Often we judge people from their exterior, instead of looking from the inside-out, to figure out what truly motivates and inspires them. Sitting in front of me are two of the most successful young Australian actors, CAITLIN STASEY and LINCOLN LEWIS. What you don't see is the combined nine hundred plus TV episodes they have worked on, their optimism on their latest film 'TOMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN', and their contagious energy that bounces endlessly off the walls. They're a dynamic pair, exuding a brother-sister chemistry that seems to work hand-in-hand with their uncanny ability to finish each other's sentences.

They are, what I would assume, close to perfect - extremely polite and positive in person. You can see why they are in the business they are in... they look effortlessly amazing. Lincoln is quick to react to a compliment on his shoes, enthusiastically explaining how they are Converse, but have the feeling and look of an 'Air Force One'. From a fashion point of view - they are flippin' cool shoes!

The pair remind us they are from Australia and passionately set about correcting falsehoods about their homeland. "Oh G'day, gonna put a shrimp on the barbie?" - is not common. And they do not put shrimps on the barbie (barbecue). At all. Like never. Caitlin even confesses that she hates shrimp, and that she isn't convinced if she's ever put shrimp on the barbie. Oh, and Aussie's do not hang out in Kangaroo's pouches either. Good to know I say, good to know.

COUP DE MAIN: How did you end up being cast in 'Tomorrow When The War Began'?
CAITLIN STASEY: Begging!
LINCOLN LEWIS: I paid some people... Did some things I'm not proud of.
<Caitlin laughs>
LINCOLN: No, sorry!
CAITLIN: It was really just like any other process, we had to audition and we both had to impress Stuart, impress the producers. It's a tough process, and auditioning is generally the hardest process. I think it's harder than actually acting. But... we did it!
LINCOLN: The auditioning is the hardest process. When you get the job you have a lot of time to prepare and you're given a scene and what-not. I think the audition itself is the hardest part. For me personally, I did the audition with the casting director herself, it was really cool because I did the two scenes that I had learnt. I had work-shopped them with the 'Home And Away' acting coach, because I needed to be on point. So I rocked up to the audition, did my two scenes, and the casting director goes: "Can you do me a favour?" And I said: "Yeah, what's that?" And she asks me if it would be okay learning a different scene now and going out for two minutes, learning it, coming back and doing it, and I went: "HELL YES!". So I went out, did that, came back in, did it and she was like: "Oh great thank you very much". I was really excited! Then the next morning I got a call saying I had a call-back. It was awesome!

CDM: Were you both friends before auditioning and filming?
LINCOLN: Yep, I've known Caitlin for seven years!
CAITLIN: Seven years!
CDM: How did you two meet?
LINCOLN: Flirt.com
<laughs all round>
LINCOLN: I was an extra on Caitlin's show 'The Sleepover Club'. My first ever job, I was fifteen, I was an extra on her show. I loved it. Then fortunately enough, a few months later I was fired from that...
CAITLIN: No! It was because he kept distracting us with his good looks and charm.

CDM: Since both of you are from predominantly television backgrounds, what was it like working on a film?
CAITLIN: It's very different because you have more time to work on each scene, you have more time with Stuart. He allowed us a little more creative input, it was a very collaborative experience. With TV it's more bang-bang-bang-bang, get it done, get it done, get it out - that sort of thing.
LINCOLN: In TV you don't deter too much from the scene, obviously we wouldn't do that anyway, but Stuart allowed us to bring our own spice to the table. He was always willing and supportive. When you're doing a television show, like 'Home And Away' and 'Neighbours', you have to get so much done that the director doesn't actually have any time to talk to you, as the actor. He or she has to focus on the cameras, the lighting, the sound, they have to focus on everything else, and that's why you always have to be on point as the actor. Which I think is a good training ground. But on this film, the director actually has time to direct the actors and make sure that everything is perfect, so it's really cool.
CAITLIN: He [Stuart] was very generous with his time, I couldn't have asked for somebody better to work with, in all honesty.

