The Australian Actress Redefining Vulnerability In The Spotlight.

Australian-born, Los Angeles-based actress and creative force Clementine Heath is redefining vulnerability in the spotlight, stepping away from scripted narratives to bare her soul in a groundbreaking new docuseries. Known for her early days on Aussie staples like Home and Away and All Saints, the hit Hollywood rom-com Fool’s Gold, and more recently in the multi-Daytime Emmy winning series The Bay, Heath is now the face of a raw new narrative in the docuseries Plant Medicine. 

Heath – the Sydney-born actress of stage and screen with a pedigree from New York’s Lee Starsberg Theatre Institute, is moving away from the polished veneer of Hollywood, showcasing a different kind of strength: the courage to be vulnerable while navigating the heavy lifting of grief trauma following the death of her mother, Janis Lander, to cancer in 2023. “I’m a very private person so, not going to lie, I found it incredibly challenging to watch myself in the series – as important and insightful as it is,” Heath confesses. “Having gone through it, it’s very confronting to see how much of a shell I’d become,” Heath then adds with a laugh, “A very guarded and prickly shell,  I’ve been told.” Known for her commanding stage presence, quirky humor and evocative storytelling, Heath brings a raw, authentic depth to the six-part series which chronicles a transformative week for seven strangers from different parts of the world, who come together in the lush Guanacaste jungle of Costa Rica for a week of purposeful healing. Premiering on Gaia, the series filmed at world-renowned Rythmia Life Advancement Center, the world’s only legally licensed Ayahuasca facility. This was Heath’s first time in Costa Rica and experiencing this kind of medicine, “I’ve always had a curiosity for alternative therapies. Taking part in this series was entirely intentional, I was determined to get the most out of my time with this sacred medicine.” For Heath, it is a performance of the self that requires a different kind of bravery than the stage, as she navigates “tough love” from the medicine to physically and emotionally let go of her past.

Plant Medicine is a stylishly cinematic dive into the intersection of ancient traditions, modern wellness, and psychological awakening through spiritual alignment. Directed by Stash Slionski, a forward-thinking filmmaker whose reputation as a visionary director in human-centric narratives is further solidified with this series. It serves as a masterclass in the new essentials of recovery and longevity, stripping away the myths often peddled by mainstream media. Offering an “unprecedented and unfiltered” look at therapeutic breakthroughs Heath confides, “I can’t express enough how deeply grateful I am that I was chosen to be a part of this. Ayahuasca is the Mother of teachers, and she’s there to help you heal –

how you need it,  not how you want it,” she continues. “Not only did this experience change my life for the better, I can honestly say I’ve never felt so at peace within myself. I don’t want to divulge too much because you really need to just watch the series. It’s a subject matter that is better to be observed/experienced to truly understand and appreciate it.”

The series positions Heath not just as a participant, but as a beacon for a generation of creatives seeking substance over artifice. With her artistic background, she brings a distinct, nuanced sensibility to this immersive look at wellness and transformation. “I struggled for decades with depression and mental-health related issues, nothing helped.  I couldn’t get to the root of the pain. Then after my mom died what I felt was pure emptiness. My internal compass stopped working, I lost all ability to trust in any decision making – any sense of direction for myself was gone, including not wanting to be an actress anymore. I couldn’t bear the thought of being on camera, let alone having a photo taken. I wanted to disappear.” 

Thankfully Heath no longer feels that way. In fact, there’s an air to her that is vibrant and infectious, you could even say, radiant. “There’s literally no looking back for me this time,” she says with a smile, “I’m all in! And I owe it all to my time sitting with Ayahuasca.” So how does that reflect now with her attitude towards career? “What I’ve come to realize is that – for a long time my self worth was tied up in putting other people’s needs before my own. I think I was just trying to feel seen and accepted, out of insecurity or fear of being misunderstood. Now I’m just living intentionally, and there’s something so open and gentle about that. I’m not waiting for permission. I do what feels right and good and I trust myself to go with that flow. I can see how people respond differently to me now, for the better. Especially when it comes to work.”

By documenting Heath’s journey alongside the six other seekers, including a Gulf War veteran and a rehabilitated bank robber,  Plant Medicine delivers a poignant look at how Heath navigates profound grief and mental health to step back into the world, balancing the heavy emotional work of the retreat with a quest for light and artistic renewal. “The fact is, I was ready to quit my career, which I’ve barely scratched the surface of. The enormity of the heartbreak I suffered was so vast, and I know I’m not alone in experiencing this kind of pain, so sharing my journey felt really important. Grief needs to be given more kindness and space. People are still so afraid to talk about death.”

The result is a narrative of rebirth that is as terrifying as it is liberating, suggesting that for Heath, the ultimate role is the one she had to unlearn everything to finally play. “I lost my light and my purpose after my mother died, she was my North Star. But even before then, I now understand how disconnected I was from myself. What Ayahuasca gave me was the gift of Meaning – to want to live this life. As I went deeper in the ceremonies,  understanding the root of my pain, I came to meet my most authentic Self. I understood who I became in the darkness and then the healing work began. Now that WHY – why I’m here – holds new meaning,” Heath reveals.  

Heath embraces an unorthodox path to wellness, navigating powerful ceremonial practices that challenge participants to unlock buried emotions and confront profound personal breakthroughs, she adds, “A lot of Grace is birthed through this process in ceremony, it’s remarkably profound.” Navigating her own life-altering, personal journey in real-time, she adds, “I came to understand and embrace that life is for living. That’s truly the greatest blessing.”

So what’s next for this budding talent, whose future is looking wonderfully bright. “Let’s just say I have an exciting slate of projects lined up to keep me busy for a while,” she says playfully.  “It’s exciting. I have a cool feature film shooting in the late summer, and then other projects to follow after that, and who knows what else! I’m just grateful to feel excited to act again. I wasn’t sure I’d find that drive. The fact that I feel this passion and focus feels so good, it’s next level. I’m genuinely happy, and that’s the real prize for me – this open, connected, alive feeling.” 

As viewers watch Heath navigate the emotional landscape of her grief, there’s no denying her journey is a deeply poetic exploration of healing. Authentic, unfiltered, and deeply human – for admirers of conscious, high-impact storytelling, Clementine Heath’s turn in Plant Medicine is not just a career pivot, but a daring, necessary moment of artistic transparency that is set to captivate audiences in 2026 and beyond. 

Plant Medicine is now available to stream on Gaia, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.