1 00:00:05,799 --> 00:00:09,839 Speaker 1: You're listening to Amma mea podcast. I don't think it 2 00:00:09,879 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: was really about me. 3 00:00:10,599 --> 00:00:12,839 Speaker 2: I think I was a catalyst for a conversation that 4 00:00:12,919 --> 00:00:16,399 Speaker 2: people were wanting to have, and there hadn't been an 5 00:00:16,439 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 2: opportunity as clear I suppose. So somebody's suddenly attacking me. 6 00:00:21,039 --> 00:00:23,519 Speaker 2: And I'm a farmer, so i'm you know, why should 7 00:00:23,559 --> 00:00:26,639 Speaker 2: I look at a standard? And I think people have 8 00:00:26,719 --> 00:00:30,479 Speaker 2: a fear of getting older because women become very invisible. 9 00:00:29,959 --> 00:00:30,879 Speaker 1: As they get older. 10 00:00:31,039 --> 00:00:34,759 Speaker 2: Yes, and if they, you know, aren't able to rest 11 00:00:34,999 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 2: on the glory of their youth and their beauty and 12 00:00:37,599 --> 00:00:39,719 Speaker 2: their sexuality, who are they? 13 00:00:39,799 --> 00:00:41,799 Speaker 1: Where are they? 14 00:00:48,559 --> 00:00:53,839 Speaker 3: In late December last year, Rachel Ward, legendary actress, farmer, 15 00:00:54,239 --> 00:00:58,719 Speaker 3: wife of Brian Brown, mother of many grandmother, posted a 16 00:00:58,799 --> 00:01:03,039 Speaker 3: video to her Instagram account. She was standing in a paddock, 17 00:01:03,999 --> 00:01:09,439 Speaker 3: no studio lighting, no red carpet, no retouching, a sixty 18 00:01:09,479 --> 00:01:14,119 Speaker 3: eight year old woman on her farm, speaking plainly, and 19 00:01:14,159 --> 00:01:19,559 Speaker 3: within hours the commentary began. Some people praised her for 20 00:01:19,679 --> 00:01:24,519 Speaker 3: looking natural, Others were less kind. There were comments about 21 00:01:24,559 --> 00:01:28,559 Speaker 3: her face, about aging, about how she used to look, 22 00:01:28,999 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 3: about whether someone who was once a global screen icon 23 00:01:32,839 --> 00:01:37,239 Speaker 3: was somehow supposed to remain frozen in time. In this 24 00:01:37,359 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 3: episode of No Filter, Rachel and I talk about that 25 00:01:40,559 --> 00:01:43,839 Speaker 3: viral moment and what it revealed. We trace her life 26 00:01:43,879 --> 00:01:49,159 Speaker 3: from British aristocracy to Hollywood glamour, from being dismissed as 27 00:01:49,319 --> 00:01:54,399 Speaker 3: beautiful but not bright, to walking away from film and 28 00:01:54,439 --> 00:01:58,879 Speaker 3: eventually becoming a regenerative farmer on the mid North coast 29 00:01:58,919 --> 00:02:02,959 Speaker 3: of New South Wales. We talk about mental health, about 30 00:02:02,959 --> 00:02:07,239 Speaker 3: the crumbles she speaks so openly, and about how she 31 00:02:07,319 --> 00:02:12,319 Speaker 3: has known instinctively when each chapter of her life was over. 32 00:02:13,519 --> 00:02:16,679 Speaker 3: This is the magnificent Rachel Ward. 33 00:02:17,999 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: Welcome, thank you, very happy to have you. Thank you. 34 00:02:21,319 --> 00:02:24,239 Speaker 3: And then you sat down and you were horrified to 35 00:02:24,319 --> 00:02:25,559 Speaker 3: see that you're well. 36 00:02:25,599 --> 00:02:26,319 Speaker 1: I forgot that. 37 00:02:26,399 --> 00:02:28,319 Speaker 2: Of course you're doing a podcast, but I forgot that 38 00:02:28,359 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 2: you always film it. Everything's visual, so I didn't even 39 00:02:31,159 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 2: think about it. And look, I was threw on a 40 00:02:33,679 --> 00:02:36,999 Speaker 2: shirt that I've been wearing probably for the last couple 41 00:02:37,039 --> 00:02:39,039 Speaker 2: of days, and I didn't realize I'd. 42 00:02:38,839 --> 00:02:41,999 Speaker 1: Made such a pick of myself. Look in the mirror, 43 00:02:42,239 --> 00:02:43,759 Speaker 1: did you come from the farm? 44 00:02:43,959 --> 00:02:44,039 Speaker 2: No? 45 00:02:44,479 --> 00:02:46,799 Speaker 1: Who's looking after the farm? And no one right now? 46 00:02:46,799 --> 00:02:49,479 Speaker 2: Because I can go for if I pre plan, I 47 00:02:49,519 --> 00:02:51,279 Speaker 2: can go for as long as a week, as long 48 00:02:51,319 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 2: as I've got someone I need to do a couple 49 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:53,439 Speaker 2: of moves. 50 00:02:53,839 --> 00:02:55,839 Speaker 1: But yes, I have someone coming in and just moves 51 00:02:55,879 --> 00:02:57,719 Speaker 1: the cattle. Right. But if I'm. 52 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:01,439 Speaker 2: Organized enough, I can go, and I just I can 53 00:03:01,439 --> 00:03:03,719 Speaker 2: go at this stage. I couldn't go if I was 54 00:03:04,239 --> 00:03:06,159 Speaker 2: you know, if I was in carving or something like that. 55 00:03:06,199 --> 00:03:08,999 Speaker 2: But I can go now because they're all just frolicking 56 00:03:09,039 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 2: around in their paddocks. 57 00:03:11,079 --> 00:03:11,319 Speaker 1: Yeah. 58 00:03:11,359 --> 00:03:13,079 Speaker 2: So I do have a lovely guy who comes in 59 00:03:13,119 --> 00:03:14,319 Speaker 2: and just moves the cars. 60 00:03:14,799 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: But you obviously don't have someone doing your laundry. Do 61 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:20,439 Speaker 1: not have someone doing my laundry? That is shocking. 62 00:03:20,519 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 2: I just, you know, you forget about looking in the mirrors, 63 00:03:23,799 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 2: and you forget about doing your hair, and you just 64 00:03:26,479 --> 00:03:28,079 Speaker 2: and you forget about doing your laundry. 65 00:03:28,119 --> 00:03:28,839 Speaker 1: That is shocking. 66 00:03:28,999 --> 00:03:35,319 Speaker 3: Sorry, Well, this is an interesting catapult into your life, really, 67 00:03:36,039 --> 00:03:40,719 Speaker 3: and your life which has had many shades, many. 68 00:03:40,599 --> 00:03:41,959 Speaker 1: Chapters, many chapters. 69 00:03:42,079 --> 00:03:44,679 Speaker 3: Blessed leaders, long life are not as long as it 70 00:03:44,719 --> 00:03:50,439 Speaker 3: will be, but it has seen you traverse very unusually 71 00:03:50,479 --> 00:03:55,079 Speaker 3: I think a point at which you were applauded. 72 00:03:56,039 --> 00:03:56,959 Speaker 1: For your talents. 73 00:03:57,039 --> 00:04:02,879 Speaker 3: Yes, but your talents were appreciated because of your phenomenal beauty. 74 00:04:03,479 --> 00:04:07,079 Speaker 1: Well, that's very SWEETI thank you. It's not arguable, is 75 00:04:07,119 --> 00:04:08,119 Speaker 1: it what beauty? 76 00:04:08,279 --> 00:04:11,559 Speaker 3: Well, your beauty, and that you came to I think 77 00:04:11,639 --> 00:04:15,759 Speaker 3: world attention through your role in the Thorn Birds. 78 00:04:15,879 --> 00:04:19,079 Speaker 1: Yes, and you were exquisite. 79 00:04:19,479 --> 00:04:24,439 Speaker 3: I mean it brought you world acclaim yes, and attention. 80 00:04:24,999 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 1: Yes. And what was your life like prior to that? 81 00:04:31,319 --> 00:04:31,519 Speaker 3: Oh? 82 00:04:31,679 --> 00:04:33,679 Speaker 2: God, I don't know how I encapsulate that. I mean, 83 00:04:33,759 --> 00:04:36,359 Speaker 2: just so far from where that was, I suppose. 84 00:04:36,639 --> 00:04:39,879 Speaker 3: I know that you grew up in an English family. 85 00:04:40,999 --> 00:04:44,519 Speaker 3: I've heard you speak about how you were had like that, 86 00:04:44,679 --> 00:04:46,999 Speaker 3: a traditional sort of upper. 87 00:04:46,799 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: Middle class English upbringing. So were you at boarding school? Yes? 88 00:04:52,119 --> 00:04:54,799 Speaker 2: I was at boarding school and I was Yeah, I 89 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:59,559 Speaker 2: had a very it was a very Edwardian upbringing. I mean, 90 00:04:59,639 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 2: in a way the upper middle classes was stuck in 91 00:05:03,439 --> 00:05:07,439 Speaker 2: aspects as far as women were concerned. So I was 92 00:05:07,479 --> 00:05:10,999 Speaker 2: brought up in a world where I mean a great 93 00:05:11,039 --> 00:05:15,519 Speaker 2: privilege and I had a fantastic childhood in many regards, 94 00:05:15,599 --> 00:05:18,199 Speaker 2: because I grew up in the country, and I had horses, 95 00:05:18,439 --> 00:05:21,359 Speaker 2: and I had a little village which we grew up in, 96 00:05:21,599 --> 00:05:25,639 Speaker 2: and I had some really one particular girl who was 97 00:05:25,719 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 2: the chauffeur's daughter, right, who was. 98 00:05:28,599 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 1: My best friend. Oh, that's like a novel. Yeah, it 99 00:05:31,159 --> 00:05:31,879 Speaker 1: is like a novel. 100 00:05:31,959 --> 00:05:34,519 Speaker 2: And I spent most of my time in her house 101 00:05:34,799 --> 00:05:40,479 Speaker 2: because we grew up totally with paid people to look 102 00:05:40,519 --> 00:05:44,119 Speaker 2: after us. So you could say, I mean, when I 103 00:05:44,159 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 2: look at the way I brought up my children and 104 00:05:46,079 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 2: the way that my children bring up their children, it 105 00:05:48,799 --> 00:05:49,479 Speaker 2: just could not. 106 00:05:49,599 --> 00:05:50,559 Speaker 1: Be further from it. 107 00:05:50,639 --> 00:05:53,679 Speaker 2: And I wonder how my mother did it. 108 00:05:53,759 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 1: But she did not live with us. 109 00:05:56,079 --> 00:05:58,959 Speaker 2: She basically from the age that before the age we 110 00:05:58,999 --> 00:06:02,319 Speaker 2: went to boarding school, she would spend her weeks in 111 00:06:02,359 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 2: London with my father. We were left in the country 112 00:06:05,039 --> 00:06:08,679 Speaker 2: with a nanny, and then she would come down with 113 00:06:08,719 --> 00:06:11,639 Speaker 2: a lot of guests and have parties and social life 114 00:06:11,719 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 2: during the weekend, of which we would probably join in 115 00:06:14,519 --> 00:06:17,559 Speaker 2: on a Sunday lunch or something. But that was pretty 116 00:06:17,599 --> 00:06:22,519 Speaker 2: much it. So you could say it was neglectful. But 117 00:06:22,639 --> 00:06:25,319 Speaker 2: you know, we were safe, we were warm, we were fed, 118 00:06:25,519 --> 00:06:28,239 Speaker 2: we were you know, we had all the sort of 119 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:30,559 Speaker 2: things that come under the heading of privilege. 120 00:06:31,239 --> 00:06:34,639 Speaker 1: But was it privilege. It was a I don't know. 121 00:06:35,239 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 2: My self confidence has always been very low, and I 122 00:06:38,679 --> 00:06:41,879 Speaker 2: think that has to do with a lot about just 123 00:06:41,959 --> 00:06:44,999 Speaker 2: not being supported as a child, and we would have 124 00:06:45,239 --> 00:06:46,879 Speaker 2: like if you told a story, you were told to 125 00:06:46,919 --> 00:06:49,199 Speaker 2: shit or get off the pot, you know, because you 126 00:06:49,319 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 2: just don't take up too much time from adults. You 127 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:56,239 Speaker 2: were very much seen and not heard. My father had 128 00:06:56,239 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 2: a classic line when he said, at one point I 129 00:06:58,519 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 2: was going to go to university, and he said, what 130 00:07:00,199 --> 00:07:02,919 Speaker 2: on earth do you need an education for you pretty 131 00:07:03,039 --> 00:07:05,799 Speaker 2: enough to marry someone very rich, which, and you know, 132 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,239 Speaker 2: I was brought up in a world at primogenitus, so 133 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,479 Speaker 2: that women were definitely second class citizens and you did 134 00:07:11,519 --> 00:07:16,199 Speaker 2: not get a good education. Primogenitus primogenitor is when when 135 00:07:16,239 --> 00:07:18,119 Speaker 2: everything goes to the firstborn son. 136 00:07:18,559 --> 00:07:20,279 Speaker 1: Ah, so as a. 137 00:07:20,319 --> 00:07:23,999 Speaker 2: Daughter, you are expected to marry someone rich who will 138 00:07:23,999 --> 00:07:28,119 Speaker 2: then look after you. So it's very Victorian and that 139 00:07:28,319 --> 00:07:30,879 Speaker 2: was still going on when I was so my father. 140 00:07:31,599 --> 00:07:34,239 Speaker 2: I was not mentioned in my father's will, neither was 141 00:07:34,239 --> 00:07:37,679 Speaker 2: my sister, but my brother and I even have an 142 00:07:37,679 --> 00:07:40,959 Speaker 2: intellectually handicapped brother and he was in front of me 143 00:07:41,079 --> 00:07:44,599 Speaker 2: and the will right for inheritance, for inheritance and running 144 00:07:44,639 --> 00:07:47,079 Speaker 2: the running the estate or whatever. 145 00:07:47,159 --> 00:07:47,759 Speaker 1: Yeah. 146 00:07:47,959 --> 00:07:50,039 Speaker 2: So as a woman and you, we were brought up 147 00:07:50,079 --> 00:07:52,119 Speaker 2: in a thing like when there was dinner and things, 148 00:07:52,199 --> 00:07:54,959 Speaker 2: the women would leave the dinner table at the end 149 00:07:55,039 --> 00:07:57,759 Speaker 2: of the meal so that the men could talk politics 150 00:07:58,039 --> 00:08:03,479 Speaker 2: and smart and whatever else they could take business. No, 151 00:08:03,679 --> 00:08:06,479 Speaker 2: we went out, We left them and they would have 152 00:08:06,559 --> 00:08:09,519 Speaker 2: their cigars and da da da. So women were not 153 00:08:09,759 --> 00:08:14,999 Speaker 2: considered part of that conversation. So you did grow up 154 00:08:14,999 --> 00:08:18,039 Speaker 2: with this, you're not. I don't know how women didn't 155 00:08:18,039 --> 00:08:22,279 Speaker 2: grow up with terrible inferiority complexes. I certainly did. And 156 00:08:22,319 --> 00:08:24,639 Speaker 2: then it was compounded by going to Hollywood, of course. 157 00:08:24,679 --> 00:08:29,399 Speaker 2: So what was compounded was your value was your physicality 158 00:08:29,479 --> 00:08:34,319 Speaker 2: or sexuality, your beauty, your how you elevated the status 159 00:08:34,359 --> 00:08:36,959 Speaker 2: of a man by you know, being a beautiful woman 160 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:37,519 Speaker 2: or whatever. 161 00:08:37,999 --> 00:08:43,359 Speaker 1: So everything was everything was emphasized. 162 00:08:42,719 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 2: On what you looked like and how you presented yourself 163 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:46,999 Speaker 2: and your social cachet. 164 00:08:47,759 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 3: So at what point did it become apparent that you 165 00:08:53,599 --> 00:08:58,639 Speaker 3: had received the gifts of the gods of this physical beauty. 