CDM: Had either of you read the books?
CAITLIN: I hadn't, I read them once I had the script.
LINCOLN: I did, I read them in grade seven. I loved them. I loved the first one and then I read the rest as curriculum in high school. We only had to read 'Tomorrow When The War Began', so I read it again. But my brother and I just ended up buying the series. Obviously they were only up to number five by the time I was in grade ten, number six came out when I was in grade eleven, and then seven came out when I was in grade twelve. Smashed them! Loved them.

CDM: Lincoln, is it true you made up a hotmail address so that fans could write in about the making of the film?
LINCOLN: That was actually made up by Paramount. It's good for promotion of the film, people can ask questions about the film, and just general questions. So it's quite cool.

CDM: Do you think that kind of non-traditional film promotion is quite important for the movie industry to get more and more involved in?
LINCOLN: Yeah, absolutely! I think it's so important, the personal touch. Because I've spent so many years being on the other side of the carpet, or the rope, so to speak. You sort of see the people that go straight through, come and introduce the movie, walk away and you never see them again. I think it's so important to have that personal touch, to be able to interact with them. You want them to see your work and they're the people you're doing it for. I'm all too happy to do anything.
CAITLIN: Yeah, you have to treat your audience with respect, it's a lot easier when they do the same for us.
LINCOLN: If they can take time out of their day, to watch or consider what we are doing, then we can allow a few seconds out of our day to do the same.

CDM: Somehow your tight-knit clan reminds me of 'Captain Planet and The Planeteers'... Did you guys watch Captain Planet?
CAITLIN: Duhhhh...
LINCOLN: YES!!!
CAITLIN: Who was wind? I was! That doesn't sound great but we all know what I meant by it...
LINCOLN: Caitlin has wind.
<laughs all round>
CDM: Out of the clan, who is what: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire and Heart?
LINCOLN: Oooo, Caitlin's all heart, isn't she?
CAITLIN: The useless little Mexican boy! That's what I am... <laughs>
LINCOLN: Yes! We've got a running joke, 'cuz Caitlin cut her hair, one of the other girls said she looks like a little Mexican boy - all you need now is the monkey!
CAITLIN: Fire, I think... who would be Fire? I'm gonna go Robyn, she's got a fire inside her.
LINCOLN: I'd say Dennis.
CAITLIN: Nah, Dennis is Earth, 'cuz he's grounded - <looks at Lincoln like he's crazy as he still thinks Dennis should be fire>. Nah I disagree. Homer is Earth, Wind would have to be Fi because she's blonde and kind of floaty and cute. FIRE! Fire could be Corrie 'cuz her hair is red! I think I'm Captain Planet! Ellie's Captain Planet!
LINCOLN: Ellie's definitely Captain Planet. Kevin's the opposite, remember that episode when they had Captain Pollution, and he like sludges Captain Planet?... No, I'm joking!
CAITLIN: Oh, oh! I want to be Gaia, the Mother Nature...
LINCOLN: You are. Trust Me. <laughs>
CAITLIN: I liked her! It means earth in Greek.
LINCOLN: I wouldn't mind controlling water, that'd be pretty epic.

CDM: Lincoln, you've been in 487 'Home And Away' episodes, according to IMBD...
LINCOLN: Oh, IMBD's wrong, it's actually been 600 and something, I've got a plaque at home.
CDM: A plaque?!
LINCOLN: When you leave, they give you a photo-frame of six stills of important key points in your time there. They have a little plaque with your name and the years you were involved. For me it was 2007-2010, with 'X' amount of episodes. With these really cool photos, so yeah, I think it was around 660 or something.
CDM: Ah, IMBD is 200 behind! Crazy! How does it feel being twenty-two and having already achieved so much?
LINCOLN: Pretty awesome, not as awesome as being Caitlin and twenty, and achieving more.
CAITLIN: Not more, we're equal.
LINCOLN: No, no, no, it's not a competition. I'm very happy and blessed, especially in Australia, where there are not a lot of jobs, to have gotten what I've gotten.

CDM: Caitlin, you reportedly turned down a recording contract... will this be something you'll further pursue at all?
CAITLIN: No, I'm not a singer by any means, singing is great and I love music, it's just not something I'm going to pursue.

We then asked Caitlin and Lincoln to draw 'Australian myths'! For example... apparently everyone in New Zealand has a pet sheep. This is what they came up with...