Byron Bay acting coach helps bring Hollywood legend Ivana Chubbuck back to Australia
BYRON BAY, NSW — When legendary Hollywood acting coach Ivana Chubbuck returns to Australia next month for the first time in a decade, one of the key people helping bring the acclaimed masterclass to life is Byron Bay actor, producer and Certified Chubbuck Teacher, Kate Jaggard.
Jaggard, founder of Actors Room Byron Bay, trained directly with Chubbuck in Los Angeles before becoming one of only a handful of Australian acting coaches officially certified to teach the internationally renowned Chubbuck Technique. She is now serving as lead producer of Chubbuck's exclusive four-day Australian masterclass in Sydney while also acting in and assisting Ivana throughout the intensive training.
The collaboration marks a significant milestone not only for Jaggard personally, but for the growing influence of regional Australia's creative industries.
"I created Actors Room Byron Bay because I wanted regional actors to have access to the same caliber of training, teachers and industry professionals they would normally have to travel to Sydney, Melbourne, Los Angeles, London or New York to experience," Jaggard said.
"What began as a vision to bring world-class opportunities to Byron Bay has now grown into collaborating with one of Hollywood's most influential acting teachers."
For more than two decades, Jaggard has worked across the entertainment industry as an actor, producer and performer. During the past decade she has undertaken intensive professional training across the Chubbuck, Meisner, Stanislavski, Adler and Susan Batson techniques, studying with internationally respected teachers including Ivana Chubbuck, Susan Batson NYC, Anthony Brandon Wong and acclaimed Australian director Kim Farrant.
Today she combines her acting career (represented by RWA) with running Actors Room Byron Bay, a professional training studio dedicated to helping actors—from talented teenagers through to established professionals—develop sustainable careers without needing to relocate to Australia's major cities.
Over the past four years, more than 1,000 students have trained through the studio, which has become known for bringing leading acting teachers, casting directors, headshot photographers and filmmakers to the Northern Rivers.
Byron Bay has long been known for its spectacular coastline, thriving arts community and laid-back lifestyle. More recently, it has become an increasingly popular destination for film and television productions, with projects including Eden, Bosch & Rockit and Nine Perfect Strangers showcasing the region's unique landscapes and creative talent. For Jaggard, the region's growing reputation as a screen production hub also presents an opportunity to establish Byron Bay as one of Australia's leading destinations for professional actor training.
The partnership with Acting Mastery and Ivana Chubbuck represents another step towards Jaggard's long-term vision of making Byron Bay a recognised destination for professional actor training.
"World-class acting training shouldn't be limited by geography," Jaggard said.
"We're creating opportunities rather than waiting for them, ensuring actors can build meaningful careers while remaining connected to the communities they love."
Ivana Chubbuck's exclusive Australian masterclass will be held in Sydney from 5–8 August, bringing together actors from across Australia to train with one of Hollywood's most influential acting coaches. Chubbuck's students have included Academy Award winners Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Brad Pitt, Eva Mendes, Beyoncé and many of today's leading film and television performers.
For Jaggard, the event represents more than a prestigious collaboration—it reflects her broader mission to ensure regional actors have access to the same world-class training and industry opportunities traditionally found only in major cities.
"Byron Bay has everything you need to inspire great storytelling—an extraordinary creative community, incredible natural beauty and talented artists," Jaggard said.
"Now we're building the opportunities to match."
About Kate Jaggard
Kate Jaggard is the founder and director of Actors Room Byron Bay, a professional actor-training studio and creative hub dedicated to bringing world-class acting education and genuine industry access to regional Australia. One of only a handful of Australian acting coaches officially certified in the Chubbuck Technique, she is a professional actor, creative producer and Certified Chubbuck Teacher who trained directly with Ivana Chubbuck in Los Angeles.
About Ivana Chubbuck
Ivana Chubbuck is one of the world's most influential acting coaches and creator of the internationally acclaimed 12-Step Chubbuck Technique. Over her career, she has coached hundreds of award-winning actors working across film, television, and theatre. Her students have appeared in productions including Monster, Monster’s Ball, Wonder Woman, Creed, The White Lotus, Dreamgirls, Bones, The Vampire Diaries, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Law & Order, Training Day, Vikings, and countless other major productions. Her mission is simple: Empowerment Through the Arts.