166 00:08:58,719 --> 00:09:01,399 Speaker 2: Well, I never recognized it at all. I mean that 167 00:09:01,519 --> 00:09:03,839 Speaker 2: was I don't know. I don't think you do. I 168 00:09:03,839 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 2: don't I wonder if you do. I mean I think 169 00:09:07,399 --> 00:09:10,439 Speaker 2: I wonder if you do. I mean, there were certain 170 00:09:10,479 --> 00:09:13,399 Speaker 2: people who'd say, you know, oh you're lovely darling or whatever. 171 00:09:13,439 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 1: But you know, you know, I always felt like I 172 00:09:15,599 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 1: was overweight. 173 00:09:16,519 --> 00:09:18,119 Speaker 2: I just you know, I was a model, and I 174 00:09:18,159 --> 00:09:19,599 Speaker 2: was always too big to get in I was too 175 00:09:19,599 --> 00:09:21,879 Speaker 2: busty to get into the clothes. I would very often 176 00:09:21,959 --> 00:09:24,559 Speaker 2: sit on the sidelines while other You know, there was 177 00:09:24,639 --> 00:09:28,039 Speaker 2: all sorts of reasons to give you insecurity. 178 00:09:27,639 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 1: Of course, and modeling is rife with the. 179 00:09:30,879 --> 00:09:32,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was when it came in that you have 180 00:09:33,039 --> 00:09:36,839 Speaker 2: to be you know, extremely thin, right, and I certainly 181 00:09:36,959 --> 00:09:37,399 Speaker 2: wasn't that. 182 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:38,839 Speaker 1: I was quite sort of wholesome. 183 00:09:39,079 --> 00:09:42,119 Speaker 2: But someone had the idea that you could be a model. Well, really, 184 00:09:42,439 --> 00:09:45,199 Speaker 2: yes they did. And the first thing I was told 185 00:09:45,319 --> 00:09:49,279 Speaker 2: was to lose weight. And I was never a particularly 186 00:09:49,399 --> 00:09:51,239 Speaker 2: good model. I didn't get much work. 187 00:09:52,279 --> 00:09:54,159 Speaker 1: Why were you not a good model? 188 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,839 Speaker 2: Because I wasn't thin enough? Right, really, I wasn't quite 189 00:09:57,839 --> 00:10:00,759 Speaker 2: thin enough. And there was a look at the time 190 00:10:00,839 --> 00:10:03,439 Speaker 2: I was much more. I don't know, there was very 191 00:10:03,519 --> 00:10:04,079 Speaker 2: much that. 192 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:05,999 Speaker 1: I don't know. 193 00:10:06,039 --> 00:10:08,199 Speaker 2: I was in the time of sort of Sheryl Tigues 194 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:10,999 Speaker 2: and right, it was a sort of the American thing, 195 00:10:11,039 --> 00:10:14,839 Speaker 2: of the long legged, long blonde thing, and I was 196 00:10:14,919 --> 00:10:19,639 Speaker 2: seventeen magazine. Yes, I wasn't quite you know, it certainly 197 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,519 Speaker 2: wasn't in that supermodel category by any means. 198 00:10:22,799 --> 00:10:25,279 Speaker 1: Whose idea was it modeling? Can you remember? Well? 199 00:10:25,319 --> 00:10:27,639 Speaker 2: Probably mine, because I was completely ill equipped to do 200 00:10:27,639 --> 00:10:31,039 Speaker 2: anything else. You know, you left, you leave your education system. 201 00:10:31,039 --> 00:10:34,759 Speaker 2: In that world, no emphasis was put on education. I 202 00:10:34,919 --> 00:10:38,159 Speaker 2: was never expected. There was no expectation for me to 203 00:10:38,199 --> 00:10:42,479 Speaker 2: do well in school. My brother got you know, smacked 204 00:10:42,519 --> 00:10:43,359 Speaker 2: over the hand if. 205 00:10:43,239 --> 00:10:44,279 Speaker 1: He got a bad report. 206 00:10:44,519 --> 00:10:47,359 Speaker 2: Nobody cared if us girl's got bad reports, right, So 207 00:10:47,399 --> 00:10:49,679 Speaker 2: there was no emphasis, was no talk of careers. 208 00:10:49,879 --> 00:10:52,079 Speaker 1: There was no you were literally expected. 209 00:10:52,879 --> 00:10:55,159 Speaker 2: And it does sound like I've stepped out of a 210 00:10:55,359 --> 00:10:58,119 Speaker 2: you know, nineteenth century novel, But that's where That's why 211 00:10:58,119 --> 00:11:00,359 Speaker 2: I say it was still an aspects that whole mid 212 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:01,679 Speaker 2: upper middle class thing. 213 00:11:01,719 --> 00:11:02,719 Speaker 1: As far as women go. 214 00:11:03,119 --> 00:11:06,119 Speaker 2: The middle class had moved on much more as far 215 00:11:06,199 --> 00:11:09,599 Speaker 2: as women, you know, thinking about careers and stuff. But 216 00:11:09,759 --> 00:11:13,759 Speaker 2: for us, it was totally about who you married, you know, 217 00:11:13,839 --> 00:11:16,239 Speaker 2: had to, you know, it was My mother was a 218 00:11:16,319 --> 00:11:18,719 Speaker 2: deb she went through that. Now I didn't do that. 219 00:11:19,159 --> 00:11:22,599 Speaker 1: And she married will and she married above station. 220 00:11:22,839 --> 00:11:25,399 Speaker 2: Yes, she married well, she was very beautiful and she 221 00:11:25,479 --> 00:11:29,919 Speaker 2: did marry well, and her grand my grandmother, her mother 222 00:11:30,079 --> 00:11:33,079 Speaker 2: was very pushy about all of that, you know, who 223 00:11:33,119 --> 00:11:36,599 Speaker 2: she should marry and or anyway, she got married ridiculously. 224 00:11:36,639 --> 00:11:39,239 Speaker 2: I'm at twenty one or something, had me at twenty 225 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:42,639 Speaker 2: one and was you know, completely unready to be a 226 00:11:42,719 --> 00:11:44,919 Speaker 2: mother and to you know, run I mean, she could 227 00:11:44,959 --> 00:11:47,959 Speaker 2: run a household, I suppose, but she was just too 228 00:11:47,999 --> 00:11:50,959 Speaker 2: young to settle down and to think about kids. 229 00:11:51,239 --> 00:11:53,759 Speaker 3: And she had that infrastructure that meant that she didn't 230 00:11:53,759 --> 00:11:56,479 Speaker 3: necessarily have to take on no onerous aspects. 231 00:11:56,759 --> 00:12:00,199 Speaker 2: She never I don't remember ever bathing us or anything, 232 00:12:00,279 --> 00:12:02,999 Speaker 2: or being with us when we were sick or I 233 00:12:02,999 --> 00:12:04,519 Speaker 2: mean she was a great mum when we got old. 234 00:12:05,159 --> 00:12:06,999 Speaker 2: She wasn't a good one when we were when we 235 00:12:06,999 --> 00:12:10,359 Speaker 2: were young, and mainly because I think my dad wanted 236 00:12:10,399 --> 00:12:15,279 Speaker 2: her on his arm, and so she just wasn't around. 237 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,159 Speaker 1: And when she was around, she had quite a sort 238 00:12:18,199 --> 00:12:19,559 Speaker 1: of short attention span. 239 00:12:20,399 --> 00:12:23,399 Speaker 2: So it was very much that thing of you know, 240 00:12:23,439 --> 00:12:26,519 Speaker 2: how you indulge children to express themselves and you're there 241 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:29,359 Speaker 2: forever well they tell long stories and things. There was 242 00:12:29,919 --> 00:12:32,999 Speaker 2: none of that, none of that, you know, you just 243 00:12:33,079 --> 00:12:35,359 Speaker 2: did not take up adult time. 244 00:12:35,719 --> 00:12:40,119 Speaker 3: But It's funny because I think you often parent, you know, 245 00:12:40,239 --> 00:12:43,039 Speaker 3: you take on board the way you were parented, or 246 00:12:43,119 --> 00:12:45,079 Speaker 3: you push against the way you were parented. 247 00:12:45,239 --> 00:12:48,759 Speaker 2: And you Yes, I knew very very soon that I 248 00:12:48,839 --> 00:12:51,079 Speaker 2: did not want my children to grow up in the 249 00:12:51,079 --> 00:12:51,959 Speaker 2: way that I grew up. 250 00:12:52,279 --> 00:12:55,639 Speaker 1: And how did you know what the alternative was? 251 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:59,039 Speaker 2: Because I spent so much time in the chauffeur's flat, right, 252 00:12:59,479 --> 00:13:03,919 Speaker 2: so I saw I'd seen a family. I'd seen her 253 00:13:04,039 --> 00:13:07,239 Speaker 2: fill his hype and puttish slippers by, and I'd see them, 254 00:13:07,359 --> 00:13:09,919 Speaker 2: you know how, all over her father, and I'd see 255 00:13:10,519 --> 00:13:13,359 Speaker 2: mum cooking in the kitchen and everybody sitting down at 256 00:13:13,359 --> 00:13:16,399 Speaker 2: the meal, and I just went, I loved it there. Yeah, 257 00:13:17,079 --> 00:13:20,359 Speaker 2: I couldn't, you know, have enough of it. But so 258 00:13:20,479 --> 00:13:22,519 Speaker 2: I did see it, and I think that made a 259 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:23,639 Speaker 2: big impression on me. 260 00:13:23,879 --> 00:13:27,719 Speaker 3: When you left basically the chauffeur's family to go, you know, 261 00:13:27,759 --> 00:13:28,839 Speaker 3: and when they got divorced. 262 00:13:28,879 --> 00:13:30,159 Speaker 1: When my parents got divorced and I. 263 00:13:30,119 --> 00:13:34,439 Speaker 2: Was about I think I was about twelve, the first 264 00:13:34,519 --> 00:13:37,639 Speaker 2: thing I said, is mister Hooper's not leaving, is he? 265 00:13:37,639 --> 00:13:40,159 Speaker 1: He was the chauffeur, And I was that was my 266 00:13:40,279 --> 00:13:40,879 Speaker 1: big worry. 267 00:13:40,879 --> 00:13:43,359 Speaker 2: I didn't care about anything else, But I wanted to 268 00:13:43,359 --> 00:13:44,559 Speaker 2: know that they weren't leaving. 269 00:13:44,839 --> 00:13:48,119 Speaker 3: But my family, you ended up leaving them when you 270 00:13:48,159 --> 00:13:50,079 Speaker 3: went to America. 271 00:13:50,159 --> 00:13:52,439 Speaker 2: Oh well, I went to boarding school Rastache, so I 272 00:13:52,519 --> 00:13:55,639 Speaker 2: was in boarding school at ten. So then that took 273 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:57,999 Speaker 2: me on a whole other you know, that was your 274 00:13:58,039 --> 00:13:59,359 Speaker 2: home became boarding school. 275 00:14:00,119 --> 00:14:02,039 Speaker 1: And I was much happier at boarding school than I 276 00:14:02,119 --> 00:14:05,639 Speaker 1: was at home. Really why. 277 00:14:07,439 --> 00:14:11,879 Speaker 2: Because it was just it was because you may your 278 00:14:11,919 --> 00:14:16,759 Speaker 2: friends became your family, your girl, your intensely the intense 279 00:14:16,799 --> 00:14:19,599 Speaker 2: relationship that you had with girlfriends that were, you know, 280 00:14:19,639 --> 00:14:28,519 Speaker 2: your your peers and your classmates. Those relationships were unusually close, 281 00:14:29,239 --> 00:14:33,479 Speaker 2: unusually tight. And I had a girlfriend that used to 282 00:14:33,479 --> 00:14:36,759 Speaker 2: torture me because she was she was always going off 283 00:14:36,799 --> 00:14:40,719 Speaker 2: with other girls, and it was just devastating. I've never 284 00:14:41,279 --> 00:14:44,679 Speaker 2: loved her and I never felt that jealousy ever again. 285 00:14:45,039 --> 00:14:47,519 Speaker 2: But you form those sort of relationships, and they're all 286 00:14:47,599 --> 00:14:49,759 Speaker 2: girls too, who come from the same sort of world, 287 00:14:50,199 --> 00:14:54,719 Speaker 2: who were also lacking that connection with deep connection with family, 288 00:14:55,479 --> 00:14:59,199 Speaker 2: and we had these incredibly intensive relationships. 289 00:14:59,799 --> 00:15:04,359 Speaker 3: I think that's still common in schools, yes, probably schools. 290 00:15:04,879 --> 00:15:08,279 Speaker 3: Like every girlfriend I know who's been to a particularly 291 00:15:08,279 --> 00:15:12,319 Speaker 3: a private school or boarded has had that real intensity 292 00:15:12,359 --> 00:15:14,439 Speaker 3: of feeling for one of her girlfriends. 293 00:15:14,679 --> 00:15:18,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that lasts forever. So I'm grateful for it too. 294 00:15:18,759 --> 00:15:22,119 Speaker 2: But you know, I just wonder how parents could be. 295 00:15:22,239 --> 00:15:25,999 Speaker 2: So it's just different, isn't it. Pedagogy is just a 296 00:15:26,079 --> 00:15:28,639 Speaker 2: very different beast these days than it was. Well, it's 297 00:15:28,639 --> 00:15:30,519 Speaker 2: what you know, it's what you know. And it didn't 298 00:15:30,519 --> 00:15:33,399 Speaker 2: seem unusual to me. No, it seemed I had no. 299 00:15:35,319 --> 00:15:36,239 Speaker 1: Perspective on it. 300 00:15:36,399 --> 00:15:39,679 Speaker 3: No, So you would never say to your parents, can't 301 00:15:39,679 --> 00:15:40,559 Speaker 3: you stay here with me? 302 00:15:41,599 --> 00:15:44,119 Speaker 1: It wasn't even a concept. 303 00:15:44,599 --> 00:15:47,079 Speaker 2: No, And you didn't want them to either, because they 304 00:15:47,079 --> 00:15:51,519 Speaker 2: were quite frightening, right, They were. 305 00:15:51,479 --> 00:15:53,719 Speaker 1: Quite frightening, and they were quite impatient. You know. 306 00:15:53,799 --> 00:15:56,679 Speaker 2: They just weren't going to be They weren't the kind 307 00:15:56,839 --> 00:15:58,439 Speaker 2: I look at my daughter now and what she gives 308 00:15:58,439 --> 00:16:01,679 Speaker 2: to her children, and I just both of them, both 309 00:16:01,679 --> 00:16:04,799 Speaker 2: of them, and I just I think, what was How 310 00:16:04,879 --> 00:16:07,799 Speaker 2: was the nanny reacting when I was carrying on like this, 311 00:16:07,959 --> 00:16:10,079 Speaker 2: age four or two or whatever, and you know. 312 00:16:10,199 --> 00:16:11,479 Speaker 1: That you're not theirs? 313 00:16:11,799 --> 00:16:15,399 Speaker 2: Yes, And we had a nanny that only really loved 314 00:16:15,439 --> 00:16:20,359 Speaker 2: my brother, So we were always the scapegoats for everything, yeah, right, 315 00:16:20,439 --> 00:16:22,679 Speaker 2: And I don't remember caring much, but it was a 316 00:16:22,719 --> 00:16:25,239 Speaker 2: strange one and it definitely would have had I'm not 317 00:16:25,279 --> 00:16:27,879 Speaker 2: sure what sort of psychological impact it had, but it 318 00:16:27,919 --> 00:16:29,959 Speaker 2: would have had it had to have. 319 00:16:30,039 --> 00:16:30,919 Speaker 1: I mean, you can't. 320 00:16:30,719 --> 00:16:34,159 Speaker 2: Remember that far back, but it forms your obviously, it 321 00:16:34,239 --> 00:16:35,599 Speaker 2: forms your brain, doesn't it. 322 00:16:35,759 --> 00:16:38,919 Speaker 3: Yes, And then it also even if it manifests in 323 00:16:39,919 --> 00:16:43,599 Speaker 3: rebellion in some aspects or the opposite. 324 00:16:43,719 --> 00:16:49,199 Speaker 1: Always having to be good? Which were you always having 325 00:16:49,239 --> 00:16:52,959 Speaker 1: to be good? Yes? Maybe I did. 326 00:16:53,039 --> 00:16:56,079 Speaker 2: I wanted my mother's attention a lot, and I was 327 00:16:56,159 --> 00:16:58,279 Speaker 2: quite good at that. I was better at that than 328 00:16:58,319 --> 00:17:01,519 Speaker 2: the others were, so I was the favorite, right, And 329 00:17:01,639 --> 00:17:05,199 Speaker 2: I was very highly sensitive, so I could feel when 330 00:17:05,279 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 2: her winds changed, so I knew when to get out 331 00:17:08,399 --> 00:17:11,079 Speaker 2: of her way and I knew how to get to 332 00:17:11,159 --> 00:17:12,319 Speaker 2: her right. 