"The obvious one is Meryl Streep," says Asher Keddie, when asked who most inspires her career. "She's brave and unapologetic in her work." Many would argue the same of Keddie in recent years, as she has moved effortlessly between stage and screen, scooping various accolades as she goes.

The winner of the InStyle and Audi Women of Style News and Entertainment award, Keddie has appeared in the second series of Underbelly, played Blanche d'Alpuget in the miniseries Hawke, starred as neurotic Nina Proudman on Network Ten's dramedy Offspring, and last year, she channelled magazine icon Ita Buttrose in the ABC's hot-topic miniseries Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo—two Silver Logie Awards, and an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts award, followed. Here she talks to InStyle:

What is the biggest hurdle you've faced in your career?
"It's no secret most actors go through peaks and troughs with their own sense of worth. You dissolve a large part of yourself when you take on different characters and that can be to the detriment of your emotional health sometimes. There have been times when I've struggled with that. I've always promised myself that I will go the distance, and I've been determined to achieve what I've wanted to. It certainly helps when you [have] the support of your peers and your audience."

Has finding success in your thirties put you in better stead to handle it?
"If I had received this level of attention in my twenties, I don't think I'd have been as steady as I am now, emotionally. I'm not saying it's effortless. It's an interesting situation to be in when the public knows who you are. That can be difficult to grapple with sometimes, but I certainly feel like I did quite a bit of living before I found myself in this lucky situation."

Nina has really struck a chord with viewers. What do you most enjoy about playing that character?
"I enjoy her grapple with life. As opposed to fighting that sort of grapple, and all its challenges, in my own life I'm beginning to embrace it and enjoy it. The way she responds to situations and people in her environment is really humorous. There's just something so real about her. As an actor, that gives me such scope to play with because she is that relatable person, and she's struggling just like everybody else."

Pick up the June issue of InStyle – on stands right now! – to see Asher Keddie's complete fashion shoot and read our extended interview with the award-winning actress.

Photographed by Troyt Coburn
Styled by Katherine Green
Words by Rachel Lees