Actor Miranda Tapsell opens up about finding the courage to voice her opinions and calls on non-Indigenous Australians to start taking action.
ItтАЩs the type of career that any actor would dream of. At just 24 years old, and after just three years in the competitive and cutthroat entertainment industry, Miranda Tapsell landed a role in the critically acclaimed 2012 film The Sapphires.
Suddenly, the proud Larrakia Tiwi woman, who describes herself as a тАЬshy, short, brown girl from DarwinтАЭ was being asked to audition for a string of roles.
тАЬEverything sort of came thick and fast, which is unusual for actors because most careers take time,тАЭ she recounts to Stellar of that period.
But she now adds that her fast trajectory, which saw her soon star in television series Love Child, NewtonтАЩs Law and Secret City, came at a cost.
тАЬI did experience a sort of burnout,тАЭ she reveals.
тАЬI obviously didnтАЩt want to complain because there were lots of actors auditioning and not getting work. But, it also wasnтАЩt like the тАЩ90s anymore where you could do one show and suddenly buy a house. I was living in Sydney, so still had to do multiple jobs on the side.тАЭ
However, the now-33-year-old writer and star of Top End Wedding says the lessons she learnt in her 20s have changed the way sheтАЩs approached her career тАУ and her life тАУ now that sheтАЩs well into a fruitful new decade.
тАЬMy whole career is built on the fact that I said тАШyesтАЩ. I didnтАЩt leave a stone unturned; I always took my shot. And you have to do that when youтАЩre starting out. Being a young actor and wanting to prove myself, I had a tendency to sort of shut everything out, but IтАЩve learnt I need to draw some boundaries for myself,тАЭ she tells Stellar.
тАЬWhen I was starting out, I felt that I didnтАЩt have any power. I just sort of had to go along with what was happening. But now that IтАЩm more established, now that IтАЩve been in the industry for a lot longer, IтАЩm a lot more confident in being able to say, тАШOK, I canтАЩt do that.тАЩ IтАЩm just being realistic with my time and my energy.тАЭ
She adds the pandemic has also helped affirm her priorities.
тАЬI was so career driven, I spent my whole 20s building my identity around my work. I think it was important for me to remind myself that yes, IтАЩm a good actor [and] I love being an actor, but IтАЩm also an aunty. IтАЩm also a daughter, a friend. Those roles are important, too.тАЭ
Tapsell is sharing her self-care journey as part of MedibankтАЩs Live Better program, which aims to help people find the best ways to boost their wellbeing.
The campaign ambassador says that for her, snuggles with her cavoodle puppy or listening to the music of her parentsтАЩ era, from artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner, is what helps lift her spirits. тАЬIt breaks me out of my spell a little bit. It helps stop the spiral,тАЭ she says.
Still, Tapsell is quick to stress that sheтАЩs certainly no Oprah. тАЬI find self-care ongoing. I struggle to do it. I donтАЩt want to be seen as selfish or conceited. ItтАЩs not a habit, to say the least,тАЭ she says.
Today marks the beginning of national NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week, and if thereтАЩs one thing that Tapsell always makes the time and energy to show up for, itтАЩs advocating on behalf of Aboriginal rights. Her community of fellow actors, she says, provide ample inspiration to do so.
тАЬThe arts [circle] is so community minded. Everyone looks after one another. I think that really bolsters me. When I see other people advocate for themselves, IтАЩm really inspired by that and go, тАШWell, I could really take a leaf out of their book,тАЩтАЭ she says.
тАЬIтАЩm not saying IтАЩve completely achieved it тАУ itтАЩs still an ongoing process for me тАУ but IтАЩve noticed that IтАЩve found the courage to be able to voice my opinions and my beliefs.тАЭ
Despite the reckoning that came with last yearтАЩs global Black Lives Matter movement, Tapsell says sheтАЩs yet to see much change.
тАЬI donтАЩt feel like thereтАЩs any progress. The fight hasnтАЩt stopped. The struggle hasnтАЩt stopped. It continues,тАЭ she says.
тАЬIтАЩm looking forward to seeing all the conversation turned into action. IтАЩm looking forward to more of my non-Indigenous allies turning up to protests or donating to Aboriginal causes. ItтАЩs about not waiting for people like myself to remind you to pull someone up when theyтАЩve said something derogatory or violent to someone who is Aboriginal or anyone from a marginalised racial background.
тАЬItтАЩs not enough for you to just squirm in your chair. Say something.тАЭ
ItтАЩs these life learnings that the Logie winner will take into her next role: as a mum. In May, the actor revealed that she and her husband, comedy writer James Colley, will be welcoming their first child later in the year.
She tells Stellar that itтАЩs important their child is taught about their Aboriginal heritage and, whether they like it or not, they will have to love the Penrith Panthers!
As to whatтАЩs next for her professionally, Tapsell is very excited to play Zoe the thorny devil lizard in Back To The Outback, out this year on Netflix. As for the rest of her life, sheтАЩs embracing its unpredictability.
тАЬIтАЩve dealt with so much uncertainty. You think youтАЩre going to get the role, but you donтАЩt. Or you donтАЩt think youтАЩre going to get the role, and you do,тАЭ she says.
тАЬI guess thatтАЩs taught me how to embrace uncertainty. IтАЩm good with uncertainty.тАЭ
This feature was produced in partnership with Medibank.