333 00:17:12,759 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 1: So I don't know, And it wasn't necessarily being good, 334 00:17:15,759 --> 00:17:16,279 Speaker 1: but it was. 335 00:17:17,239 --> 00:17:20,679 Speaker 2: It was just Yeah, I was sort of highly sensitive 336 00:17:20,759 --> 00:17:27,279 Speaker 2: about people's when people had had enough, when parents, adults 337 00:17:27,279 --> 00:17:30,199 Speaker 2: had had enough, which yeah. 338 00:17:29,879 --> 00:17:32,799 Speaker 1: And my children, my siblings, never really got that. 339 00:17:32,799 --> 00:17:34,839 Speaker 2: So I was always pulling them out by the hair 340 00:17:34,919 --> 00:17:39,319 Speaker 2: and saying, come on, let's go, because it's it's it's 341 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:40,479 Speaker 2: over the time with. 342 00:17:41,079 --> 00:17:43,519 Speaker 1: The time here is done. Yeah, it's done. 343 00:17:43,639 --> 00:17:46,119 Speaker 2: So I think it's that thing of I mean, I 344 00:17:46,199 --> 00:17:48,479 Speaker 2: still find this sort of thing quite hard because I 345 00:17:48,519 --> 00:17:50,319 Speaker 2: have it in the back of my head always shit 346 00:17:50,439 --> 00:17:51,519 Speaker 2: or get off the pot. 347 00:17:52,479 --> 00:17:53,479 Speaker 1: Or don't be boring. 348 00:17:53,639 --> 00:17:56,519 Speaker 2: You know, the worst crime you could be was boring 349 00:17:56,719 --> 00:17:59,119 Speaker 2: in that world. I was interested when I met Brian 350 00:17:59,679 --> 00:18:01,959 Speaker 2: and I used the word boring. He said, you use 351 00:18:02,039 --> 00:18:04,959 Speaker 2: that word quite often. He said, I've never use that 352 00:18:04,999 --> 00:18:07,599 Speaker 2: in my life. I've never been bored. I'd have been 353 00:18:07,679 --> 00:18:10,959 Speaker 2: told I'm boring. It was the number one insult when 354 00:18:10,999 --> 00:18:12,879 Speaker 2: I was growing up was not to be borught was 355 00:18:12,919 --> 00:18:13,559 Speaker 2: to be boring. 356 00:18:13,999 --> 00:18:16,319 Speaker 1: And in what way could you be boring? 357 00:18:16,679 --> 00:18:20,639 Speaker 2: Banging on talking about talking about yourself. All the things 358 00:18:20,639 --> 00:18:24,079 Speaker 2: that I've mastered, right, yes, that I've caught up with. 359 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:29,199 Speaker 2: Yet attention to yourself, particularly as a woman, particular as 360 00:18:29,199 --> 00:18:32,839 Speaker 2: a woman to talk about yourself was very just very judgmental. 361 00:18:32,879 --> 00:18:37,239 Speaker 2: It was a very judgmental world. Well, I think for women, 362 00:18:37,519 --> 00:18:39,839 Speaker 2: probably terrible. There was a lot of things when women 363 00:18:39,919 --> 00:18:41,319 Speaker 2: left the room and they would say she's got a 364 00:18:41,399 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 2: huge ass or something. Oh yeah, it was brutal brutal, 365 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:50,199 Speaker 2: a lot of things about being stupid, A lot of 366 00:18:50,399 --> 00:18:51,279 Speaker 2: a lot of prisoners. 367 00:18:51,279 --> 00:18:53,559 Speaker 1: She's so stupid, you know, a lot of stuff about that. 368 00:18:53,559 --> 00:18:58,559 Speaker 2: So you were very self conscious about being stupid or 369 00:18:58,679 --> 00:18:59,599 Speaker 2: not right. 370 00:18:59,719 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 3: And in that regard, they also had you coming and 371 00:19:01,679 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 3: going because you weren't deemed worthy of age or bettering yourself. No, 372 00:19:07,159 --> 00:19:10,039 Speaker 3: but then you were also tired with the brush of 373 00:19:10,079 --> 00:19:15,879 Speaker 3: being stupid. Yeah, so in this scenario, how do you win? 374 00:19:16,399 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 3: You exit and pursue your own. 375 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:25,639 Speaker 2: Well, I'm just always amazed by more women not being 376 00:19:25,679 --> 00:19:29,239 Speaker 2: damaged by it. But maybe I'm just don't know them well. 377 00:19:29,239 --> 00:19:31,439 Speaker 2: And I left too early. I got out very quick. 378 00:19:31,519 --> 00:19:34,679 Speaker 2: I didn't like the men in that world. I didn't 379 00:19:34,759 --> 00:19:35,919 Speaker 2: like the young men. 380 00:19:35,759 --> 00:19:36,319 Speaker 1: In that world. 381 00:19:36,319 --> 00:19:39,959 Speaker 2: They were very arrogant, very cocky, very clever. They'd all 382 00:19:39,999 --> 00:19:43,959 Speaker 2: been to you know, big boys public schools, and they've 383 00:19:43,959 --> 00:19:46,719 Speaker 2: been to Oxford and Cambridge. Yes, they had very good 384 00:19:46,839 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 2: educations and you had none, right, I mean, and I 385 00:19:51,479 --> 00:19:54,959 Speaker 2: left school at sixteen. So and you were literally just 386 00:19:55,039 --> 00:19:58,759 Speaker 2: in a market for whether au had some money, because 387 00:19:58,759 --> 00:20:00,079 Speaker 2: they all wanted to see a lot of them were 388 00:20:00,079 --> 00:20:03,759 Speaker 2: second sons, so they were looking for rich daughters and 389 00:20:03,839 --> 00:20:07,159 Speaker 2: whether you know, you were a good sword, so it was, 390 00:20:07,199 --> 00:20:07,599 Speaker 2: you know, I. 391 00:20:07,519 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 1: Suppose not that different than a lot of people. 392 00:20:12,959 --> 00:20:16,199 Speaker 3: After the Break, Rachel explains why she left the world 393 00:20:16,199 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 3: of glamour at nineteen and what it was really like 394 00:20:19,799 --> 00:20:26,759 Speaker 3: being judged as beautiful but not bright. When you did 395 00:20:26,759 --> 00:20:29,479 Speaker 3: The Thorn Birds, which I didn't realize was not shot 396 00:20:29,519 --> 00:20:32,799 Speaker 3: in Australia because it was an Australian. 397 00:20:32,559 --> 00:20:38,959 Speaker 2: Story, I realized that glamour had a high premium in 398 00:20:38,999 --> 00:20:41,479 Speaker 2: that world, and I thought, you know, you can actually 399 00:20:41,679 --> 00:20:44,599 Speaker 2: be boring and but be glamorous and you can get 400 00:20:44,639 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 2: away with it. You can be dumb if you're glamorous 401 00:20:47,679 --> 00:20:50,079 Speaker 2: and get away with it. So I kind of recognize 402 00:20:50,159 --> 00:20:53,599 Speaker 2: that and I went, right, well, then I'm not educated, 403 00:20:53,639 --> 00:20:58,039 Speaker 2: I'm not the brightest in the forest. I'll be glamorous 404 00:20:58,919 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 2: and so beautiful. I guess I never saw that, but yeah, 405 00:21:04,879 --> 00:21:07,519 Speaker 2: I definitely got Well, you know, you move in a world, 406 00:21:07,559 --> 00:21:10,119 Speaker 2: but there's a lot of beauty. There's a lot of beauty, right, 407 00:21:10,439 --> 00:21:14,839 Speaker 2: a lot of bety. I didn't feel exceptionally beautiful at all, but. 408 00:21:14,959 --> 00:21:18,479 Speaker 3: You were exceptional your background you, as you say, in 409 00:21:18,519 --> 00:21:21,119 Speaker 3: that time where it was all like big white teeth 410 00:21:21,159 --> 00:21:25,039 Speaker 3: and font here, and you were I'm going to say 411 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:26,199 Speaker 3: English rose. 412 00:21:26,559 --> 00:21:28,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, But I got out of that very quick. So 413 00:21:28,599 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 2: by nineteen I'd moved to America. I'd gone to America, 414 00:21:32,279 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 2: and then you were taking face value. It was much 415 00:21:34,679 --> 00:21:39,039 Speaker 2: more about your own, your own efforts, your own you know, 416 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:45,319 Speaker 2: you were you were, You were credited for your own. 417 00:21:46,679 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 1: What you brought. 418 00:21:47,639 --> 00:21:47,919 Speaker 2: You know that. 419 00:21:48,199 --> 00:21:53,239 Speaker 1: I wasn't like the Earl of Dudley's North No, new Country. 420 00:21:52,919 --> 00:21:56,319 Speaker 2: New Country. Yes, face value. You were totally taken it 421 00:21:56,399 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 2: face value. And I was always quite hard worker. I 422 00:21:59,719 --> 00:22:02,839 Speaker 2: understood about working. I worked hard at school and I 423 00:22:02,959 --> 00:22:06,719 Speaker 2: wanted to do well. I was quite quite driven. I 424 00:22:06,759 --> 00:22:07,319 Speaker 2: don't know why. 425 00:22:07,399 --> 00:22:11,679 Speaker 1: I think in my character was your English. No, I 426 00:22:11,759 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: wasn't good at English. No, I wasn't because I was 427 00:22:13,879 --> 00:22:17,079 Speaker 1: a useless speller and things like that. No I was. 428 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 2: I didn't discover that writing and things till much later. 429 00:22:20,719 --> 00:22:23,279 Speaker 1: I was good at art. I was good at art, and. 430 00:22:23,239 --> 00:22:25,839 Speaker 2: I could work so I could get I was very 431 00:22:25,879 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 2: good at putting in the work so that I could 432 00:22:28,039 --> 00:22:29,239 Speaker 2: do well in the exams. 433 00:22:30,199 --> 00:22:32,719 Speaker 1: But anyway, it didn't do me much good because I know, but. 434 00:22:32,719 --> 00:22:36,799 Speaker 3: Good for being an actor, which actually requires quite a 435 00:22:36,799 --> 00:22:40,119 Speaker 3: lot of work, particularly to take a lead role in 436 00:22:41,199 --> 00:22:42,599 Speaker 3: one of the first mini series. 437 00:22:43,279 --> 00:22:47,159 Speaker 2: No, not what a lot of work. No, it takes 438 00:22:47,759 --> 00:22:48,599 Speaker 2: you know what it takes. 439 00:22:48,719 --> 00:22:50,439 Speaker 1: It takes real guts. 440 00:22:50,799 --> 00:22:54,239 Speaker 2: I was gutsy, I was brave, and I remember going 441 00:22:54,239 --> 00:22:56,279 Speaker 2: to auditions very early on and there'd be a lot 442 00:22:56,319 --> 00:22:59,439 Speaker 2: of other models in the audition room and I was focused, 443 00:23:00,079 --> 00:23:02,919 Speaker 2: and I was you know, I was very focused. I 444 00:23:02,999 --> 00:23:05,319 Speaker 2: was doing my whatever I used to do to get 445 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:08,919 Speaker 2: myself into the place, and the others were just you know, 446 00:23:09,399 --> 00:23:10,639 Speaker 2: chatting away and all of that. 447 00:23:10,839 --> 00:23:17,159 Speaker 1: So I was quite focused. And when you got cast, 448 00:23:18,759 --> 00:23:21,759 Speaker 1: when you got the job, can you remember that the 449 00:23:21,799 --> 00:23:24,959 Speaker 1: thorn Birds? Oh well, i'd moved. I'd spent a couple 450 00:23:24,999 --> 00:23:25,599 Speaker 1: of years. 451 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:27,039 Speaker 2: In New York, first as a model, and then I 452 00:23:27,079 --> 00:23:29,999 Speaker 2: started acting and I did a couple of horror movies 453 00:23:30,039 --> 00:23:33,319 Speaker 2: there and then I moved to la and I did 454 00:23:33,439 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 2: so I've done a movie with Burt Reynolds before then. 455 00:23:35,439 --> 00:23:39,079 Speaker 2: I'd done Sharky's Machine was my big break. So that 456 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 2: put me into a big league and there was a 457 00:23:41,999 --> 00:23:43,839 Speaker 2: you know, I had a lot of publicity because at 458 00:23:43,879 --> 00:23:48,199 Speaker 2: the time, Burt Reynolds was the Brad Pitt of the day. 459 00:23:48,839 --> 00:23:51,159 Speaker 2: So it was a big coup to get that role. 460 00:23:51,239 --> 00:23:54,479 Speaker 2: And it had to go to an unknown because the 461 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 2: lead disappears after about first twenty minutes, and if it 462 00:23:57,919 --> 00:23:59,999 Speaker 2: had been Jane Fonder or somewhere, you know, she was 463 00:23:59,999 --> 00:24:03,879 Speaker 2: coming back. So I had to it had to be 464 00:24:03,919 --> 00:24:06,479 Speaker 2: in And then, oh, yeah, I had that was very 465 00:24:06,479 --> 00:24:10,399 Speaker 2: competitive and I basically beat out most of the women 466 00:24:10,479 --> 00:24:15,039 Speaker 2: of mine, so I was quite I was obviously pretty, 467 00:24:16,319 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 2: you know, I had my wits about me. Then, yes, 468 00:24:18,639 --> 00:24:20,959 Speaker 2: definitely had my wits about me, and I worked hard 469 00:24:20,999 --> 00:24:25,399 Speaker 2: and I had guts, and those auditions were just horrifying, horrifying. 470 00:24:25,639 --> 00:24:30,759 Speaker 1: Always are that traumatic, and so then yeah, thorn Burd's 471 00:24:30,839 --> 00:24:32,319 Speaker 1: was one of those ones. And I didn't want to 472 00:24:32,319 --> 00:24:32,879 Speaker 1: do it at first. 473 00:24:32,959 --> 00:24:34,999 Speaker 2: I read the script and I thought, oh my god, 474 00:24:35,079 --> 00:24:37,559 Speaker 2: this is ludicrous, you know, because it was all written 475 00:24:37,599 --> 00:24:40,919 Speaker 2: in I am but Pantameter. Oh so it was very, 476 00:24:41,039 --> 00:24:44,479 Speaker 2: very wordily, and it wasn't and it wasn't naturalistic. And 477 00:24:44,519 --> 00:24:47,839 Speaker 2: also it was very it was very American, and it 478 00:24:47,879 --> 00:24:50,559 Speaker 2: took itself very seriously. And I went in on the 479 00:24:50,559 --> 00:24:53,679 Speaker 2: first audition and was probably quite light with it, which 480 00:24:53,719 --> 00:24:55,759 Speaker 2: had served me well in Dead Men don't wear plaid 481 00:24:55,799 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 2: that I would I done already with so I had 482 00:24:59,439 --> 00:25:01,839 Speaker 2: a sort of lightness and a humor with my work 483 00:25:01,879 --> 00:25:04,879 Speaker 2: and all of that. And then I went into and 484 00:25:04,919 --> 00:25:06,719 Speaker 2: I did it so I normally did. And I got 485 00:25:06,759 --> 00:25:09,799 Speaker 2: like four out of ten for my audition because I 486 00:25:09,959 --> 00:25:14,359 Speaker 2: wasn't taking it probably seriously enough, right, and they gave 487 00:25:14,519 --> 00:25:20,319 Speaker 2: that no, I didn't get the role. And then I went, oh, 488 00:25:20,759 --> 00:25:23,359 Speaker 2: I really want this role, you know, I suddenly went 489 00:25:23,399 --> 00:25:26,319 Speaker 2: out I wanted and I got them to get me 490 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:29,679 Speaker 2: in again to audition again, and I changed the way 491 00:25:29,679 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 2: I did it. I knew that they wanted, you know, 492 00:25:33,799 --> 00:25:36,359 Speaker 2: I knew they wanted sort of soap opera kind of 493 00:25:36,399 --> 00:25:40,799 Speaker 2: drama in tears, yearning, yearning and all of that sort 494 00:25:40,839 --> 00:25:41,239 Speaker 2: of stuff. 495 00:25:41,239 --> 00:25:46,679 Speaker 3: You know, you say derisively, but they are very powerful. 