Heather Mitchell, the acclaimed stage and screen actor, opens up about her latest role in the television series The Killings at Parrish Station, where she portrays a detective haunted by an unsolved mystery. In a candid interview, she reflects on life's greatest mysteries, her experience playing multiple US presidents, and her unique hobby of creating toast art.
Life's Greatest Mystery
When asked about life's greatest mystery, Mitchell doesn't shy away from the obvious. 'I don't want to say anything too obvious, like death, but it is such a mystery. It's hard not to sound like a cliche, [but] the greatest mystery is: how does it all end?' she shares.
Funeral Songs and Fond Memories
Mitchell discusses her thoughts on death, noting that her friend James Valentine's recent passing through voluntary assisted dying brought joy rather than morbidity. 'Knowing his family so well, joy is the word that kept coming up, so I do not find the idea of death morbid,' she says. For her own funeral, she is drawn to songs her sons love, like those by Māori singer Teeks, but also a recording of her father playing steel guitar and singing American folk songs.
Playing Presidents in RBG: Of Many, One
Mitchell recently finished touring the play RBG: Of Many, One, in which she portrays not only Ruth Bader Ginsburg but also three US presidents and 29 other characters. She enjoyed playing Bill Clinton the most. 'I certainly got the biggest audience reaction for Trump, but I must say I really enjoyed Clinton. Because of the way Suzie [Miller]'s written it, there's humour in his conversation and that southern drawl,' she explains. The scene where Clinton and Ginsburg get to know each other before her Supreme Court nomination was particularly fun, and audiences react strongly to perceptions of his relationship with Hillary.
Becoming Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Mitchell admits she found it hard to stop speaking like Ginsburg during the first season of the play. 'In the first season, yes, but not any more. We've done more than 300 shows, and in the first season I found it very hard to stop speaking like Ruth, because I was still trying to get the language and the voices, so even in my non-theatrical hours I was practising her movements. I found myself driving like an old lady, for example, but I am now completely able to switch her off,' she says.
Tarot Reader Encounter
Mitchell met her husband, Martin McGrath, shortly after a tarot reader predicted she would meet a man. She later returned to a different tarot reader in Melbourne, who gave her a frightening reading. 'She put her arm around me and said, "There's not much to her, is there?" and then said to Martin, "Never mind, where did she go wrong?" I just panicked and looked at him, like Don't leave me, don't leave me. He did go for a walk, and she said one terrible thing after another – telling me that I was going to ruin his life – and, anyway, that was my last time,' Mitchell recalls.
Overrated Shakespeare and Animal Spirit
Mitchell made her professional debut at age 22 in Henry IV, Part 1 at Sydney Theatre Company. When asked about overrated Shakespeare plays, she says, 'I'm not as crazy about Twelfth Night.' If she could be any animal, she would choose a giraffe, admiring their ability to overcome physical challenges to reach high leaves while still being grounded.
Toast Art and Co-Star Habits
Mitchell continues her unique hobby of creating toast art for co-stars. She recently made 65 toasts of every crew member on the show Dalliance, which she co-produced. She prefers the whitest, most sugary bread for portraits to avoid pockmarks, but for landscapes, she loves rough sourdough. A Vegemite gallery in Victoria has also featured her Vegemite on toast art.
Hugo Weaving: Annoyingly Nice
Regarding her friend and frequent co-star Hugo Weaving, Mitchell says, 'Oh darling, as if he has one! He's so nice to everyone. He's so lovely to the crew, so lovely to everybody. He's annoyingly nice. He's annoyingly lovely, which is why he's so beautiful to work with too. He's just annoyingly pleasant and present and lovely. He's such a wonderful actor, but he's such a wonderful person. It's almost annoying how fabulous he is.'
Mitchell appears in The Killings at Parrish Station, which premieres on Stan on 24 June.
