We Chat to Kassandra Clementi About Leaving L.A. for Summer Bay and Starring in "UnREAL" Season Three

Aussie actress Kassandra Clementi's journey to starring in UnREAL was a unique one.

It’s a common trope for aspiring Australian actors to add a few local productions to their filmography and then head to Los Angeles to break into Hollywood.

Kassandra Clementi’s pathway, however, was the exact opposite.

Before starring in the upcoming third season of UnREAL (premiering later this month on Stan), Kassandra kicked off her acting career with minor roles in Underbelly Files: Infiltration and Offspring.

It was after those that she landed her first main role in the Atlanta comedy series Single Ladies opposite Queen Latifah.

"I got the role [for Singles Ladies] from Melbourne," Kassandra tells Student Edge.

"I was 18 or 19 and I shot that series over there for nine months."

After the first season, Kassandra shot a few films and then auditioned for a role on Home and Away while in Los Angeles.

"I did it a bit backwards," Kassandra says, having now starred in shows across multiple continents.

She landed the part of bad girl Maddy, a runaway teen with a tumultuous future ahead of her... one that included a car accident, having ovarian cancer, losing many friends in a gas explosion and ultimately, losing her arm.

Maddy went through a lot of traumatic storylines in her four-year appearance on the show and by the end of her stint, Kassandra felt like it was time to move on.

"I think she'd gone through a lot of Summer Bay turmoil," Kassandra jokes.

"I think she was ready in a way."

After playing Maddy for four years, it was an unusual feeling leaving her character behind.

"For most of the day, all of us as actors spend more time in the wardrobe of our characters, and saying the words of our characters, than we would being our ourselves," Kassandra admits. 

"To walk away [from Maddy's character] seems quite weird, like you've lost a little part of someone you knew."

Luckily, Kassandra's landed a role in the hit American show UnREAL, which follows the behind-the-scenes drama of making a Bachelorette-like reality show called Everlasting.

In the upcoming third season, Kassandra plays the swimsuit model girlfriend of Chet (Craig Bierko), Everlasting’s creator.

But learning the American accent—something many Aussie actors have to master—wasn't an issue for her.

"I did some accent coaching," Kassandra explains, adding, "My family are from the U.S... I feel like I was almost cheating by being able to call them."

In regards to playing to Crystal, she admits it's quite unlike her real personality.

"I think because you develop and grow with the character [in the case of Maddy], certain aspects of your personality slip in," Kassandra says.

"But essentially, you're bringing to life what's on the page and generally speaking, that's not you." 

Kassandra is understandably tight-lipped about what Season Three of UnREAL has in store for us, but, spoiler alert, she confesses it's "going to be the best season yet."

For now, Kassandra's taking some time off to spend with family, but she offers some genuine advice to anyone wanting to follow in her footsteps.

"Anyone you look up to that has succeeded has probably failed countless times, more than anyone would imagine," Kassandra says.

"I know that I've learned more from my failings than I have from my successes.

"If you learn how to grow and how to value yourself, know your self-worth... and know that it's not validated by success or failure."

Season Three of UnREAL hits Stan on 27 February (the same day as the United States).

Photo: Stan