496 00:25:46,279 --> 00:25:51,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, but yeah, well you know, I mean they are, yes, 497 00:25:51,879 --> 00:25:55,319 Speaker 2: But for me, they needed the complexity of a bit 498 00:25:55,319 --> 00:25:57,679 Speaker 2: of light and shade. And for me it was just, 499 00:25:57,799 --> 00:26:00,879 Speaker 2: you know, every scene I had someone with my father died, 500 00:26:00,959 --> 00:26:04,479 Speaker 2: my brother died, he left me. It was a dirge 501 00:26:04,639 --> 00:26:06,599 Speaker 2: and I think in the end probably I was a dirt. 502 00:26:06,719 --> 00:26:09,519 Speaker 2: It was just that there was no light moments and 503 00:26:09,599 --> 00:26:12,439 Speaker 2: I had a director who would say to me like 504 00:26:12,639 --> 00:26:16,319 Speaker 2: and I'd just be stumped over yet another ghastly scene, 505 00:26:16,319 --> 00:26:17,959 Speaker 2: and he said, you're a little bird. 506 00:26:17,759 --> 00:26:21,279 Speaker 1: With a broken wing, and that was my direction, you know. 507 00:26:21,999 --> 00:26:25,839 Speaker 2: So it was it wasn't really encouraging me to bring 508 00:26:25,919 --> 00:26:28,159 Speaker 2: more life to it, so I would have directed it 509 00:26:28,319 --> 00:26:28,999 Speaker 2: very differently. 510 00:26:29,039 --> 00:26:30,719 Speaker 1: But there you go. It was a huge success, So 511 00:26:30,799 --> 00:26:31,639 Speaker 1: what am I was a. 512 00:26:31,679 --> 00:26:34,359 Speaker 2: Huge success, And not only that, but not here it 513 00:26:34,399 --> 00:26:36,159 Speaker 2: was I mean, it was success here, but god, it 514 00:26:36,239 --> 00:26:36,919 Speaker 2: got pillared. 515 00:26:37,319 --> 00:26:42,439 Speaker 1: Oh she got pillared who was the writer, Colin McCullough. 516 00:26:42,719 --> 00:26:45,039 Speaker 2: She got pillariedge for selling it to the Americans, And 517 00:26:45,079 --> 00:26:48,479 Speaker 2: it got pillared here because I got pillaried because it 518 00:26:48,639 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 2: should have gone to an Australian and it went to me, 519 00:26:52,039 --> 00:26:55,999 Speaker 2: and then I went off with you know, mister Australia, 520 00:26:56,079 --> 00:26:59,839 Speaker 2: which was even the worst scene National Treasure exactly. 521 00:26:59,959 --> 00:27:03,279 Speaker 1: So that was a sin. No. So I definitely got 522 00:27:03,479 --> 00:27:07,239 Speaker 1: bollocked here, and that was hard. I got pretty. 523 00:27:06,919 --> 00:27:10,199 Speaker 2: Bad reviews, really yeah, I got pretty bad reviews. And 524 00:27:10,879 --> 00:27:13,279 Speaker 2: it took me a lot, and because I was already 525 00:27:14,079 --> 00:27:18,199 Speaker 2: very insecure, I really took it to heart and it 526 00:27:18,679 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 2: cruled me. 527 00:27:20,039 --> 00:27:22,399 Speaker 1: It's like today having trolls. 528 00:27:22,559 --> 00:27:28,319 Speaker 2: Yes, because it's public annihilation, Yes, and very public annihilation. 529 00:27:28,879 --> 00:27:32,439 Speaker 2: It fills you kind of with shame and oh, my god, 530 00:27:33,599 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 2: remember my physicality. When I read the New York Review 531 00:27:36,439 --> 00:27:39,799 Speaker 2: in the New York Times which said everything that Penny 532 00:27:40,039 --> 00:27:42,439 Speaker 2: whatever she was called or played the younger Rachel, that 533 00:27:42,559 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 2: the younger Maggie does right, Rachel Ward does wrong. And 534 00:27:46,439 --> 00:27:48,799 Speaker 2: I remember that, and Brand said, don't read it, don't 535 00:27:48,799 --> 00:27:51,719 Speaker 2: read it, and I went, no, I have to read. Yeah, 536 00:27:51,759 --> 00:27:55,039 Speaker 2: because it's IRRESISTI will never forgot it, never. 537 00:27:54,879 --> 00:27:55,679 Speaker 1: Read the comments. 538 00:27:55,719 --> 00:27:58,639 Speaker 3: And yet we're drawn to them because I think there's 539 00:27:58,639 --> 00:28:01,919 Speaker 3: a quest that you know, the dal A Lama said, 540 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:05,799 Speaker 3: the worst thing about criticism is that it's true. 541 00:28:06,319 --> 00:28:08,679 Speaker 1: There's always a part of you, yeah knows it's true. 542 00:28:08,759 --> 00:28:11,759 Speaker 3: There's a part of you that for some reason, and 543 00:28:11,799 --> 00:28:15,359 Speaker 3: I think particularly true in a sort of creative life, 544 00:28:15,399 --> 00:28:17,439 Speaker 3: I guess because you see it on a platform where 545 00:28:17,439 --> 00:28:19,519 Speaker 3: it's maybe in ordinary life. 546 00:28:19,719 --> 00:28:21,559 Speaker 1: In normally life you don't see it so much. 547 00:28:21,839 --> 00:28:24,119 Speaker 3: But there's a part of you that craves that dagger 548 00:28:24,199 --> 00:28:26,839 Speaker 3: to the to the hearsh. 549 00:28:26,999 --> 00:28:29,479 Speaker 2: And also I was hanging in La with a very 550 00:28:29,719 --> 00:28:32,359 Speaker 2: with a quite a with a quite up themselves crowd, 551 00:28:32,479 --> 00:28:34,999 Speaker 2: you know. They art was very serious to them, and 552 00:28:35,159 --> 00:28:37,639 Speaker 2: proper films were serious to them, right, And I was 553 00:28:37,679 --> 00:28:40,959 Speaker 2: in this soap opera, so it was like I had 554 00:28:40,959 --> 00:28:45,079 Speaker 2: definitely stepped down. So it was so ridiculous. At a 555 00:28:45,119 --> 00:28:48,599 Speaker 2: time when I should have been celebrating the success of it, 556 00:28:48,679 --> 00:28:49,559 Speaker 2: I was hiding. 557 00:28:50,039 --> 00:28:52,159 Speaker 1: I just I just hid. I remember when it came out, 558 00:28:52,239 --> 00:28:54,079 Speaker 1: Brian and I were in Bathist. 559 00:28:54,319 --> 00:28:57,479 Speaker 2: And because he was doing a yeah, I think we 560 00:28:57,519 --> 00:29:00,199 Speaker 2: were in Bathist or somewhere way out back, and we 561 00:29:00,199 --> 00:29:02,399 Speaker 2: were in this motel doing while he was doing a 562 00:29:02,439 --> 00:29:06,239 Speaker 2: film there. And I remember the photographers and the press 563 00:29:06,399 --> 00:29:10,759 Speaker 2: all at the windows, and I was just mortified by 564 00:29:11,519 --> 00:29:14,919 Speaker 2: the exposure of being in the thorn Birds and the 565 00:29:14,999 --> 00:29:17,399 Speaker 2: fact that I'd sort of felt pillaried and I felt 566 00:29:17,439 --> 00:29:20,559 Speaker 2: like the trolls that had come down, And at a 567 00:29:20,639 --> 00:29:24,719 Speaker 2: time when I should have been absolutely celebrating it, I 568 00:29:24,839 --> 00:29:25,959 Speaker 2: was hiding with shame. 569 00:29:26,799 --> 00:29:29,479 Speaker 3: So at this point you had fallen in love with 570 00:29:29,559 --> 00:29:32,559 Speaker 3: Brian Brown, which was part. 571 00:29:32,319 --> 00:29:37,399 Speaker 1: Of your definitely my kicking, kicking my life. 572 00:29:38,239 --> 00:29:40,879 Speaker 2: That's accident that I married the most working class boy 573 00:29:40,919 --> 00:29:41,479 Speaker 2: I could find. 574 00:29:41,559 --> 00:29:45,839 Speaker 3: Yes, in a complete kind of rejection of where you 575 00:29:45,879 --> 00:29:46,799 Speaker 3: had come from. 576 00:29:47,719 --> 00:29:50,919 Speaker 1: How did your connection happen? It happened on set. Yeah. 577 00:29:51,239 --> 00:29:51,839 Speaker 1: Was it an. 578 00:29:51,799 --> 00:29:54,759 Speaker 3: Instant thing or was it I like this alaraken or 579 00:29:55,639 --> 00:29:58,239 Speaker 3: something about his rock solid. 580 00:29:58,759 --> 00:30:00,599 Speaker 1: Certainty all of that, all of that. 581 00:30:00,959 --> 00:30:04,279 Speaker 2: It was definitely hot. He was definitely hot and hot, 582 00:30:04,319 --> 00:30:06,679 Speaker 2: and he was cocky. You know, he was very cocky, 583 00:30:06,919 --> 00:30:09,839 Speaker 2: and he was you know what it was. He was 584 00:30:09,879 --> 00:30:14,279 Speaker 2: supremely confident and he had such faith in himself. 585 00:30:14,759 --> 00:30:15,999 Speaker 1: And I wanted that. 586 00:30:16,999 --> 00:30:20,319 Speaker 2: I just saw God, I'd love that to be so 587 00:30:20,359 --> 00:30:23,039 Speaker 2: sure about everything, so sure about his politics, He was 588 00:30:23,039 --> 00:30:26,919 Speaker 2: so sure about his his values, values, he was sure 589 00:30:26,919 --> 00:30:29,799 Speaker 2: about his morality. I had none of that. I grew 590 00:30:29,839 --> 00:30:32,559 Speaker 2: up in such a sort of funny, funny, immoral world. 591 00:30:32,639 --> 00:30:36,879 Speaker 2: I mean it was sort of Epstein esque clear in 592 00:30:37,039 --> 00:30:40,479 Speaker 2: any way. You know, you were definitely being groomed to 593 00:30:40,559 --> 00:30:45,559 Speaker 2: be a commodity commodity. Yeah, so when he came up, 594 00:30:45,599 --> 00:30:49,639 Speaker 2: he represented something so different and he definitely knew what 595 00:30:49,679 --> 00:30:52,199 Speaker 2: was right or wrong. And definitely in Hollywood, you know, 596 00:30:52,279 --> 00:30:55,239 Speaker 2: there is no writer or you know, it's very cutthroat. 597 00:30:55,239 --> 00:30:56,159 Speaker 1: It's ambitious. 598 00:30:56,479 --> 00:30:59,199 Speaker 2: People will do anything to get what they want and 599 00:30:59,239 --> 00:31:02,399 Speaker 2: where they want, and so to also hold on to 600 00:31:02,599 --> 00:31:05,999 Speaker 2: values at that time and to behave well, you know, 601 00:31:06,039 --> 00:31:09,559 Speaker 2: according to values and you know what tiny bit of 602 00:31:09,599 --> 00:31:13,719 Speaker 2: morality I had was was difficult and so I just yeah, 603 00:31:13,879 --> 00:31:17,039 Speaker 2: I saw this rock who knew had. 604 00:31:16,879 --> 00:31:18,999 Speaker 1: I've never met a person more confident. 605 00:31:19,959 --> 00:31:24,999 Speaker 4: Confident enough also to pursue you yeah, ut yeah yeah, 606 00:31:25,199 --> 00:31:29,439 Speaker 4: posh girl, yeah, posh girl, yeah, lay in the dare 607 00:31:29,599 --> 00:31:31,039 Speaker 4: here yeah yeah. 608 00:31:31,439 --> 00:31:37,319 Speaker 1: And he yeah, I dare anyway it was. And then 609 00:31:37,359 --> 00:31:41,359 Speaker 1: to bring you here or you came here, yeah, I. 610 00:31:41,319 --> 00:31:44,439 Speaker 2: Mean I came here, and I, you know, because I 611 00:31:44,479 --> 00:31:47,039 Speaker 2: were not It was not attached to England. I was 612 00:31:47,159 --> 00:31:49,999 Speaker 2: not attached to being to what I had experienced. And 613 00:31:50,279 --> 00:31:55,879 Speaker 2: I loved England passionately, but I didn't like that world. 614 00:31:56,039 --> 00:32:00,239 Speaker 1: I didn't like. I sort of knew very soon that 615 00:32:00,319 --> 00:32:02,439 Speaker 1: I was very uncomfortable. 616 00:32:02,039 --> 00:32:06,719 Speaker 2: In and also being I didn't like being a posh girl. 617 00:32:07,159 --> 00:32:10,719 Speaker 2: It was like every villain was a was a poshee, 618 00:32:11,079 --> 00:32:16,239 Speaker 2: you know, every every idiot. It was a very cold person, 619 00:32:16,279 --> 00:32:19,919 Speaker 2: every cold it was a very silly idiot who was 620 00:32:19,999 --> 00:32:23,639 Speaker 2: a foe whah voice was a poshee. And I felt 621 00:32:23,759 --> 00:32:26,559 Speaker 2: very tainted by that, and I didn't want to be 622 00:32:26,599 --> 00:32:28,759 Speaker 2: a posh It was also a time when you know, 623 00:32:28,799 --> 00:32:31,599 Speaker 2: it was very much the working class thing was coming. 624 00:32:31,639 --> 00:32:33,399 Speaker 2: You know, it was very it was you know, it 625 00:32:33,479 --> 00:32:37,359 Speaker 2: was Alan Bates, it was Oliver Reid, it was Terrence Stamp, 626 00:32:37,439 --> 00:32:40,479 Speaker 2: it was Michael Caine, it was you know, I can't 627 00:32:40,519 --> 00:32:43,079 Speaker 2: even think of the girls now, but they weren't posh girls. 628 00:32:43,919 --> 00:32:46,919 Speaker 2: They were all you know, middle class or working class girls. 629 00:32:46,919 --> 00:32:49,799 Speaker 2: And as as a model to everybody was you know, 630 00:32:49,839 --> 00:32:52,119 Speaker 2: it was an anomaly to be a posh girl. 631 00:32:52,279 --> 00:32:55,239 Speaker 1: It's sort of not now, but no, it's not. They've 632 00:32:55,519 --> 00:32:57,279 Speaker 1: all in fla. But when I was, it was all. 633 00:32:57,599 --> 00:33:00,319 Speaker 2: My timing was incredibly bad because it was sort of 634 00:33:00,359 --> 00:33:03,799 Speaker 2: like at a time when the poshies were being maligned 635 00:33:03,919 --> 00:33:07,199 Speaker 2: or I felt they were, or just being ridiculed quite rightly. 636 00:33:07,319 --> 00:33:10,719 Speaker 1: I mean, at the time it was well social, social 637 00:33:10,799 --> 00:33:12,199 Speaker 1: movement and social. 638 00:33:12,519 --> 00:33:15,999 Speaker 2: That's right, definitely, And when I came here it was 639 00:33:16,199 --> 00:33:19,719 Speaker 2: very much also about Australia finding its own voice and 640 00:33:19,799 --> 00:33:23,719 Speaker 2: kicking out the voice of the you know, the English 641 00:33:24,919 --> 00:33:27,399 Speaker 2: and here come I come. You know, absolutely, you know, 642 00:33:27,719 --> 00:33:31,359 Speaker 2: basically a throwback to the old days, to the colonial days. 643 00:33:31,639 --> 00:33:35,039 Speaker 2: So that became you know, it's sort of subconscious, but 644 00:33:35,119 --> 00:33:37,479 Speaker 2: I think it was, you know, it was not the 645 00:33:37,559 --> 00:33:39,879 Speaker 2: right time for me to be here as far as working. 646 00:33:39,999 --> 00:33:42,919 Speaker 2: So when I got here, I really hard to get 647 00:33:42,919 --> 00:33:46,399 Speaker 2: work for me, and because rightly Australia was very much 648 00:33:46,399 --> 00:33:49,439 Speaker 2: finding it. You know, it's Mura's wedding. It was Crocodile Dundee, 649 00:33:49,479 --> 00:33:52,679 Speaker 2: it was breaking morn. It was my brilliant career, it 650 00:33:52,799 --> 00:33:58,919 Speaker 2: was all. It wasn't the colonial stuff, and I suppose 651 00:33:58,959 --> 00:33:59,919 Speaker 2: my brilliant career was. 652 00:33:59,999 --> 00:34:03,279 Speaker 1: But again, you know, it was a very It was 653 00:34:03,319 --> 00:34:06,079 Speaker 1: a girl. She was the she was the underclass in 654 00:34:06,159 --> 00:34:11,599 Speaker 1: that relationship. Yes, and then so you had babies pretty quickly. 655 00:34:12,879 --> 00:34:15,719 Speaker 2: Yes, I knew I didn't want to be in Hollywood. 656 00:34:15,799 --> 00:34:18,119 Speaker 2: I knew it was the same thing. I was repeating 657 00:34:18,119 --> 00:34:21,399 Speaker 2: the same thing when they where It was also Hollywood 658 00:34:21,399 --> 00:34:23,719 Speaker 2: had changed, you know. It was interesting going to see 659 00:34:23,879 --> 00:34:26,239 Speaker 2: his Cliff the other day because it is a real 660 00:34:26,959 --> 00:34:30,679 Speaker 2: We don't do romance, big romantic films anymore. 661 00:34:30,679 --> 00:34:32,519 Speaker 1: And that's why I wanted to be an actress. 662 00:34:32,519 --> 00:34:35,679 Speaker 2: I think, because I was just so taken by the 663 00:34:35,919 --> 00:34:38,959 Speaker 2: romance of those you know, far from the madding crowd, 664 00:34:39,119 --> 00:34:44,119 Speaker 2: doctor Shafargobush, Cassidy and the Sun. You know, there's deeply 665 00:34:44,239 --> 00:34:47,479 Speaker 2: romantic films where the women were sort of, you know, 666 00:34:47,759 --> 00:34:52,199 Speaker 2: so romantic thunder and cross deserts on apoll and they 667 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:55,839 Speaker 2: were strong and decent. And I got to Hollywood and 668 00:34:55,879 --> 00:35:00,439 Speaker 2: it was suddenly about sex. It was all about getting 669 00:35:00,519 --> 00:35:02,679 Speaker 2: you in the red bathing suit and getting as much 670 00:35:03,039 --> 00:35:06,639 Speaker 2: breast out as possible, full endless talk about in contracts 671 00:35:06,639 --> 00:35:10,399 Speaker 2: about full frontal nudity or not, you know, and suddenly 672 00:35:10,479 --> 00:35:14,079 Speaker 2: everything became sexualized, did you rather than romanticized? 