Sydney, Jun 1 (IANS): Actress Mia Wasikowska feels living in Australia has helped her separate her professional and personal lives, and keeps her grounded.

The “Alice Through the Looking Glass” star shares an apartment with her brother here and is glad it is so far away from Hollywood. The actress shared her views with elleuk.com.

When asked if she deliberately avoids the spotlight, she said: "Yeah, definitely. And I think it sort of helps to live in Sydney and feel like there's a certain amount of distance between the film world and my home and base, so that definitely helps.”

"I guess, having my home - I share an apartment with my brother - and having really great, lovely friends (keeps me grounded). And just knowing that at the end of a press tour like this I can go home and be completely normal and feel really comfortable and happy in that world. It helps me feel grounded."

The 26-year-old actress also opened up about her own role models and spoke of the importance of strong powerful female characters in Hollywood, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

She said: "I think it's very important (to have strong female characters). Obviously we have come a long way, but there's quite a far way to go in terms of portraying women in a sophisticated and complex way. But I think the more common it is, the better."

When asked about her role models, she added: "My nanna, my mum and my sister. In films, I think Julianne Moore is wonderful. I've worked with her a few times and I just think she's got a really great balance of having a home life and then also being really good at what she does and enjoying her job."