Rebecca Gibney was honoured at the 64th TV WEEK Logies Awards as she was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame. The star was deeply moved as she took to the stage to give a speech – having been introduced to the audience by her 19-year-old son Zac.
“The first thing that comes to my mind when somebody says “Rebecca Gibney” is, ‘that’s my mum’,” Zac told the audience.
“She’s always just been my mum, so I guess the name Rebecca Gibney doesn’t really mean much more to me than “Mum”. But I do know her name means a lot to other people. To some, she’s an amazing actor. To others, a great friend, a co-worker, a daughter, a sister, and a wife.”
Zac described his mum as a “hardworking, honest, kind and caring soul”.
“I feel so lucky to have been raised by someone with so much love to give and be guided through life watching her show so much kindness to everyone that she meets,” he said.
“Throughout her incredible career, she has brought so many amazing different characters to life. I have seen her take on so many challenges, and give her all to every role that she plays.
“I am so, so proud of my mum for receiving this incredible recognition for years of hard work. For me, this Hall of Fame placement is more than just recognising her career and achievements, but it’s also to celebrate a truly amazing human that deserves all the praise in the world.
“So many people love Rebecca Gibney, the actor. I will always love her as the kindest, most-loving mum anyone could ask for. And, tonight, all of us in this room, and industry, celebrate her. I love you, ma, to the moon and back and I’m so proud of you.”
Who is Rebecca Gibney’s son?
Rebecca Gibney’s son Zac is studying acting at drama school in Wellington in New Zealand.
Earlier this year, Gibney told her social media followers that she was relocating from her home in Dunedin, NZ, to be closer to her son.
Before that happened, Gibney had written about the experience of becoming an ”empty nester” and wrote about Zac’s bond with his father, Richard.
”Whether holding him in the palm of his hand, resting on his chest, sitting high on his shoulders, to walking side by side, and even now sleeping on each other’s shoulders – Zac knows his father will always be here,” she wrote on Instagram after Zac had moved out of home.
“We are a lucky family indeed.”
In her own deeply moving speech at the Logies, Gibney broke down as she revealed how seeing her son on stage had left her “overwhelmed”.
“My son. Oh my god. I was kind of OK until you came out. Thank you so much. I’ve got a speech. I don’t know if I can get through it. Just bear with me. I don’t know if I can do it in 30 seconds,” she told the audience.
“If someone had told 16-year-old me who suffered crippling anxiety and severe body dysmorphia that one day I would be standing on the stage with this award, she wouldn’t have believed it,” Gibney went on.
“It was on the set of The Flying Doctors where I learnt one of my biggest lessons from the legendary late great actor Maurie Fields. I asked him one day, ‘What’s the secret of success in this business?’ He said, and I quote, ‘It’s pretty simple, love. Just show up on time, know your lines, and don’t be a d–k’.
“It’s a motto that I’ve taken on to every job ever since.”
Gibney went on to pay tribute to her husband and family.
“OK, I’m not going to get through this,” she said, “The man I met on the set of Halifax, he was production designer at the time, Richard Bell, thank you for always asking the question every time a job comes up, ‘Will it make you happy? Will it bring you joy? Well, then, you have to do it’ And for sacrificing his own work on so many occasions so that I could. You have been my rock and my love for nearly a quarter of and my love for nearly a quarter of a century and I’m so grateful for that.
“To my son Zac who continues to bring me the best kind of joy, I am so proud of you. I’m so proud of the kind, gentle, ridiculously talented individual you are,” Gibney went on. “Thank you for teaching me how to be a good mum. I love you beyond words.”