673 00:35:14,119 --> 00:35:15,039 Speaker 1: Did you? 674 00:35:15,039 --> 00:35:15,119 Speaker 2: No? 675 00:35:15,319 --> 00:35:15,919 Speaker 1: I didn't. 676 00:35:16,359 --> 00:35:18,919 Speaker 2: I didn't, And I had the first thing I ever 677 00:35:18,999 --> 00:35:21,439 Speaker 2: did I did. I was it did have a shower 678 00:35:21,519 --> 00:35:25,479 Speaker 2: scene and I had drawn pen all around my breath 679 00:35:25,679 --> 00:35:29,879 Speaker 2: because so they couldn't shoot it. But I remember they 680 00:35:30,319 --> 00:35:34,759 Speaker 2: enlarged the print so that, you know, because it was 681 00:35:34,759 --> 00:35:38,119 Speaker 2: obviously it was in a format that cut out my breast, 682 00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:43,039 Speaker 2: but in the actual film it was wider. So Playboy, 683 00:35:43,239 --> 00:35:46,799 Speaker 2: I think, took the wider print. And I remember being 684 00:35:46,839 --> 00:35:49,199 Speaker 2: at well Beach one day and there was a knock 685 00:35:49,239 --> 00:35:51,079 Speaker 2: on the door and there was a photographer and a 686 00:35:51,119 --> 00:35:54,519 Speaker 2: journalist saying how do you feel about having having nudity? 687 00:35:54,559 --> 00:35:57,519 Speaker 2: And Playboy And that was the first time I knew 688 00:35:57,519 --> 00:35:59,959 Speaker 2: about it or anything, and they'd obviously taken the things 689 00:35:59,959 --> 00:36:03,319 Speaker 2: that I'd drawn across, run my breast off, you know, 690 00:36:03,599 --> 00:36:07,199 Speaker 2: and they're all deep humiliating those moments, and you know, in. 691 00:36:07,159 --> 00:36:09,079 Speaker 1: Retrospect, are they still No? 692 00:36:09,599 --> 00:36:12,199 Speaker 2: No, now I wish I'd been less precious about it. 693 00:36:12,759 --> 00:36:16,639 Speaker 1: Take it off. Yeah, you've got a moment in the sun. Yes, 694 00:36:17,079 --> 00:36:17,559 Speaker 1: I don't know. 695 00:36:17,679 --> 00:36:20,159 Speaker 2: No, I mean, you know, you're so sensitive at that age. 696 00:36:20,199 --> 00:36:22,119 Speaker 2: You become a tough old boot, you know, by the 697 00:36:22,119 --> 00:36:25,359 Speaker 2: time you get to my age, and those things don't matter. 698 00:36:25,559 --> 00:36:28,759 Speaker 2: But you just go why didn't I just you know, 699 00:36:29,159 --> 00:36:32,519 Speaker 2: rip it up and just you know, take advantage of 700 00:36:32,519 --> 00:36:33,079 Speaker 2: that moment. 701 00:36:33,119 --> 00:36:35,439 Speaker 1: But you don't have that perspective. No, And there is 702 00:36:35,479 --> 00:36:36,639 Speaker 1: something about wisdom. 703 00:36:36,799 --> 00:36:39,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, and there's no one there to say, well, actually, 704 00:36:39,199 --> 00:36:41,959 Speaker 2: funny enough, my mother was there to say, don't take 705 00:36:41,999 --> 00:36:45,239 Speaker 2: it all so seriously, darling, you know, but of course 706 00:36:45,239 --> 00:36:49,279 Speaker 2: that was just rude. 707 00:36:51,159 --> 00:36:51,679 Speaker 1: Coming up. 708 00:36:52,199 --> 00:36:56,079 Speaker 3: Rachel discovers the impact her move to Australia head on 709 00:36:56,159 --> 00:37:03,199 Speaker 3: her mother. Was she enjoying your success and when you 710 00:37:03,239 --> 00:37:04,439 Speaker 3: move to Australia, was she? 711 00:37:05,199 --> 00:37:06,959 Speaker 1: How did that play with her? 712 00:37:07,759 --> 00:37:07,839 Speaker 4: No? 713 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:10,879 Speaker 2: She, you know, I think it's awful when your children 714 00:37:10,919 --> 00:37:13,159 Speaker 2: moved to the other side of the world. No, she was. 715 00:37:13,199 --> 00:37:16,359 Speaker 1: Devastated by it. Did she come here, Yeah, she did 716 00:37:16,359 --> 00:37:16,719 Speaker 1: a lot. 717 00:37:17,039 --> 00:37:19,239 Speaker 2: She did a lot, and she was a great mum 718 00:37:19,319 --> 00:37:22,919 Speaker 2: later on, and I think she realized what she'd missed, 719 00:37:23,159 --> 00:37:25,959 Speaker 2: and she and she didn't have a close relationship with 720 00:37:25,959 --> 00:37:29,919 Speaker 2: her other two at all, and she did with me, 721 00:37:30,359 --> 00:37:32,719 Speaker 2: but and then I was the one that moved to 722 00:37:32,799 --> 00:37:36,679 Speaker 2: the other side of the world. So yeah, yeah, you know, 723 00:37:37,239 --> 00:37:41,519 Speaker 2: horrible for her. But did she know she was sort 724 00:37:41,519 --> 00:37:45,479 Speaker 2: of a little bit. I remember not not long before 725 00:37:45,519 --> 00:37:48,879 Speaker 2: she died, she said there was we were at a 726 00:37:48,919 --> 00:37:51,119 Speaker 2: dinner or something and a man was playing paying me 727 00:37:51,199 --> 00:37:54,319 Speaker 2: more attention than her, and I remember her saying, rather 728 00:37:54,399 --> 00:37:59,919 Speaker 2: loudly to him, we can't all be movie stars. So 729 00:37:59,959 --> 00:38:03,639 Speaker 2: she was definitely sort of irritated by it. But yeah, 730 00:38:03,719 --> 00:38:07,639 Speaker 2: I guess she She wasn't. She wasn't someone who put 731 00:38:07,639 --> 00:38:11,239 Speaker 2: herself out that particularly, so she didn't and she thought 732 00:38:11,279 --> 00:38:14,119 Speaker 2: it was slightly vulgar. I think the whole thing again, 733 00:38:14,199 --> 00:38:16,439 Speaker 2: you know, the talking about yourself doing this sort of thing, 734 00:38:16,479 --> 00:38:16,879 Speaker 2: you know. 735 00:38:17,199 --> 00:38:21,079 Speaker 1: But also enjoyed it. Did she enjoy being, you know, 736 00:38:21,159 --> 00:38:22,559 Speaker 1: slightly disgusted by it. 737 00:38:23,519 --> 00:38:26,759 Speaker 2: No, she was called La bruta Mamma Da Maggie in Italy, 738 00:38:26,839 --> 00:38:30,119 Speaker 2: which was the brute of the mother of Meggie, because 739 00:38:30,439 --> 00:38:32,559 Speaker 2: you know, I, you know, people. 740 00:38:32,279 --> 00:38:35,439 Speaker 1: Asked me about my upbringing very early, and it was. 741 00:38:36,159 --> 00:38:38,679 Speaker 3: It was a strange one when you neglect, when you 742 00:38:38,719 --> 00:38:43,599 Speaker 3: spoke so frankly about your upbringing. How did that resonate 743 00:38:43,639 --> 00:38:46,679 Speaker 3: with her or did she brush it off? Or do 744 00:38:46,719 --> 00:38:49,359 Speaker 3: you think that she self reflected? 745 00:38:51,559 --> 00:38:54,439 Speaker 2: Do I think she's self reflected. I think she thought 746 00:38:54,479 --> 00:38:57,239 Speaker 2: I was making a lot out of nothing, right, yes, 747 00:38:57,799 --> 00:39:02,559 Speaker 2: which is that she never she never moved outside her class. 748 00:39:03,359 --> 00:39:07,359 Speaker 2: She never had. She stayed very very close in that world. 749 00:39:07,759 --> 00:39:13,759 Speaker 2: So she never was aware of the sort of the 750 00:39:13,799 --> 00:39:17,839 Speaker 2: sort of disdain, the ridicule. She never felt embarrassed by 751 00:39:17,879 --> 00:39:22,999 Speaker 2: being an elite. She never felt self conscious about being elite. 752 00:39:23,079 --> 00:39:27,359 Speaker 2: She sort of neither did my sister. I remember being 753 00:39:27,439 --> 00:39:30,719 Speaker 2: in the chauffeur's car following the school bus home, and 754 00:39:31,119 --> 00:39:33,359 Speaker 2: my friend was on the school bus and they were 755 00:39:33,399 --> 00:39:35,159 Speaker 2: all with a gang of kids at the back of 756 00:39:35,199 --> 00:39:37,679 Speaker 2: the bus or jeering and laughing, and because we were 757 00:39:37,719 --> 00:39:40,919 Speaker 2: in and in fact her father was driving the car, 758 00:39:41,279 --> 00:39:44,799 Speaker 2: and I remember being so mortified by the idea, and 759 00:39:44,879 --> 00:39:48,919 Speaker 2: I remember hiding under the front seats so that, you know, 760 00:39:49,399 --> 00:39:52,039 Speaker 2: I couldn't be seen. I was very self conscious about 761 00:39:52,079 --> 00:39:56,039 Speaker 2: being different. And my sister had no problem with it 762 00:39:56,079 --> 00:39:58,679 Speaker 2: at all. She was just sitting up with the back 763 00:39:58,799 --> 00:40:01,159 Speaker 2: and I don't know why I was sensitive to it. 764 00:40:01,239 --> 00:40:05,079 Speaker 3: Well, that's unusual as well, because that's exactly how establishment works, 765 00:40:05,279 --> 00:40:09,119 Speaker 3: is that people are very happy to buy into establishment 766 00:40:09,119 --> 00:40:10,719 Speaker 3: because that's how the structure works. 767 00:40:10,999 --> 00:40:13,879 Speaker 1: But you had this, I don't know this. 768 00:40:14,559 --> 00:40:19,039 Speaker 2: I had a sort of inverted synobism. I didn't want 769 00:40:19,079 --> 00:40:22,079 Speaker 2: to you know, it's like I mean to this very day. 770 00:40:22,159 --> 00:40:24,759 Speaker 2: Brian is very proud of being a working class hero. 771 00:40:24,999 --> 00:40:27,159 Speaker 2: You know, he will drop out a hat the fact 772 00:40:27,159 --> 00:40:30,319 Speaker 2: that his mother made dedarning for a living. You know, 773 00:40:30,359 --> 00:40:34,799 Speaker 2: there is something very gallant and heroic about coming up 774 00:40:34,919 --> 00:40:38,359 Speaker 2: from you know, nowhere and making something of yourself. 775 00:40:38,959 --> 00:40:40,639 Speaker 1: If you come if you make. 776 00:40:40,519 --> 00:40:44,639 Speaker 2: A success for yourself and you've come from a privileged background, 777 00:40:45,159 --> 00:40:49,839 Speaker 2: it's really considered, Well, you didn't have to do much, 778 00:40:49,919 --> 00:40:53,479 Speaker 2: did you, Not much of a journey for. 779 00:40:53,439 --> 00:40:57,559 Speaker 5: You, Yeah, silverspoon, silver spoon, And also a sort of 780 00:40:57,599 --> 00:41:00,879 Speaker 5: sense that you were a bit soulless, that not really 781 00:41:00,919 --> 00:41:03,559 Speaker 5: suffering gave you any kind of soul. 782 00:41:04,799 --> 00:41:07,439 Speaker 1: And I don't know where I get these ideas from, 783 00:41:07,479 --> 00:41:07,959 Speaker 1: but you know. 784 00:41:07,999 --> 00:41:09,839 Speaker 2: I think it was what you read, and it was 785 00:41:09,919 --> 00:41:14,519 Speaker 2: just really subconscious, weird stuff and I just did not 786 00:41:14,719 --> 00:41:18,919 Speaker 2: like being an elite. And I still feel uncomfortable with that. 787 00:41:19,119 --> 00:41:21,279 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm much more able to talk about it 788 00:41:21,319 --> 00:41:24,399 Speaker 2: because I think it's kind of a fascinating place to 789 00:41:24,479 --> 00:41:27,319 Speaker 2: come from, and because I think you can throw a 790 00:41:27,479 --> 00:41:31,999 Speaker 2: light on what that hose, how those elites are made, 791 00:41:32,279 --> 00:41:35,439 Speaker 2: why we've got into this Epstein situation, you know, what 792 00:41:36,519 --> 00:41:38,919 Speaker 2: makes people like that? I mean, I remember my father 793 00:41:39,319 --> 00:41:42,039 Speaker 2: had He was a conservative voter, and he had no 794 00:41:42,199 --> 00:41:45,959 Speaker 2: care about really how society functioned. He wanted to make 795 00:41:45,999 --> 00:41:49,319 Speaker 2: sure that his money was looked after, and that he 796 00:41:49,439 --> 00:41:54,279 Speaker 2: maintained his privileges, and that he hung with his privileged cohouts. 797 00:41:53,839 --> 00:41:56,639 Speaker 1: And that his poached eggs already when he wanted never 798 00:41:56,839 --> 00:41:58,519 Speaker 1: considered it, you know, never. 799 00:42:00,399 --> 00:42:04,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, he was snobby, and it was for me very clearly. 800 00:42:04,599 --> 00:42:05,799 Speaker 2: I mean, I think it was a lot to do 801 00:42:05,959 --> 00:42:09,639 Speaker 2: with my friend who was the chauffeur's daughter, who would 802 00:42:09,639 --> 00:42:13,119 Speaker 2: make fun of me as being posh. 803 00:42:13,239 --> 00:42:15,919 Speaker 1: What was her name? She was called Sarah hooper Ah. 804 00:42:16,519 --> 00:42:19,119 Speaker 1: Do you still see Sarah Hooper. She died, did she. 805 00:42:19,319 --> 00:42:21,399 Speaker 2: Yes, But she was such an influence and she was 806 00:42:21,439 --> 00:42:24,639 Speaker 2: a bit older than me, and she we had great 807 00:42:24,799 --> 00:42:27,879 Speaker 2: riding adventures, and she would, you know, come riding with me. 808 00:42:27,959 --> 00:42:31,799 Speaker 2: And she was a forceful, a force of nature, and 809 00:42:32,279 --> 00:42:35,199 Speaker 2: she was a very dear friend. But only for those 810 00:42:35,319 --> 00:42:37,319 Speaker 2: very formative years, you know. And then I went to 811 00:42:37,319 --> 00:42:39,479 Speaker 2: boarding school and she went to the local grammar school 812 00:42:39,519 --> 00:42:41,319 Speaker 2: and we went our different ways. 813 00:42:41,519 --> 00:42:45,199 Speaker 3: So when you were in Australia, and it's funny that 814 00:42:45,239 --> 00:42:48,439 Speaker 3: you talk about elite, because then through the dint of 815 00:42:48,679 --> 00:42:51,759 Speaker 3: your husband's work and your work, you became part of 816 00:42:51,839 --> 00:42:55,679 Speaker 3: kind of a cultural elite, which is different, more of 817 00:42:55,719 --> 00:42:58,199 Speaker 3: a meritocracy, I guess. 818 00:42:58,719 --> 00:42:59,599 Speaker 1: And then so. 819 00:42:59,639 --> 00:43:02,759 Speaker 3: You also could have had just this kind of charmed, 820 00:43:03,319 --> 00:43:07,559 Speaker 3: easy life life in Sydney with all its beauties and 821 00:43:07,839 --> 00:43:10,479 Speaker 3: whatever and doors opening and. 822 00:43:10,359 --> 00:43:14,399 Speaker 2: Then and I did, Yes, you did, yeah, And it 823 00:43:14,439 --> 00:43:18,119 Speaker 2: was you know, fantastic, fantastic. 824 00:43:17,599 --> 00:43:23,999 Speaker 1: But you still had a yearning in you. Yes, I 825 00:43:24,039 --> 00:43:25,079 Speaker 1: did have a yearning in me. 826 00:43:25,399 --> 00:43:29,959 Speaker 2: I've always been kind of unsettled and looking for purpose 827 00:43:30,159 --> 00:43:33,719 Speaker 2: and something. I'm the kind of person who loves to 828 00:43:33,839 --> 00:43:38,679 Speaker 2: climb very high precipices, and I get a lot of 829 00:43:38,799 --> 00:43:42,959 Speaker 2: satisfaction out of the you know, the challenge and the 830 00:43:42,999 --> 00:43:46,599 Speaker 2: conquest and getting there. So I was very you know, 831 00:43:46,679 --> 00:43:49,919 Speaker 2: I was recognized that my acting career was done once 832 00:43:49,959 --> 00:43:52,679 Speaker 2: I came here, and I recognized there really wasn't a 833 00:43:52,959 --> 00:43:55,839 Speaker 2: place for me really here, and I knew I had 834 00:43:55,839 --> 00:43:58,359 Speaker 2: to change careers. So I went back to university and 835 00:43:58,399 --> 00:44:00,719 Speaker 2: I did a communications degree, and I thought, well, I 836 00:44:00,719 --> 00:44:04,239 Speaker 2: would start writing, and I really found my love of writing. 837 00:44:04,759 --> 00:44:07,359 Speaker 2: And then in the end then I had small children, 838 00:44:07,439 --> 00:44:09,479 Speaker 2: so that was very hard for me to sort of 839 00:44:09,599 --> 00:44:13,639 Speaker 2: take that seriously. And then I started, you know, I'd 840 00:44:13,639 --> 00:44:16,879 Speaker 2: read a lot of scripts, and so I started writing scripts. 841 00:44:16,919 --> 00:44:19,279 Speaker 1: And then I you know, write Palm Beach. 842 00:44:19,759 --> 00:44:24,439 Speaker 2: Yes, well, and I wrote Beautiful Kate, and I wrote 843 00:44:24,479 --> 00:44:28,359 Speaker 2: all my short films that I did before that. So yeah, 844 00:44:28,599 --> 00:44:31,199 Speaker 2: I you know, that was a big mountain to climb, 845 00:44:31,279 --> 00:44:33,839 Speaker 2: to change those, to change careers, to know when it's over. 846 00:44:33,919 --> 00:44:35,479 Speaker 1: I was quite good at knowing. 