Why haven't we seen more of you in this country?
I don't know. I've been acting for 48 years. I've never been out of work, never done another job, I get some great roles, playing a lot of Americans. That's why I'm so interested in hearing the way you speak. I've done three Neil Simon plays. My husband and I did two American classics: Death of a Salesman and Prisoner of Second Avenue. I've been in a long running musical, They're Playing out Song, wearing a black wig, looking a lot like you. Last year I toured for seven months in Steel Magnolias. Now that you mention it, if I'd been living here, they're probably roles I never would have been given. I've been here a lot, coming every year for 20 years. I see a lot of theater: my best was 30 shows in 3 weeks. That's 7 nights and 3 matinees per week. I've been in a few tv series, a couple written especially for me, but I am mostly a theater actress. This year I'm doing 4 plays back to back. None is American. I will do Uncle Vanya with Cate Blanchette. You could say I'm married to the theater.
Is this all in Australia?
Yes. Nowadays all the young actors go straight to Hollywood and get into pilots, but this is something that my generation didn't do. Maybe it was lack of ambition or courage. We loved everything that came out of America. Big filmgoers, we're obsessed with American culture. I grew up watching Mickey Mouse Club. My son grew up watching Sesame Street. We are like sponges. We like our own culture but there's a lot about America that we understand. It's very surprising at this stage in my life to be in something that is getting such a big release in America. Now that I'm 63, it just makes me laugh. I knew that I was happy with what we'd done. And then we won at Sundance. We only went there because we were one of the 12 finalists. And then when we won, we'd all left Sundance because we never expected to win. Suddenly I'm talking to American journalists the way I talk to Australian journalists.
I understand you were one of the first actors to sign on to this film.
David Michon said he wrote it for me, flattering, but unexpected too. You would never expect this role to be offered to an actress like me. You expect someone more hard bitten. I usually get Sally Field roles. But the nature of this woman is so complex. You don't realize she is an amoral sociopath until way into the film. That was David's idea. My idea was to jump in boots and all and play her like a Disney witch. Sociopaths are very good at charming people and hiding their true colors. It's important that at the beginning we see her as a typical ordinary loving mom.
Someone who kisses her sons on the lips?
That's a little touch, a gesture that speaks volumes. That was David's idea. It didn't occur to me that she would do that. But it says so much about her power over these boys that she condones, encourages their criminal behavior. And the boys have all had different fathers. Her behavior is inappropriate, crossing a line toward incest.
Is this genre of film peculiar to Australia? I saw The Square, another dark badass movie with many of the same actors and a similar sensibility. For example, a character is offed, and you say, gee, I kind of liked him.
Yes, Joel Edgerton made The Square. He's is Hollywood at the moment. He's lovely, with quite a future. Yes, there's a similar banality of evil in these movies, an anti-glamorizing of the bad people. There's a pragmatism in the violence. I think we are mesmerized by the crime genre because most of us are law abiding. We find it riveting that there are people who go beyond the bounds. I think most of us are capable of bad things but most of us know when to draw the line.
How did you prepare for your role?
I read a lot of true crime, a lot of this movie mirrors events that took place in Melbourne in the 1980's, a feud going on between the corrupt police and a couple of criminal families. This is fiction, though, because David wanted to tell the story himself without worrying about the history: there were 2 young cops killed as a reprisal and there was a family of thugs. The mother has around 6 kids, a bad woman who ran brothels, and had people killed. Two of her sons died in jail. They committed several murders, one with a chain saw like in Fargo. She's only got one eye because another criminal shot it out. In Australia we've got much stronger libel laws than they do here. She's still around, and a bit scary. We don't talk about it even though everyone knows who this character is based on. We do have a reality show a little like The Sopranos but we use real names. It is incumbent on the actors to do a kind of impersonation. That would not have bothered me. But David did not want to make a biopic. He wanted to borrow from those events and make his own story, so we invented the character. The real life mother is furious. She was interviewed, saying: Everybody's making money off my fucking life except me.
Your acting! There's something about this character. She is sweet one minute and then you are not even aware she is changing. And then all of a sudden it's the look in her eyes.
That's what we wanted. It was a good collaboration. David had a clear idea of what he wanted but at the same time he is not a puppeteer like a lot of young directors. They will tell you exactly how they want things and you might as well be a storyboard for animation. The best acting comes from collaboration and David was ready to listen to all of us. At the same time he had a clear vision.
Did you go to acting school?
I started when I was 3. I came out of the womb pretending to be someone else. I love the work of Judi Dench. Meryl Streep. Anything by Woody Allen and Pedro Almodovar. I am fascinated by others: I always find other people far more interesting than I am.
Is that why you started our interview asking me questions?
You are like a lot of my black wig characters. I wear a lot of wigs.
Were you wearing one in the movie?
No, they hot rollered my hair beyond belief.
Did it take a lot of time in makeup and wigs?
Not as much as the tattoos on the boys.
At the end of Animal Kingdom, the grandson-played by an extraordinary newcomer, James Frecheville-- surprises you. What do you think happens to the grandson?
It shows good writing that the end is not spelled out. But my theory is, he's now top lion. It's too late for him. He's already committed a murder so he has to be involved with crime. The family will continue with the grandson running the roost. And the grandmother has to obey him for her own survival. David is already talking about a sequel, even a prequel. I said I'm in, but only if I can choose her husbands.
I want your help. I like your blog. Your texts are interesting. I entered here by accident and I started reading. I became interested in the topic and I am thinking whether I could use your texts on my paper, of course with the quotation. Please contact with me, thanks very much.
Posted by: thomas charm | March 09, 2011 at 08:55 AM
Http://www.maxipharmacy.com/ free cialis viagra samples cialis online discoun.
Posted by: cialis to buy | May 16, 2011 at 11:54 AM
low cialis cost abuse cialis cialis faq http://www.maxipharmacy.com/ cialis wieht pill.
Posted by: cialis to buy | May 25, 2011 at 01:05 PM
In spite of its glory in history, these primitive, big looking boots failed
at its debut in the western society. There were even extremists who
organized a compaign to ask for these boots banned.
Posted by: MBT Shoes | July 12, 2011 at 01:53 AM
Fantastic night shot with great colors and reflections. Happy new year!
Posted by: Herve Leger | August 13, 2011 at 01:51 AM
Maybe we're just lacking the crazy heads?
I especially dislike the Regency style one; tying it to your head with black ribbon does not make it look any better.
Man, the only dream I had last night was that I was being forced to evaluate my chiropractor's earring collection. I think you should ask your patron what she read before she went to bed last night.
Posted by: Christian Louboutin Outlet | August 29, 2011 at 05:14 PM
両方の病気 リード呼吸器症状 ということ彼らで異なる 情報。人々 は 通常に興味がある あきらめて体脂肪。冷たい丈夫な ウチワ通常 を破壊する芽に 前に、晩春。ある 任意の種類、高エネルギー効率 エアコン。 ブランド ベルト
Posted by: ブランド ベルト | October 23, 2013 at 12:46 AM
An shoe made with a tough sole will last for a long period of time. Foam cushioned sock liners and a huge zoom unit assist overall cushioning. A player needs a shoe which will supply him with with vertical amount. As a famed brand, it a affirmation to Nike's long-term efforts. Sombrero New Era
Posted by: Sombrero New Era | November 06, 2013 at 12:55 AM