In an exclusive interview, the stars of Baz Luhrmann's 1992 classic 'Strictly Ballroom' look back on the making of the film that launched a new wave of Australian cinema.
Tara Morice on Playing Fran
Morice, who played the spirited dancer Fran, recalls her journey to the role. 'Baz Luhrmann was this cool guy two years ahead of me at NIDA, the drama school in Sydney. When I graduated, I joined his theatre company Six Years Old and the play of Strictly Ballroom came out of that.' The character was inspired by ballroom dancer Keith Bain, who taught movement at the school and had introduced shocking new steps upon returning from South America. 'We talked a lot in rehearsals about the Paso Doble, and from that came Fran's Spanish immigrant background. I thought up the name Frangipani because Sydney has frangipani trees everywhere.'
Morice did seven screen tests over a year before being cast, and was only told the night before filming began. 'I felt this ownership of Fran because I'd worked on her for so long. Even once we were filming, I had this sense of doubt: I'm not pretty enough, I can't dance well enough – which is 100% Fran.' She praised Luhrmann's unique style: 'Fran and Scott are the centre of their own naturalistic world surrounded by all these larger-than-life characters.'
Paul Mercurio on Playing Scott
Mercurio, a dancer with the Sydney Dance Company, initially received a call from Luhrmann to choreograph unconventional steps. A year later, he auditioned for the lead role of Scott Hastings. 'I always loved watching Baz work. He was so considered but also a genius: a little bit loopy, a bit out there.' Mercurio keeps the film's iconic line 'Dance your own steps' on his fridge, a philosophy he embraced from childhood. 'I had friends at primary school who wanted to beat me up. There was that attitude: boys don't do ballet. Billy Elliot was kind of my story.'
He recalls the film's impact on male dancers: 'One of the things I love most about Strictly is it achieved this dream I had, which was to say: Men dancing is OK.' A memorable encounter with a burly fan confirmed this: 'A big dude came up to me and said, My wife dragged me kicking and screaming to your movie – and it was the best thing she's ever done.'
The Film's Legacy
Both actors reflect on the film's difficult journey to production and its lasting influence. 'None of us could believe we were making the film. It had been so hard to get funding,' says Morice. The Cannes premiere was a turning point: 'To go from being this little Aussie movie that no one wanted to make to being the midnight screening with a standing ovation was amazing,' Mercurio adds. He notes that the film helped establish a new path for Australian cinema, alongside 'Muriel's Wedding' and 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'. 'Strictly Ballroom established that trajectory of Australian film-makers taking bolder choices and creating a different image of the country.'
'Strictly Ballroom in 4K' is now in cinemas and on digital platforms from 12 June.