847 00:44:35,839 --> 00:44:38,359 Speaker 2: This one is done, my use by date is over here, 848 00:44:38,479 --> 00:44:39,639 Speaker 2: I've got to move. 849 00:44:41,279 --> 00:44:43,599 Speaker 1: Get off the part. Yeah, I was quite good at that. 850 00:44:43,639 --> 00:44:46,759 Speaker 1: I reckoned. I was always slightly ahead of my cohorts. 851 00:44:46,959 --> 00:44:47,959 Speaker 1: In like having. 852 00:44:47,759 --> 00:44:50,799 Speaker 2: Moved first sniffed the bree I sniffed the breeze. 853 00:44:50,919 --> 00:44:52,999 Speaker 1: That was a good one, Yeah, sniffed the breeze. And 854 00:44:53,039 --> 00:44:54,519 Speaker 1: so I then so. 855 00:44:54,439 --> 00:44:56,239 Speaker 2: I certainly did that as a model, and I certainly 856 00:44:56,239 --> 00:44:59,319 Speaker 2: did that. When I came here. My you know, acting 857 00:44:59,359 --> 00:45:01,799 Speaker 2: career was done. I went back to America quite a 858 00:45:01,799 --> 00:45:04,639 Speaker 2: bit and did still did work over there, so but 859 00:45:04,679 --> 00:45:06,519 Speaker 2: I didn't really work here at all. So I still 860 00:45:06,519 --> 00:45:08,119 Speaker 2: had a few years when the kids were young, when 861 00:45:08,119 --> 00:45:10,199 Speaker 2: I was going over to America and doing you know, 862 00:45:10,279 --> 00:45:13,359 Speaker 2: television HBO, and I did against all odds. 863 00:45:13,359 --> 00:45:15,599 Speaker 1: I did against all arts actually before I came here. 864 00:45:16,199 --> 00:45:18,919 Speaker 2: And then the minute you the minute you leave Hollywood, 865 00:45:19,039 --> 00:45:21,919 Speaker 2: someone takes your place very quickly. So I lost any 866 00:45:21,999 --> 00:45:25,079 Speaker 2: kind of cashet I had by coming here and marrying 867 00:45:25,119 --> 00:45:27,919 Speaker 2: Brian and being here and having kids and all that. 868 00:45:27,919 --> 00:45:31,519 Speaker 2: That went very quickly. And then I sort of found myself. 869 00:45:31,559 --> 00:45:33,799 Speaker 2: You know, Brian was working a lot. I was here, 870 00:45:33,879 --> 00:45:38,559 Speaker 2: I was alone, not didn't have any I didn't know 871 00:45:38,639 --> 00:45:41,679 Speaker 2: anybody here, and we were living up in the Northern Beaches, 872 00:45:42,199 --> 00:45:45,639 Speaker 2: which was beautiful but lonely, and Brian was working a 873 00:45:45,639 --> 00:45:49,119 Speaker 2: lot and away a lot, so that was a hard time. 874 00:45:49,279 --> 00:45:52,879 Speaker 2: And then I went to uts and I loved that, 875 00:45:53,279 --> 00:45:57,359 Speaker 2: and I started writing. And then I did a Tropfest 876 00:45:57,399 --> 00:46:00,799 Speaker 2: film and I loved it. I did it with the 877 00:46:00,879 --> 00:46:03,119 Speaker 2: kids at school. I did it because my kids school 878 00:46:03,199 --> 00:46:05,439 Speaker 2: wanted to do it in years five six they wanted 879 00:46:05,439 --> 00:46:07,959 Speaker 2: to do a trop fast, so I did it with them, 880 00:46:08,319 --> 00:46:10,439 Speaker 2: and of course they got absolutely bored of it in 881 00:46:10,439 --> 00:46:13,479 Speaker 2: about five seconds, and I was sort of alad you didn't. 882 00:46:13,199 --> 00:46:13,879 Speaker 1: And I didn't. 883 00:46:13,999 --> 00:46:18,479 Speaker 2: I saw the pres this is great and yeah, So 884 00:46:18,559 --> 00:46:20,639 Speaker 2: then I became obsessed about doing that. 885 00:46:21,199 --> 00:46:25,919 Speaker 3: So that was another extension of your creative self. And 886 00:46:25,959 --> 00:46:30,039 Speaker 3: then there's a massive pivot born about by the twenty 887 00:46:30,119 --> 00:46:35,279 Speaker 3: nineteen fires, the catastrophic fires, because you, through your family life. 888 00:46:35,039 --> 00:46:38,959 Speaker 1: Had had this farm. Yep, that was like an escape 889 00:46:39,199 --> 00:46:41,079 Speaker 1: for the family. It feels very unnatural. 890 00:46:41,119 --> 00:46:44,999 Speaker 2: Suddenly this conversation I want to know about your life. 891 00:46:46,359 --> 00:46:48,799 Speaker 2: I mean, it's yeah, it's very It's funny doing interviews 892 00:46:48,799 --> 00:46:50,319 Speaker 2: because it is very one sided. 893 00:46:50,399 --> 00:46:53,159 Speaker 1: You suddenly feel like this is ridiculous. Now what is 894 00:46:53,239 --> 00:46:53,839 Speaker 1: he doing? 895 00:46:54,959 --> 00:46:58,519 Speaker 3: You? Like this would be a ten parter. This really 896 00:46:58,639 --> 00:47:03,359 Speaker 3: is like every every byway and culder Sack is filled 897 00:47:03,399 --> 00:47:04,039 Speaker 3: with riches. 898 00:47:04,159 --> 00:47:07,759 Speaker 2: I think yeah, there's had certainly been some big U 899 00:47:07,839 --> 00:47:11,559 Speaker 2: turns or yeaes. Yeah, so the and you know then 900 00:47:11,599 --> 00:47:13,879 Speaker 2: I got into the directing or do you want to 901 00:47:13,879 --> 00:47:14,639 Speaker 2: talk about the farm? 902 00:47:14,679 --> 00:47:16,999 Speaker 3: Yeah, I want to talk about the farm, okay, because 903 00:47:16,999 --> 00:47:22,439 Speaker 3: then I also want to talk about your immersion in 904 00:47:22,479 --> 00:47:28,199 Speaker 3: this new world and sustainability of farming and regenerative farming, 905 00:47:28,639 --> 00:47:30,719 Speaker 3: which I think, once again you were ahead of the 906 00:47:30,839 --> 00:47:31,999 Speaker 3: curve on I think. 907 00:47:32,119 --> 00:47:35,519 Speaker 2: Yeah, I hope, so, I hope. So anyway, yes, well 908 00:47:35,519 --> 00:47:37,679 Speaker 2: I had a farm. Very quickly we got a farm. 909 00:47:38,039 --> 00:47:40,719 Speaker 2: We were filming something something called The Good Wife up 910 00:47:40,759 --> 00:47:44,519 Speaker 2: in the mid North Coast and Brian and I very 911 00:47:44,599 --> 00:47:49,119 Speaker 2: much fell in love with everything about it, and we 912 00:47:49,199 --> 00:47:51,399 Speaker 2: just did one of those things. We were young and 913 00:47:51,439 --> 00:47:53,879 Speaker 2: had enough money to buy a little farm and we 914 00:47:53,959 --> 00:47:55,879 Speaker 2: just didn't think about it. And it was way too 915 00:47:55,959 --> 00:47:59,239 Speaker 2: far away from Sydney and took six bloody hours to 916 00:47:59,279 --> 00:47:59,719 Speaker 2: get there. 917 00:47:59,959 --> 00:48:03,559 Speaker 1: So it was stupid, right, it was sort of stupid. 918 00:48:03,599 --> 00:48:08,679 Speaker 2: But for me, the country was very evocative of my 919 00:48:08,839 --> 00:48:12,479 Speaker 2: childhood country. So it was sort of roaring, rolling hills, 920 00:48:12,599 --> 00:48:15,559 Speaker 2: quite quite a small little valley, right, It was a 921 00:48:15,639 --> 00:48:19,159 Speaker 2: sort of didn't have that wild quite the wildness and 922 00:48:19,199 --> 00:48:24,039 Speaker 2: the scale of most Australian stuff that parched. No, it 923 00:48:24,119 --> 00:48:27,559 Speaker 2: wasn't parched, it was green. It was and for me 924 00:48:28,039 --> 00:48:32,999 Speaker 2: it definitely spoke to my heart somehow. Anyway, we got 925 00:48:33,039 --> 00:48:36,239 Speaker 2: that and we just had it as a we didn't 926 00:48:37,479 --> 00:48:39,919 Speaker 2: you know, it was you know, going back to England. 927 00:48:39,999 --> 00:48:42,119 Speaker 2: We did go back to England quite a bit, but 928 00:48:42,919 --> 00:48:46,159 Speaker 2: it's a big schleap when you've got small children, yes, 929 00:48:46,199 --> 00:48:47,919 Speaker 2: And we didn't want to do that, and we didn't 930 00:48:47,919 --> 00:48:50,599 Speaker 2: really want to go to Bali or whatever around here. 931 00:48:50,839 --> 00:48:52,959 Speaker 2: So we got a place so that we could go 932 00:48:53,039 --> 00:48:56,639 Speaker 2: every holidays. We didn't go overseas every holidays. We went 933 00:48:56,679 --> 00:48:59,359 Speaker 2: to the farm. And it was a small farm at 934 00:48:59,359 --> 00:49:02,879 Speaker 2: that stage, and so the kids grew up really going 935 00:49:02,919 --> 00:49:05,719 Speaker 2: every holidays to the farm. And because I'd grown up 936 00:49:05,719 --> 00:49:07,439 Speaker 2: in the country and I was pretty good with horses 937 00:49:07,479 --> 00:49:11,079 Speaker 2: and things like that, we got horses and just had. 938 00:49:10,919 --> 00:49:16,239 Speaker 1: A wonderful, wonderful holiday. But load of is not a 939 00:49:16,239 --> 00:49:18,679 Speaker 1: farmer not do. 940 00:49:19,199 --> 00:49:24,559 Speaker 3: There is beautiful Docco called Rachel's Farm. Yes, very beautiful 941 00:49:25,919 --> 00:49:30,159 Speaker 3: and beautiful because I think if you think about the quest, 942 00:49:30,399 --> 00:49:35,159 Speaker 3: you know what our purpose as humans always to find 943 00:49:36,639 --> 00:49:41,119 Speaker 3: another aspect of ourselves to roll into. 944 00:49:40,959 --> 00:49:43,439 Speaker 2: And they're hard, those things because you know when changes. 945 00:49:43,519 --> 00:49:45,559 Speaker 2: You know, I knew when my film career was over. 946 00:49:46,079 --> 00:49:48,399 Speaker 2: I knew when my directing career was over, and it 947 00:49:48,479 --> 00:49:49,999 Speaker 2: was heartbreaking. 948 00:49:50,079 --> 00:49:53,999 Speaker 1: Transitions are hard, Oh god, they're hard, Yes, really hard. 949 00:49:53,999 --> 00:49:57,159 Speaker 3: And I know when you say union was a job 950 00:49:57,239 --> 00:49:59,239 Speaker 3: you had missed out on, specifically. 951 00:49:58,879 --> 00:50:01,399 Speaker 2: Job seven years of not being able to get work 952 00:50:01,519 --> 00:50:05,559 Speaker 2: right weirdly after, I mean, you know, of see one feels. 953 00:50:06,479 --> 00:50:08,279 Speaker 2: I mean, I felt I had a lot to offer 954 00:50:08,359 --> 00:50:10,719 Speaker 2: and I was pretty good at it and I made 955 00:50:10,799 --> 00:50:14,999 Speaker 2: some you know, terrific stuff. But I think everybody probably 956 00:50:14,999 --> 00:50:18,519 Speaker 2: feels like that, and I think I probably wasn't as 957 00:50:19,599 --> 00:50:23,319 Speaker 2: good as I probably felt that I was. But you know, 958 00:50:23,519 --> 00:50:24,999 Speaker 2: and at the end, you have just a lot of 959 00:50:25,119 --> 00:50:27,839 Speaker 2: drawers full of scripts and they haven't gone anywhere, and 960 00:50:27,879 --> 00:50:32,239 Speaker 2: you've you know, there's so much work goes into trying 961 00:50:32,279 --> 00:50:35,119 Speaker 2: to get a project up, you know, because they're expensive, 962 00:50:35,199 --> 00:50:38,599 Speaker 2: and there's it's very competitive and there's always somebody new 963 00:50:38,599 --> 00:50:40,799 Speaker 2: coming up. And I did get into the directing kind 964 00:50:40,839 --> 00:50:43,199 Speaker 2: of late, and I was known as an actor, so 965 00:50:43,319 --> 00:50:46,799 Speaker 2: to change that mantle was hard, and it wasn't necessarily 966 00:50:46,839 --> 00:50:49,119 Speaker 2: taken as seriously as it could have been as if 967 00:50:49,159 --> 00:50:51,359 Speaker 2: I'd started as a director and gone to film. 968 00:50:51,119 --> 00:50:54,799 Speaker 1: School and yes, had that pedigree or that had that degree. 969 00:50:54,959 --> 00:50:57,319 Speaker 2: People always a little bit skeptical, Oh well, she'll have 970 00:50:57,359 --> 00:50:59,519 Speaker 2: a little play and then she does it. 971 00:50:59,559 --> 00:51:01,799 Speaker 1: Also, because you were married to Brian Brown, do you 972 00:51:01,839 --> 00:51:04,959 Speaker 1: think or not so much. I think she's always to blame. 973 00:51:05,039 --> 00:51:09,359 Speaker 1: Let's blame him. 974 00:51:10,359 --> 00:51:13,039 Speaker 2: No, he was always absolutely fantastic because he produced a 975 00:51:13,039 --> 00:51:13,679 Speaker 2: lot of them too. 976 00:51:13,959 --> 00:51:15,119 Speaker 1: But I'm in externally. 977 00:51:15,319 --> 00:51:17,359 Speaker 3: Do you think there was always a thing of that 978 00:51:17,479 --> 00:51:19,719 Speaker 3: you don't necessarily need the job or. 979 00:51:21,919 --> 00:51:23,599 Speaker 1: I don't know, I did? You know? 980 00:51:23,679 --> 00:51:27,079 Speaker 2: It's so fickle, it's so who's in favor and who's not, 981 00:51:27,279 --> 00:51:29,199 Speaker 2: and who you want, who people want to work with, 982 00:51:29,279 --> 00:51:33,119 Speaker 2: And it's very copycat. You know, suddenly somebody becomes hot 983 00:51:33,159 --> 00:51:35,799 Speaker 2: and everybody wants to work with them, and literally a 984 00:51:35,839 --> 00:51:38,599 Speaker 2: week later they're out of fashion or they've done their 985 00:51:38,719 --> 00:51:42,479 Speaker 2: dash and it's somebody new. And you spend a lot 986 00:51:42,519 --> 00:51:44,999 Speaker 2: of time and a lot of energy getting to a 987 00:51:45,039 --> 00:51:47,719 Speaker 2: place where you can be responsible for a budget and 988 00:51:47,759 --> 00:51:51,519 Speaker 2: to tell a story, and suddenly it's gone and it 989 00:51:51,559 --> 00:51:54,559 Speaker 2: doesn't matter what you do, it's just gone. 990 00:51:54,679 --> 00:51:56,359 Speaker 1: And also the industry is very small. 991 00:51:56,479 --> 00:51:58,679 Speaker 2: So if you make a bit of a mistake on something, 992 00:51:58,759 --> 00:52:02,279 Speaker 2: or you don't do as well as you thought you should, 993 00:52:02,359 --> 00:52:03,279 Speaker 2: you know it's over. 994 00:52:04,159 --> 00:52:04,959 Speaker 1: It is over. 995 00:52:05,279 --> 00:52:10,399 Speaker 3: And so you you obviously have no trouble as you 996 00:52:10,439 --> 00:52:13,359 Speaker 3: said you like to to, you know, scale a pinnacle 997 00:52:14,279 --> 00:52:17,039 Speaker 3: time and energy. You were like, I know what I'm 998 00:52:17,039 --> 00:52:19,359 Speaker 3: going to do. I'm going to become a farmer. 999 00:52:21,879 --> 00:52:23,919 Speaker 1: Yeah that was that was pretty recently. 1000 00:52:24,119 --> 00:52:28,239 Speaker 2: Yes, that was pretty recently then that I had basically 1001 00:52:28,279 --> 00:52:29,359 Speaker 2: a big breakdown. 1002 00:52:29,359 --> 00:52:32,519 Speaker 1: I've always had a bit of mental health issue. Really. Yeah. 1003 00:52:32,599 --> 00:52:37,239 Speaker 3: It's funny because you seem, I mean externally when I 1004 00:52:37,279 --> 00:52:40,239 Speaker 3: see you really do, and maybe it's because you're very 1005 00:52:40,239 --> 00:52:42,959 Speaker 3: poised and you have beautiful posture, but it's. 1006 00:52:42,799 --> 00:52:47,959 Speaker 1: Hard to imagine you crumbled. Yeah, and you were crumbled. 1007 00:52:50,559 --> 00:52:53,599 Speaker 2: Yes, I've been crumbled a few times. A few times. 1008 00:52:53,639 --> 00:52:56,839 Speaker 2: I've had crumbles, and I've been on antipressants for a 1009 00:52:57,479 --> 00:53:01,039 Speaker 2: long time, right, And I am. 1010 00:53:00,639 --> 00:53:03,319 Speaker 1: Deeply grateful to them because it was I was. 1011 00:53:03,879 --> 00:53:09,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm someone who's undone unravels quite easily. Wow, quite 1012 00:53:09,559 --> 00:53:12,839 Speaker 2: a lot. And it comes from you know, I think 1013 00:53:12,839 --> 00:53:19,039 Speaker 2: in the end this what does it come from? 1014 00:53:19,159 --> 00:53:20,319 Speaker 1: I think it's self esteem. 1015 00:53:20,439 --> 00:53:24,359 Speaker 2: I think it's not liking yourself enough. I don't know 1016 00:53:24,399 --> 00:53:27,479 Speaker 2: what it is, but it's it's in there and it 1017 00:53:27,919 --> 00:53:29,079 Speaker 2: will never really go. 1018 00:53:29,479 --> 00:53:32,399 Speaker 1: I just did. I did the Adelaide Fringe. 