We Bury the Dead, Deanna Cooney Interview

Could you introduce your character’s role in We Bury the Dead, which is due to be released on 2 January 2026?

I play Bianca, Ava’s first partner in the Body Retrieval Unit. Their job is to go into homes and retrieve the dead after the collapse. Bianca represents the Australians who stepped forward to help — ordinary people facing something completely extraordinary.

She’s strong, capable, and initially very gung-ho about the work, but she also has teenage daughters of her own. When she’s confronted with the reality of children being among the dead, it breaks something open in her. Bianca makes the choice to step away and return to her family — to hold her girls while she still can. She’s only in the first ten minutes of the film, but she goes on a full emotional journey, which is rare for a role that size.

Daisy Ridley plays the lead role. What are the main themes of the plot?

At its heart, We Bury the Dead is about humanity in the aftermath of mass loss. It explores what happens when systems fail and people are left to decide, moment by moment, how much they can bear.

The film looks closely at grief, responsibility, and moral choice — especially when survival and compassion come into conflict. Even within a genre framework, it’s deeply personal. Every character exists for a reason, and every interaction carries weight.

That’s very much how Zak Hilditch writes. There’s nothing extraneous — no unnecessary characters, no dialogue that exists just to explain things, no visuals thrown in for effect. Everything matters. Every moment is doing narrative or emotional work, which gives the film a real sense of precision and intention.

That precision is also what makes this film so different from any other zombie film. There happen to be zombies in the story, but this isn’t just a zombie movie. It’s a human story first — the genre is the frame around it.

Who is Deanna Cooney off set and off screen? What are your hobbies?

Travel is a huge part of my life. We move around a lot — I’m actually in Thailand while answering these questions — and I travel as much as I can. I’ve got a road trip around the US coming up next year, and I love being exposed to different places, people, and ways of living. It feeds me creatively and personally. I get to people-watch, observe how others move through the world, and notice how I do the same — all of which directly informs my work as an actor.

I’m very physically active. I rock climb, scuba dive, snow ski — anything that lets me explore new environments through my body. I live in Perth, which is incredibly beautiful but very isolated, so getting out into different landscapes and challenges is something I actively seek. It pushes me physically, emotionally, and psychologically, and I love that.

I also teach and coach. I run my own business working with people on communication and public speaking, which I enjoy deeply and can do from anywhere in the world. Outside of work, I love being outdoors — camping, four-wheel driving, spending time in nature. I read voraciously, love puzzles, and spend a lot of time with my family. I have two teenage kids, cats, and chickens, so we’re basically a small, slightly chaotic mini-farm — and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Do you have any anecdotes from the set of We Bury the Dead that fans might enjoy?

We shot in Albany, right at the very bottom of Western Australia, and the wind was next level. Some days we were up on exposed hills, other days down at the bottom of streets that basically turned into wind tunnels. Continuity became a genuine challenge — makeup and hair were constantly battling dust, debris, and whatever the wind decided to throw at us. There were moments where the team was essentially just cleaning stuff off people’s faces and hair between takes. It was frustrating at times, but also pretty funny in hindsight.

What really stood out, though, was the atmosphere on set. It was incredibly warm and friendly — lots of conversation, support, and genuine care — but when it was time to work, everyone absolutely knuckled down. That balance felt very Australian to me: relaxed and human, but deeply professional when it counts.

I also loved watching Zak and Daisy work together. Their collaboration was fascinating. Between takes they weren’t just talking about the scene itself, but what was happening around it — the background action, where the story was coming from and where it was heading next. They’d try ideas, discuss choices, and make decisions in real time. Watching two people share responsibility for the storytelling like that was really engaging and a joy to be around.

What is your favourite film?

I don’t really have a single, all-time favourite. I watch a lot — films, series, everything — and my tastes change depending on where I am and what I’m working on.

Right now, honestly, We Bury the Dead is the film that’s stayed with me the most. That will probably change, but at the moment it really has my attention. What’s funny is that I usually avoid horror — it’s not my go-to genre at all — which makes it even more surprising.

It’s not like any other horror film I’ve seen. Yes, there are moments of fear and tension, but it’s also incredibly beautiful and restrained. The sound design, in particular, is extraordinary. I’ve seen it three times now, and each time I notice new details in the soundscape. Sound matters a lot to me — I work primarily as a voice actor — and this film tells so much of its story through sound and silence rather than heavy dialogue.

It trusts the audience. It doesn’t explain everything or over-explain through dialogue. Visually and sonically, it feels very Australian — it looks different, it sounds different, and it carries a distinct sensibility. I think that’s why it’s going to land so strongly with audiences.

Your CV also includes experience in production management on One-Way Ticket to the Other Side. Do you prefer directing and organising, or acting?

That credit is actually a mistake! There must be another Deanna Cooney out there working in production, because that definitely wasn’t me. I’m in the process of having it removed from my IMDb.

That said, I’m very open to directing at some point in the future. I’ve spent six years teaching at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and while that’s not directing, it does involve working closely with actors — helping them make choices, explore possibilities, and push into new territory. I enjoy that role, and I can see how those skills could translate well into directing down the track.

Right now, though, acting is very much my focus. That’s where my creative energy is, and where I feel most at home.

What are Deanna Cooney’s upcoming projects?

At the moment, I don’t have specific projects lined up, and I’m very open to what comes next. What genuinely excites me right now is the moment the Australian film industry is in — particularly in Western Australia. With new studio facilities being built and real investment coming into the state, it feels like a real turning point. There are going to be far more opportunities to make work locally, without having to leave WA to build or sustain a career, which historically hasn’t always been the case.

It’s also a fascinating time to be a midlife woman in this industry. There are more stories being written about women in their forties and fifties, for women in their forties and fifties, and after 30 years as an actor, seeing that shift happening alongside the growth of the industry here feels genuinely exciting. I’m really curious to see what emerges over the next few years.

Alongside that, I continue to work consistently in voice-over, which has been a core part of my career for over 30 years and remains an ongoing, active part of my work. I’m also currently studying with Sydney Actors Collective and will continue training. I feel open and excited about what’s ahead.