history. But
that initial realization that if I was from an alien planet,
there was millions of people out there that were from
the same planet was instrumental in my growth and instrumental
(09:49):
in my understanding that I was supposed to be here
and that I was supposed to exist, and people like
me have existed for as long as humankind have, and
they will exist for as long as human kind will.
It is so important for people to be able to
see themselves and to be able to have an understanding
that their brain is supposed to be here and that
(10:10):
they are supposed to exist, and that community and that
social aspect of being able to find that is life changing.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Her blog led her to YouTube, where she made videos
about her life as an autistic girl.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Hi guys, my name is Chloe. I know I learned
Prince's Askian executive functioning.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
What's that?
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Don't know her?
Speaker 2 (10:32):
She became a powerful voice for neurodiversity, showing the world
that being different wasn't just okay, it was amazing. As
her online momentum Snowboard, Chloe grew more confident in who
she was. She embraced what made her different instead of
trying to fit in. As the years passed, her acting
career was moving slowly but still growing. She did roles
(10:55):
in theater, plays and short films, but was yet to
find her big break. But in twenty twenty one, at
age twenty four, something incredible happened. Chloe was invited to
audition for a role as an autistic team called Quinnie
on a new Netflix show called Heartbreak High.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
I knew the second that I saw Quinnie's character that
she was mine. I was actually competing at a cowboy
event in Bonnie Doon when it got sent through to me,
and I knew I had to get this job. And
so there's actually a video of me circulating somewhere of
(11:36):
my mouth moving while I'm doing this competition, and my
mouth is moving practicing the script in the middle of
me competing. I sent it off and I was hounding
my manager almost daily being like, do you know anything yet?
Have I got the job? Is the next stage of
the audition coming? Like do you know anything? And lo
(11:57):
and behold, I got a second audition, and then I
got an audition in front of the cast and producers
and the directors and the producers of the show.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
This was a dream role for Chloe, and she knew
she had to nail the audition. But then as Sue
turned up at the front door, all uninvited self doubt.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Hello, just like that.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Relative who shows up at Christmas but never RSVPs. So
arriving at the audition, questions arose in her mind. Would
they really get her? Would they like her, love her
for who she truly was. As the casting director called
her name, the blinding lights shone in her eyes, just
for some extra pressure if there wasn't already enough, and
(12:39):
everyone there began to murmur. Chloe took a deep breath,
and then with a quiet confidence, she stepped forward, letting
her authentic self shine through every word, every gesture, channeling
years of feeling misunderstood into Quinnie's vulnerability and strength. When
(13:00):
she finished, the room was silent for a beat. Everyone
was in awe. Chloe had done it. She hadn't just
played the part, she owned it, turning her difference into
her greatest power.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
This might seem naive to say, but I do truly
believe that everything happens for a reason. And if I
could go back in time and take away little Chloe's pain.
I would in a heartbeat, but I can't do that,
and so I have to believe that the pain that
I went through growing up made me the person that
I am today and gave me the opportunity and the
(13:34):
life experience to be able to perform Quinny the way
that I do.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Working with the director Chloe helped shape Quinny's character, crafting
and stacking layer upon layer, making sure she was real, honest,
and nothing like the stereotypes she'd seen growing up.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
When I got the role of Quinny, I knew straightaway
that she obviously was autistic. Originally she was just neurodivergent, coded,
I believe, And when I got the job, I had
discussions with the producers the directors and told them how
important it was to me that Quinny wasn't coded autistic,
because we have enough coded characters. We need to see
(14:13):
an actual, real life underlined bold. I tell a sized,
this person is autistic on screen. And so I was
really lucky to be able to work with them to
help create this character that we know and that we
love today. But we also had the most incredible autism consultants.
Quinny was written by an autistic person, and I think
(14:34):
she shows the importance of representation, not just in front
of the camera, but behind the camera, to make sure
that experiences truly are and the characters that we are
seeing truly are a real version of a person, and
that real people can look at these characters and go, oh,
my gosh, I see myself and I think Quinny is
(14:57):
the perfect example of that.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
The audience and critics loved Quinnie. Chloe had made this
character so authentic, and for the first time, kids like
Chloe saw themselves on screen.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
I don't want to be a burden, but I've never
given any time or wanting to prepare. It's just not fair.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Chloe won an Actor Award for her performance and was
nominated for a Logi Award. She made history, but more importantly,
she gave hope to thousands of neurodivergent young people who
felt invisible. After the success of Heartbreak High, it became
clear there was a void to be filled for a
(15:37):
neurodivergent voice to raise awareness so that people like her
would be better understood well. Chloe stepped on into that
space like a perfectly cast lead. Word by word, page
after page, she poured her heart, experience, and knowledge into
her debut novel, and it was a best seller if
(15:58):
you don't mind called different not less. Sharing her journey
and encouraging others to embrace who they are, she became
a motivational speaker, traveling the world to talk about autism, kindness,
and the magic of being yourself. Today, Chloe Hayden is
a role model for kids everywhere. She's shown that you
(16:18):
don't have to fit in to make a difference. In fact,
it's the people who stand out, who dare to be
themselves who change the world. So what's Chloe's advice to
young people looking to embrace their individuality?
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Learning that I was autistic and having that diagnosis was
so incredibly powerful, And I wish that I could go
back and tell thirteen year old Chloe, or even younger
than that, who wasn't diagnosed with anything, and be able
to tell her that she has got such an incredibly
bright future. And most importantly, what I want every young
(16:55):
person to know that has ever felt different is their
brain is exactly how it's supposed to be. I've always
seen in dreams as you need to dream as big
as you possibly can, because everything that I am currently
living and doing was beyond what expectations were for me,
(17:18):
but I dreamed for it and it happens.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
So the next time you feel out of place or
worried about what others think of you, remember Chloe Hayden,
the girl who turned society's walls into stepping stones, paving
her own way to become a performer and a voice
for change. Yep, she built that.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Gosh.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Thinking about Chloe's story, I know I've had many times
where I felt that urge to change myself just to
fit in with everyone else, don't stand out, particularly at school.
It can be hard to not go with the flow.
But this week, let's flip that like Chloe did. Now
it's your turn. I've got a challenge for you. It's
(18:04):
called the Celebrate your Difference Challenge. Bit of a mouthful,
isn't it, But I do think Chloe's right. Embracing what
makes you you is a far better path to happiness
than trying to follow others. Here's the challenge. Think of
one thing that makes you unique. Maybe it's a special interest,
a talent, or even just the way you see the world.
(18:27):
Maybe it's a thought or opinion that's a little bit different.
Write it down, draw a picture about it. Or tell
a friend or family member. When I was at school,
I was told I was too much and I talk
too much. And now I'm talking on a podcast that's
a celebration of what I was told was a challenge.
(18:48):
Remember your difference is your source of insight, just like
Chloe's was. Share it proudly and see how it makes
you feel. Of course, if you're comfortable doing so and
in a safe space, you might even inspire someone else
to celebrate what makes them unique too. Thanks for listening
(19:09):
to She Built That, and remember, incredible girls don't just dream,
they built. Today's episode was written by Tom Lyon, who
also did the sound design, and produced by Tina Mattiloff.
The executive producer of She Built That is Courtney Ammenhauser
and my name's Annalise Todd. I'll catch you next time
when we tell the story of an Ossie girl who's
(19:31):
taking the surfing world by storm. Bye, Mamma Mia acknowledges
the traditional owners of the land. We have recorded this
podcast on the Gadigul people of the Or nation. We
pay our respects to their elders past and present, and
extend that respect to all Aboriginal and torrest rate Islander
(19:52):
cultures
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.