1019 00:53:32,119 --> 00:53:35,319 Speaker 2: Festival the day before the night before last, and I 1020 00:53:35,399 --> 00:53:37,479 Speaker 2: had to host it and I was the MC and 1021 00:53:37,519 --> 00:53:41,359 Speaker 2: stuff and I'm so anxious, and so the chatter in 1022 00:53:41,399 --> 00:53:46,239 Speaker 2: my head was just screaming, You're going to screw this up. 1023 00:53:46,359 --> 00:53:48,839 Speaker 2: You're going to You're not going to know your lines, 1024 00:53:48,919 --> 00:53:51,759 Speaker 2: You're going to bugger it all up, you know. And 1025 00:53:52,199 --> 00:53:53,919 Speaker 2: there were lots of young I was on the sort 1026 00:53:53,959 --> 00:53:56,919 Speaker 2: of it was a it was a farming stories, a 1027 00:53:56,959 --> 00:53:59,479 Speaker 2: love story, and it was basically other farmers talking about 1028 00:53:59,519 --> 00:54:01,159 Speaker 2: their experiences. 1029 00:54:00,479 --> 00:54:01,039 Speaker 1: And this and that. 1030 00:54:01,599 --> 00:54:03,759 Speaker 2: And they were younger than me, and they were farmers. 1031 00:54:03,799 --> 00:54:06,639 Speaker 2: They weren't performing, and they were fine. They were really 1032 00:54:06,679 --> 00:54:09,159 Speaker 2: excited about it, and they felt really proud of what 1033 00:54:09,239 --> 00:54:13,439 Speaker 2: they'd done. And I was sort of still, you know, 1034 00:54:13,759 --> 00:54:16,799 Speaker 2: deeply insecure about being able to pull it off, and 1035 00:54:17,079 --> 00:54:20,399 Speaker 2: you know, and I just I find I find this 1036 00:54:20,559 --> 00:54:22,919 Speaker 2: quite easy because I do feel like we're having a chat. 1037 00:54:23,679 --> 00:54:27,239 Speaker 2: But I find anything where there are expectations and it's 1038 00:54:27,279 --> 00:54:29,679 Speaker 2: not it's not feeling like I'm going to make a 1039 00:54:29,679 --> 00:54:31,479 Speaker 2: fool of myself in front of other people. 1040 00:54:32,239 --> 00:54:35,599 Speaker 1: It's a fool for me. It's me not living up 1041 00:54:35,639 --> 00:54:37,159 Speaker 1: to the standards that I have. 1042 00:54:37,759 --> 00:54:40,999 Speaker 2: And that's that which is the critical voice that was 1043 00:54:41,039 --> 00:54:45,999 Speaker 2: from my beginning of like, oh she's a bore, she's stupid, 1044 00:54:46,399 --> 00:54:47,879 Speaker 2: she's got a big bum. 1045 00:54:47,959 --> 00:54:51,879 Speaker 1: You know, it was those those things very early on. 1046 00:54:52,159 --> 00:54:53,079 Speaker 1: Never leave you. 1047 00:54:53,599 --> 00:54:55,879 Speaker 3: And yet it doesn't matter how many times you get 1048 00:54:56,959 --> 00:55:00,559 Speaker 3: the external affirmation that what you're doing is great because 1049 00:55:00,599 --> 00:55:02,439 Speaker 3: the internal I know. 1050 00:55:02,319 --> 00:55:04,519 Speaker 2: And all of a sudden, I've had such lovely feeds 1051 00:55:04,639 --> 00:55:06,559 Speaker 2: back from all of that thing. When I was pit 1052 00:55:06,639 --> 00:55:09,159 Speaker 2: by the trolls about looking at what is. 1053 00:55:09,119 --> 00:55:10,479 Speaker 1: Actually paining me now? 1054 00:55:10,799 --> 00:55:13,879 Speaker 3: To think when you have said that you have this, 1055 00:55:14,679 --> 00:55:19,039 Speaker 3: you know, this internal struggle with yourself, my thought was, 1056 00:55:19,879 --> 00:55:20,399 Speaker 3: oh fuck. 1057 00:55:21,199 --> 00:55:23,319 Speaker 1: When people said those. 1058 00:55:23,159 --> 00:55:27,159 Speaker 2: Did not minds, did not mind at all, because no, 1059 00:55:27,639 --> 00:55:28,159 Speaker 2: didn't care. 1060 00:55:28,919 --> 00:55:30,719 Speaker 1: Now why didn't come Number one? 1061 00:55:31,239 --> 00:55:35,719 Speaker 2: I I don't have expectations about my appearance now, so 1062 00:55:35,959 --> 00:55:38,559 Speaker 2: what so I looked like, you know, like I've been 1063 00:55:39,799 --> 00:55:41,599 Speaker 2: like a farm or I come out of you know, 1064 00:55:41,839 --> 00:55:43,839 Speaker 2: like I haven't looked in the mirror for a what. 1065 00:55:44,239 --> 00:55:46,999 Speaker 1: I don't care if people have put a post about 1066 00:55:47,039 --> 00:55:50,159 Speaker 1: the farm, so it's about it was. It was related 1067 00:55:50,199 --> 00:55:51,679 Speaker 1: to the thanking. 1068 00:55:51,439 --> 00:55:54,599 Speaker 2: With people thanking my neighbors that Christmas, who's been so great, 1069 00:55:54,639 --> 00:55:57,399 Speaker 2: and how I couldn't do it all without them, you know, 1070 00:55:57,439 --> 00:55:59,679 Speaker 2: because they always jump in and you have this wonderful 1071 00:55:59,679 --> 00:56:02,719 Speaker 2: community of people who you're all connected to, and they 1072 00:56:03,119 --> 00:56:06,519 Speaker 2: communities and I was just thanking them and I didn't 1073 00:56:06,559 --> 00:56:09,639 Speaker 2: think really, I just and also I never have my camera, 1074 00:56:09,879 --> 00:56:12,519 Speaker 2: you know, I just do it myself and I don't 1075 00:56:12,519 --> 00:56:15,359 Speaker 2: really put touch thing into it. And I was basically 1076 00:56:15,399 --> 00:56:18,319 Speaker 2: just thanking them anyway. Yeah, must be quite a shock 1077 00:56:18,399 --> 00:56:19,079 Speaker 2: for people. 1078 00:56:18,879 --> 00:56:21,359 Speaker 1: Who know me. I've done lots of them. I don't 1079 00:56:21,399 --> 00:56:24,199 Speaker 1: know what. Oh, I know because I went gray, that's right. Oh, 1080 00:56:24,239 --> 00:56:26,519 Speaker 1: that's right. I let the gray go right. Yeah. And 1081 00:56:26,559 --> 00:56:27,639 Speaker 1: I was the first time. 1082 00:56:28,359 --> 00:56:31,759 Speaker 2: Yes, and I've done you know, yes, and I probably 1083 00:56:31,799 --> 00:56:33,679 Speaker 2: and then the film that you know, I had lighting 1084 00:56:33,759 --> 00:56:36,559 Speaker 2: and it was nice sliding and I didn't look too wretched, 1085 00:56:36,559 --> 00:56:39,119 Speaker 2: I suppose in Rachel's Farm, which was only four years ago. 1086 00:56:39,119 --> 00:56:40,919 Speaker 1: When did you realize. 1087 00:56:40,479 --> 00:56:42,479 Speaker 3: That that you'd. 1088 00:56:42,239 --> 00:56:43,279 Speaker 1: Had quite an impact? 1089 00:56:43,799 --> 00:56:46,799 Speaker 3: Like did you see the comments? You don't strike me 1090 00:56:46,839 --> 00:56:47,719 Speaker 3: as someone who's on your. 1091 00:56:47,599 --> 00:56:48,239 Speaker 1: Phone a lot. 1092 00:56:48,879 --> 00:56:50,999 Speaker 2: No, I mean I might have to be on my 1093 00:56:51,039 --> 00:56:53,159 Speaker 2: phone a bit because I've got this new business. So 1094 00:56:53,199 --> 00:56:56,759 Speaker 2: I'm trying to you know, selling your Not only I'm 1095 00:56:56,799 --> 00:57:00,799 Speaker 2: an advocate, I'm an advocate for regenerative farming now. So 1096 00:57:00,919 --> 00:57:04,399 Speaker 2: I need to be on social media and I need 1097 00:57:04,639 --> 00:57:07,439 Speaker 2: be talking about the issues about what is going on 1098 00:57:07,479 --> 00:57:10,239 Speaker 2: with small family farms, and I need to talk about how, 1099 00:57:10,439 --> 00:57:13,199 Speaker 2: you know, the tiny percent of the farmers get for 1100 00:57:13,279 --> 00:57:18,999 Speaker 2: their prodi produce, and how we're killing them. And you know, 1101 00:57:19,119 --> 00:57:22,399 Speaker 2: sometimes that takes an outsider to see have that perspective 1102 00:57:22,439 --> 00:57:25,279 Speaker 2: and I and I do feel that is my path 1103 00:57:25,519 --> 00:57:28,519 Speaker 2: for now. And I know I've got to, you know, 1104 00:57:28,639 --> 00:57:32,319 Speaker 2: step into my noncomfort zone to do that, but I 1105 00:57:32,439 --> 00:57:36,399 Speaker 2: really don't care about how I'm looking in that. That's 1106 00:57:36,559 --> 00:57:39,239 Speaker 2: not what I don't think anybody when you put out. 1107 00:57:39,159 --> 00:57:42,039 Speaker 3: That post, what was the first comment that you saw 1108 00:57:42,119 --> 00:57:45,399 Speaker 3: where you went, oh, can you remember? 1109 00:57:46,159 --> 00:57:46,319 Speaker 1: Well? 1110 00:57:46,359 --> 00:57:49,239 Speaker 2: I think I first saw people coming to my defense first, 1111 00:57:49,239 --> 00:57:52,599 Speaker 2: and I went on, what are they talking about? And 1112 00:57:52,639 --> 00:57:55,679 Speaker 2: then I saw some of the other ones, and no, 1113 00:57:55,879 --> 00:57:58,119 Speaker 2: I really just went, oh, you poor thing. 1114 00:57:58,399 --> 00:58:00,319 Speaker 1: You know, you are really afraid of aging. 1115 00:58:00,479 --> 00:58:04,399 Speaker 2: I'm not afraid of aging, and I feel better now 1116 00:58:04,639 --> 00:58:08,279 Speaker 2: than you know, as an older person than I did. Yeah, 1117 00:58:08,439 --> 00:58:12,519 Speaker 2: the expectations of so many things, your sexuality, your physicality, 1118 00:58:13,639 --> 00:58:15,119 Speaker 2: everything has gone of that. 1119 00:58:15,599 --> 00:58:18,239 Speaker 1: It's such a relief. You put up a really lovely 1120 00:58:18,399 --> 00:58:19,679 Speaker 1: post actually where you. 1121 00:58:19,639 --> 00:58:26,719 Speaker 3: Said, where you spoke about the beauty and of aging and. 1122 00:58:26,719 --> 00:58:28,719 Speaker 1: The myriad of benefits that came that. 1123 00:58:28,879 --> 00:58:32,399 Speaker 3: You said, it's not anything to be frightened off, and 1124 00:58:32,519 --> 00:58:37,119 Speaker 3: yet people are obviously frightened of it. Why do you 1125 00:58:37,319 --> 00:58:41,679 Speaker 3: think you in particular, why do you think that happened? 1126 00:58:41,759 --> 00:58:44,039 Speaker 3: Because it's like you said, You've put up lots of 1127 00:58:44,079 --> 00:58:47,039 Speaker 3: posts of yourself. You've never been you know, you're not 1128 00:58:47,119 --> 00:58:49,239 Speaker 3: having hair and makeup before you go out in the farm, 1129 00:58:49,519 --> 00:58:52,399 Speaker 3: So it's not Why do. 1130 00:58:52,279 --> 00:58:57,519 Speaker 1: You think people were so affected? I think I don't 1131 00:58:57,519 --> 00:58:58,519 Speaker 1: think it was really about me. 1132 00:58:58,599 --> 00:59:00,799 Speaker 2: I think I was a catalyst for a conversation that 1133 00:59:00,879 --> 00:59:05,119 Speaker 2: people were wanting to have and they hadn't been antunity 1134 00:59:05,279 --> 00:59:09,079 Speaker 2: as clear I suppose. So somebody's suddenly attacking me and 1135 00:59:09,119 --> 00:59:11,599 Speaker 2: I'm a farmer, so i'm you know, why should I 1136 00:59:11,679 --> 00:59:14,799 Speaker 2: look at a standard? And I think people have a 1137 00:59:14,839 --> 00:59:18,079 Speaker 2: fear of getting older because women become very invisible as 1138 00:59:18,079 --> 00:59:20,959 Speaker 2: they get older, yes, and if they, you know, aren't 1139 00:59:20,999 --> 00:59:24,679 Speaker 2: able to rest on the glory of their youth and 1140 00:59:24,719 --> 00:59:29,039 Speaker 2: their beauty and their you know, their sexuality, who are they? 1141 00:59:29,159 --> 00:59:32,399 Speaker 1: Where are they? And I think you know, definitely see 1142 00:59:32,439 --> 00:59:33,759 Speaker 1: that it's a law. 1143 00:59:33,559 --> 00:59:38,719 Speaker 3: Of diminishing returns too, because you cannot and there's you know, 1144 00:59:38,839 --> 00:59:42,479 Speaker 3: a thousand kind of you know, wrong way turn back 1145 00:59:42,559 --> 00:59:44,799 Speaker 3: examples of people who have tried to hang on to that. 1146 00:59:45,239 --> 00:59:47,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think women in our own age are 1147 00:59:47,439 --> 00:59:51,439 Speaker 2: completely understanding of it, and you don't disappear for them. 1148 00:59:51,519 --> 00:59:54,439 Speaker 2: And women should never a fear that, you know, a 1149 00:59:54,559 --> 00:59:56,839 Speaker 2: huge cohort of your peers are never going to go 1150 00:59:56,919 --> 01:00:00,279 Speaker 2: because they're always interested in your path like I am 1151 01:00:00,319 --> 01:00:03,159 Speaker 2: in other women of my age. You know, I'm riveted 1152 01:00:03,239 --> 01:00:06,359 Speaker 2: to know how they're navigating it, how they're how they're 1153 01:00:06,399 --> 01:00:09,959 Speaker 2: doing it, you know what they're doing, and I mean, 1154 01:00:09,999 --> 01:00:13,239 Speaker 2: the only thing is doing it silently. But you know, 1155 01:00:13,799 --> 01:00:17,159 Speaker 2: a lot of us don't need to be shouting about it. 1156 01:00:17,639 --> 01:00:22,199 Speaker 2: You know, we're looking for peace, and we're looking for connections, 1157 01:00:22,279 --> 01:00:25,799 Speaker 2: and we're looking for our family, and we're looking out 1158 01:00:25,879 --> 01:00:28,319 Speaker 2: for our family. We don't need to be shouting for 1159 01:00:28,439 --> 01:00:31,199 Speaker 2: the rooftops I think men still go on beating their 1160 01:00:31,279 --> 01:00:34,639 Speaker 2: chests until the cows come home. But I think, you know, 1161 01:00:34,679 --> 01:00:37,559 Speaker 2: a lot of women are just doing their stuff, being 1162 01:00:37,839 --> 01:00:40,599 Speaker 2: very productive, but without shouting about it. 1163 01:00:40,639 --> 01:00:43,479 Speaker 1: And I wonder, I think we lose a bit of. 1164 01:00:43,479 --> 01:00:45,759 Speaker 2: Power from that, because we all know that, you know, 1165 01:00:45,919 --> 01:00:50,759 Speaker 2: media attention is power, and I think that it is 1166 01:00:50,839 --> 01:00:53,559 Speaker 2: harder for them to get traction when they want to 1167 01:00:53,559 --> 01:00:55,919 Speaker 2: promote something or they want to say something, and they 1168 01:00:55,959 --> 01:01:02,039 Speaker 2: want to do something because they just don't have the 1169 01:01:01,319 --> 01:01:03,839 Speaker 2: the well, they don't have the media space, and they 1170 01:01:03,839 --> 01:01:06,999 Speaker 2: don't really four they don't really have a psychic space 1171 01:01:07,079 --> 01:01:09,479 Speaker 2: out there. Yes, but I think a lot of them 1172 01:01:09,719 --> 01:01:12,319 Speaker 2: don't care. I mean I often used to think why 1173 01:01:12,319 --> 01:01:14,399 Speaker 2: do women do it? Because when I was younger, and 1174 01:01:14,439 --> 01:01:16,359 Speaker 2: I was thinking, well, I'm still going to be, you know, 1175 01:01:16,439 --> 01:01:20,679 Speaker 2: jumping on tables when I'm ninety, and you go and 1176 01:01:20,719 --> 01:01:22,679 Speaker 2: why do they let themselves dispre And I think it's 1177 01:01:22,719 --> 01:01:25,439 Speaker 2: because you get to a point where you don't want it. 1178 01:01:25,799 --> 01:01:28,679 Speaker 1: Yes, you're happy to release it. You're happy to release 1179 01:01:28,839 --> 01:01:32,359 Speaker 1: such this is a thing, so you were not affected. 1180 01:01:32,439 --> 01:01:36,199 Speaker 3: But in my experience, also you know, working in the 1181 01:01:36,239 --> 01:01:41,399 Speaker 3: public eye, often people who love you are more affected 1182 01:01:41,479 --> 01:01:42,399 Speaker 3: on your behalf. 1183 01:01:43,119 --> 01:01:44,879 Speaker 1: So how was your husband? 1184 01:01:45,679 --> 01:01:50,639 Speaker 3: How was I saw your daughter came, yes, yeah, how 1185 01:01:50,759 --> 01:01:53,959 Speaker 3: was that for them? 1186 01:01:55,599 --> 01:01:58,159 Speaker 2: You know, Brian doesn't take anything very seriously, so he 1187 01:01:58,279 --> 01:02:00,359 Speaker 2: was probably just laughing and he knew I wouldn't take 1188 01:02:00,399 --> 01:02:01,159 Speaker 2: it seriously too. 1189 01:02:01,199 --> 01:02:02,719 Speaker 1: I mean it was I was hardly. 1190 01:02:03,719 --> 01:02:06,239 Speaker 2: He's seen me on the floor, he's seen me killed up, 1191 01:02:06,279 --> 01:02:10,119 Speaker 2: and yeah, well that's what he's seen. But he knows 1192 01:02:10,159 --> 01:02:13,239 Speaker 2: that that's not my achilles heel right, he knows that 1193 01:02:13,239 --> 01:02:16,599 Speaker 2: that wouldn't undo me. And my daughter was just sort 1194 01:02:16,639 --> 01:02:19,919 Speaker 2: of like, well, she's very much on social media and 1195 01:02:19,959 --> 01:02:23,039 Speaker 2: she's very you know, she's an influencer, so she does 1196 01:02:23,399 --> 01:02:25,959 Speaker 2: and she's brilliant at it. Yes, she does the most 1197 01:02:25,999 --> 01:02:30,519 Speaker 2: amazing post for the good farm shops and she just went, 1198 01:02:31,439 --> 01:02:33,479 Speaker 2: I think she just knows such a different part of me, 1199 01:02:33,639 --> 01:02:36,239 Speaker 2: you know, such a thing that again I think as 1200 01:02:36,279 --> 01:02:40,079 Speaker 2: a younger woman, she went, how dare you attack someone 1201 01:02:40,119 --> 01:02:44,079 Speaker 2: who's doing so much, who's so vibrant, who's so connected, 1202 01:02:44,159 --> 01:02:47,239 Speaker 2: and did a how dare you diminish them just because 1203 01:02:47,239 --> 01:02:48,919 Speaker 2: they haven't done their hair and makeup? 1204 01:02:49,599 --> 01:02:52,479 Speaker 3: And I think, very interesting thing that you have given 1205 01:02:52,519 --> 01:02:56,519 Speaker 3: your daughters and your son, isn't it as opposed to 1206 01:02:56,599 --> 01:02:58,079 Speaker 3: what you had. 1207 01:02:58,799 --> 01:03:04,159 Speaker 1: So your daughter's not in the feetal position. No, you've 1208 01:03:04,199 --> 01:03:07,799 Speaker 1: done that as a mother. Yes, perhaps amazing, I hope. 1209 01:03:07,839 --> 01:03:10,999 Speaker 2: So. No, they're not in fetal positions now yet. Now 1210 01:03:11,079 --> 01:03:14,519 Speaker 2: my daughters certainly aren't. Actually none of them are. They're 1211 01:03:14,679 --> 01:03:20,959 Speaker 2: very confident, very very comfortable in their own skin. Yeah, 1212 01:03:20,959 --> 01:03:24,799 Speaker 2: they've got Brian's confidence, nearly all of them. My oldest 1213 01:03:24,879 --> 01:03:28,359 Speaker 2: daughter is slightly more sensitive. I mean they're all sensitive, 1214 01:03:28,359 --> 01:03:28,639 Speaker 2: but I. 1215 01:03:28,559 --> 01:03:29,119 Speaker 1: Mean she's more. 1216 01:03:29,199 --> 01:03:32,159 Speaker 2: She's not someone who wants to draw attention to herself 1217 01:03:32,839 --> 01:03:35,199 Speaker 2: and she's not going to be in the live life no, 1218 01:03:35,439 --> 01:03:37,159 Speaker 2: so she's more, she's shyer. 1219 01:03:37,559 --> 01:03:42,199 Speaker 3: I have a theory about the impact that you made 1220 01:03:42,479 --> 01:03:47,879 Speaker 3: with your just videoing yourself songs, makeup, and it's that 1221 01:03:48,839 --> 01:03:52,719 Speaker 3: I think very few people are given, as I said earlier, 1222 01:03:52,719 --> 01:03:54,279 Speaker 3: the gift of the gods, which. 1223 01:03:54,079 --> 01:04:00,239 Speaker 6: Is this rare beauty, thank you, like rare, and there 1224 01:04:00,239 --> 01:04:04,599 Speaker 6: are very few women who willingly step aside from it. 1225 01:04:04,679 --> 01:04:06,879 Speaker 1: And most women are like at some. 1226 01:04:07,039 --> 01:04:10,679 Speaker 3: Level, maybe not not actively, but it's just exists in you. 1227 01:04:11,199 --> 01:04:14,959 Speaker 3: Oh if I had that beauty, that would be like 1228 01:04:15,119 --> 01:04:18,439 Speaker 3: the ultimate prize. And to see someone who has that 1229 01:04:18,519 --> 01:04:21,399 Speaker 3: beauty and who's opted to not. 1230 01:04:22,079 --> 01:04:25,639 Speaker 2: But you know, if you're given that gift that it's 1231 01:04:25,679 --> 01:04:26,959 Speaker 2: not worth very much. 1232 01:04:28,479 --> 01:04:30,599 Speaker 1: Not everyone who's given that gift knows that. 1233 01:04:31,399 --> 01:04:35,119 Speaker 2: It's not yours. It's the gift from the gods. Yes, 1234 01:04:35,239 --> 01:04:40,599 Speaker 2: you have not earned it, So it becomes difficult because 1235 01:04:40,639 --> 01:04:46,199 Speaker 2: you are always that's supposed to be enough. So it's 1236 01:04:46,359 --> 01:04:49,039 Speaker 2: and you don't ever feel like I did nothing for this. 1237 01:04:49,239 --> 01:04:52,279 Speaker 2: I just happened to have the lovely mother who you know, 1238 01:04:52,319 --> 01:04:55,599 Speaker 2: and I had some good genes. I would rather have 1239 01:04:55,639 --> 01:04:58,839 Speaker 2: been given the gift of music, or the gift of 1240 01:04:58,959 --> 01:05:01,679 Speaker 2: being good at maths or good at you know. So 1241 01:05:01,799 --> 01:05:05,359 Speaker 2: the achievement, achievement gift something that I've worked hard for 1242 01:05:05,879 --> 01:05:10,719 Speaker 2: that I've used my guts myself, you know. That's why 1243 01:05:10,759 --> 01:05:13,879 Speaker 2: anything that I did for myself I had pride of. 1244 01:05:14,519 --> 01:05:17,439 Speaker 2: But anything that was hinged on, that that hung on 1245 01:05:17,559 --> 01:05:21,359 Speaker 2: that never gave me very much satisfaction. And the sooner 1246 01:05:21,399 --> 01:05:23,879 Speaker 2: I could get rid of it, the better. The sooner 1247 01:05:23,959 --> 01:05:27,639 Speaker 2: I could get satisfaction from being a director or being 1248 01:05:27,639 --> 01:05:30,719 Speaker 2: a farmer, or anything that had nothing to do with 1249 01:05:30,799 --> 01:05:33,479 Speaker 2: being in front of a camera or using your looks 1250 01:05:33,559 --> 01:05:34,919 Speaker 2: for advantage. 1251 01:05:35,319 --> 01:05:36,719 Speaker 1: That's interesting because. 1252 01:05:36,959 --> 01:05:39,039 Speaker 2: And I think a lot of a lot of women 1253 01:05:39,079 --> 01:05:41,439 Speaker 2: have been given the gift of the gods would feel 1254 01:05:41,439 --> 01:05:45,359 Speaker 2: that that is, it feels unearned, the concentration on what 1255 01:05:45,599 --> 01:05:50,199 Speaker 2: is superficial, whereas what you've done is is literally and 1256 01:05:50,279 --> 01:05:58,399 Speaker 2: metaphorically made a connection with the earth, groundedness, groundedness. 1257 01:05:59,079 --> 01:06:02,279 Speaker 3: It's really interesting because you see it in the farm, 1258 01:06:02,359 --> 01:06:03,719 Speaker 3: docco in Rangel's farm. 1259 01:06:03,839 --> 01:06:06,599 Speaker 1: You seed. It surprised me. You said I used to 1260 01:06:06,599 --> 01:06:10,799 Speaker 1: be thin skinned. Do you remember something that. Yes, I've 1261 01:06:10,839 --> 01:06:12,359 Speaker 1: always been quite thin skinned. 1262 01:06:12,479 --> 01:06:15,279 Speaker 3: And now you said your connection with the land and 1263 01:06:15,319 --> 01:06:20,839 Speaker 3: the farm and what you're doing, like changing the life. 1264 01:06:20,519 --> 01:06:24,079 Speaker 1: Of the land. Yeah, I can't remember. I did say 1265 01:06:24,119 --> 01:06:25,959 Speaker 1: I was thin skin, but I can't remember. If I 1266 01:06:25,959 --> 01:06:26,279 Speaker 1: I'm not. 1267 01:06:27,079 --> 01:06:31,599 Speaker 2: Scars definitely make you tougher going life, you know, going 1268 01:06:31,639 --> 01:06:35,159 Speaker 2: through life, you just do get I remember that, and 1269 01:06:35,199 --> 01:06:37,279 Speaker 2: I look at my grandkids and I go, their love 1270 01:06:37,439 --> 01:06:41,319 Speaker 2: is so fluid, you know, what they're experiencing. Their emotions 1271 01:06:41,319 --> 01:06:45,159 Speaker 2: are so fluid. You know, they're so open and vulnerable, 1272 01:06:45,319 --> 01:06:49,319 Speaker 2: susceptible to deep passions, to deep loves and lights it's 1273 01:06:49,319 --> 01:06:53,679 Speaker 2: always hate love, you know, it's so extreme. I think 1274 01:06:53,679 --> 01:06:57,519 Speaker 2: when you get older, it becomes much more in control. Yeah, 1275 01:06:57,639 --> 01:07:01,639 Speaker 2: I definitely feel like I'm more robust. I'm more resilient, 1276 01:07:02,159 --> 01:07:03,959 Speaker 2: and which is what I'm trying to make my land. 1277 01:07:04,119 --> 01:07:05,599 Speaker 1: Obviously, there is more robust. 1278 01:07:05,719 --> 01:07:08,119 Speaker 2: You feel that it's a lot of land is very 1279 01:07:08,199 --> 01:07:13,399 Speaker 2: vulnerable because it's been mistreated. It doesn't have cover on it. 1280 01:07:13,399 --> 01:07:17,879 Speaker 2: It's not it's not it's not loved enough, you know. 1281 01:07:17,959 --> 01:07:22,599 Speaker 2: In a way, it's it doesn't have the resilience and 1282 01:07:22,679 --> 01:07:26,399 Speaker 2: the and the robustness that we need for it to 1283 01:07:26,519 --> 01:07:31,119 Speaker 2: function properly. Yes, so in a way, I've got that resilience, 1284 01:07:31,519 --> 01:07:32,839 Speaker 2: the resilience and all of. 1285 01:07:32,799 --> 01:07:34,159 Speaker 1: That to function properly. 1286 01:07:34,559 --> 01:07:38,039 Speaker 3: I have to thank you for your advocacy in this 1287 01:07:38,199 --> 01:07:43,879 Speaker 3: area because I've relatively recently as well, started buying our 1288 01:07:43,959 --> 01:07:47,039 Speaker 3: meat from a small farmer that I drive past in 1289 01:07:47,119 --> 01:07:49,919 Speaker 3: South Gippsland in Victoria, and he had a sign on 1290 01:07:49,959 --> 01:07:52,279 Speaker 3: his gate and now he delivers to the city once 1291 01:07:52,319 --> 01:07:52,759 Speaker 3: a month. 1292 01:07:53,359 --> 01:07:56,959 Speaker 1: Beautiful guy, And that's so good to hear. 1293 01:07:57,039 --> 01:07:58,919 Speaker 3: There are so many I was reading a stat the 1294 01:07:58,919 --> 01:08:01,199 Speaker 3: other day on the small farms that have disappeared in 1295 01:08:01,239 --> 01:08:04,439 Speaker 3: America one hundred and eighty thousand squat farms over the 1296 01:08:04,679 --> 01:08:06,919 Speaker 3: last I E is like crazy. 1297 01:08:06,839 --> 01:08:08,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, much more. 1298 01:08:08,159 --> 01:08:12,359 Speaker 2: There used to be three hundred and eighty million cattle 1299 01:08:12,559 --> 01:08:16,319 Speaker 2: or livestock in America and now there's like thirty eight 1300 01:08:16,679 --> 01:08:17,479 Speaker 2: million or something. 1301 01:08:17,519 --> 01:08:18,039 Speaker 1: I mean, the. 1302 01:08:17,999 --> 01:08:22,519 Speaker 2: Reduction in their farming has been extraordinary, and basically it's 1303 01:08:22,559 --> 01:08:26,919 Speaker 2: because they've just ruined their country and so it's it's eroding, 1304 01:08:27,439 --> 01:08:31,279 Speaker 2: the top soil has gone. They've poisoned it with so 1305 01:08:31,439 --> 01:08:33,639 Speaker 2: much glypher say that you know, they had this thing 1306 01:08:33,759 --> 01:08:38,239 Speaker 2: now where they've realized that between Baton Rouge and New 1307 01:08:38,319 --> 01:08:41,079 Speaker 2: Orleans it's now called cancer Alley because there's so much 1308 01:08:41,119 --> 01:08:44,479 Speaker 2: glypha say it has been sprayed on the fields up 1309 01:08:44,519 --> 01:08:47,959 Speaker 2: in you know, like Nebraska, in all that big farming land, 1310 01:08:47,999 --> 01:08:50,279 Speaker 2: and it all goes into the river system and it 1311 01:08:50,319 --> 01:08:53,359 Speaker 2: all comes down the river system and it's in the rain, 1312 01:08:53,519 --> 01:08:55,679 Speaker 2: and it's in the clouds, and it's in our hair. 1313 01:08:56,319 --> 01:08:59,839 Speaker 2: It is everywhere, and you know, we need to be 1314 01:09:00,039 --> 01:09:01,199 Speaker 2: really addressing this. 1315 01:09:01,479 --> 01:09:05,199 Speaker 1: And yeah, I think it's a space that. I mean, 1316 01:09:05,239 --> 01:09:05,959 Speaker 1: it wasn't. 1317 01:09:05,759 --> 01:09:09,039 Speaker 2: Until I got into the farming thing on a thing 1318 01:09:09,079 --> 01:09:13,439 Speaker 2: because yes, I was ramped up with fear about what 1319 01:09:13,479 --> 01:09:16,839 Speaker 2: we were doing to the country to climate wise, I 1320 01:09:16,919 --> 01:09:20,559 Speaker 2: was definitely very susceptible to that, and I felt very 1321 01:09:20,599 --> 01:09:23,959 Speaker 2: impotent to do anything other than doing a bit of recycling. 1322 01:09:23,959 --> 01:09:26,639 Speaker 2: And yet I felt, why aren't we doing more? We've 1323 01:09:26,639 --> 01:09:29,879 Speaker 2: got to be doing so much more. So I felt, 1324 01:09:29,919 --> 01:09:32,719 Speaker 2: you know, not only in the end did I have power. 1325 01:09:32,759 --> 01:09:35,279 Speaker 2: In the fact I was filmmaker. I could tell this story. 1326 01:09:35,399 --> 01:09:38,359 Speaker 2: I could tell the story a Regen which I wanted 1327 01:09:38,359 --> 01:09:40,319 Speaker 2: to do with the region farmers, but then was talked 1328 01:09:40,359 --> 01:09:43,279 Speaker 2: in the fact note has to be your story of discovery, 1329 01:09:43,439 --> 01:09:46,319 Speaker 2: which was a very good thing, and the producer Tina 1330 01:09:46,399 --> 01:09:47,879 Speaker 2: Dalton was the one who pushed me there. 1331 01:09:47,959 --> 01:09:48,399 Speaker 1: I was a. 1332 01:09:48,359 --> 01:09:51,959 Speaker 2: Farmer, so I could change my farm, you know, I 1333 01:09:51,959 --> 01:09:53,839 Speaker 2: could change the way I farmed from just being a 1334 01:09:53,879 --> 01:09:57,079 Speaker 2: conventional farmer to really paying attention to looking after my 1335 01:09:57,199 --> 01:09:58,079 Speaker 2: soil and my lad. 1336 01:09:58,519 --> 01:09:59,559 Speaker 1: And I was a consumer. 1337 01:10:00,439 --> 01:10:04,159 Speaker 2: I could really make sure that my values about climate 1338 01:10:04,359 --> 01:10:07,519 Speaker 2: and being and being an environmentalist and caring about what 1339 01:10:07,679 --> 01:10:10,839 Speaker 2: was going on with the water and our table, our 1340 01:10:10,879 --> 01:10:14,319 Speaker 2: water table and our soil, I could change that around 1341 01:10:14,519 --> 01:10:18,639 Speaker 2: just my small thing also, and I could understand that 1342 01:10:18,999 --> 01:10:23,479 Speaker 2: to put my values those values, I could buy according 1343 01:10:23,519 --> 01:10:25,959 Speaker 2: to my values of being an environmentalist. 1344 01:10:26,439 --> 01:10:31,319 Speaker 1: Rachel Ward, God, I love you Oh, thanks, thank you. 1345 01:10:31,479 --> 01:10:33,479 Speaker 2: I can't believe I spent so much time banging on 1346 01:10:33,559 --> 01:10:35,159 Speaker 2: about the early days. 1347 01:10:35,519 --> 01:10:38,839 Speaker 3: But it's interesting the journey of how one comes to 1348 01:10:38,919 --> 01:10:43,239 Speaker 3: where they are. Sometimes you can only recognize it by 1349 01:10:43,359 --> 01:10:46,639 Speaker 3: turning to look back and hopefully not turning into a 1350 01:10:46,679 --> 01:10:47,439 Speaker 3: pillar of salt. 1351 01:10:48,159 --> 01:10:50,879 Speaker 2: Thanks for being such a great year, and I'll have 1352 01:10:50,919 --> 01:10:53,239 Speaker 2: to catch up with your life right now. 1353 01:10:56,719 --> 01:10:56,919 Speaker 1: Wow. 1354 01:10:56,959 --> 01:11:00,639 Speaker 3: What struck me most about this conversation is how matter 1355 01:11:00,719 --> 01:11:05,399 Speaker 3: of fact Rachel is about endings. There is something deeply 1356 01:11:05,559 --> 01:11:09,359 Speaker 3: radical about a woman who refuses to cling to the 1357 01:11:09,399 --> 01:11:13,119 Speaker 3: glory of youth, who refuses to pretend she isn't aging, 1358 01:11:13,199 --> 01:11:16,599 Speaker 3: who refuses to stay where she no longer feels she 1359 01:11:16,679 --> 01:11:22,639 Speaker 3: belongs and instead chooses the farm, the dirt, the long view. 1360 01:11:23,479 --> 01:11:26,519 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for listening to No Filter. The 1361 01:11:26,599 --> 01:11:29,999 Speaker 3: executive producer of No Filter is bre Player. The assistant 1362 01:11:29,999 --> 01:11:33,999 Speaker 3: producer is Coco Levine. Audio production by Jacob Brown and 1363 01:11:34,119 --> 01:11:38,199 Speaker 3: video editing by Josh Green. I am your host, Kate Lanebrook. 1364 01:11:38,359 --> 01:11:42,679 Speaker 3: I can't wait to see you next Monday. Mamma Mia 1365 01:11:42,799 --> 01:11:45,599 Speaker 3: acknowledges the traditional owners of the land and waters that 1366 01:11:45,639 --> 01:11:47,279 Speaker 3: this podcast is recorded on