Page 180 - Marie Claire Australia (January 2020)

LAST WORD
THE WOMEN WHO MADE ME
MIRANDA
TAPSELL
Australia’s favourite pint-sized
star reveals the women she looks
up to (literally and figuratively)
BAR BA R A TA P S E LL
My mum Barbara is unapologetic. She
has the courage to stand up for herself
without fear of being disliked for not
being “friendly enough”. She’s staunch
because she’s had to be – as a dark-
skinned Aboriginal woman. Mum
knows who she is and what she
believes in. That’s been grounding
for me. It taught me who I was and
where I stood in my community
and has made me feel indestructible.
My family has always had trouble
saying, “I love you” or “I’m proud of
you,” so it’s been really beautiful
watching my mum become more
vulnerable in recent years. I remember
when she came to the Cannes Film
Festival for The Sapphires premiere in
2012. My mum doesn’t cry unless it’s a
funeral, but she was beside herself with
tears watching the film. It was her way of
telling me she’s proud of me. Now she’ll
say, “You were wonderful, my daughter.”
UR SUL A YOVI CH
I saw actress Ursula in the stage version
of The Sapphires when I was 17, and she
was electric. When she started singing
the first few notes of Aretha Franklin’s
“Respect”, my heart burst. I had never
seen such a powerful presence on
stage – and she was little and brown
like me! It was the first time I’d seen an
empowered Aboriginal woman in a play,
and it resonated so strongly within me. I
was screaming like a mad Beatles fan.
In my third and final year at the
National Institute of Dramatic Art,
Ursula recommended me for a role
in the show Yibiyung at the Belvoir St
Theatre in Sydney because she was
heavily pregnant and couldn’t do it.
That was my big start. Knowing that
she had recommended me was such
a vote of confidence and belief.
When it came to casting the role
of my mother in my film Top End
Wedding, Ursula was a natural choice.
She’s so compelling to watch, and when
178 | marieclaire.com.au
you sit down with her, it feels like she’s
lived a thousand lives before this one.
She’s a presence. You can’t help
wanting to hug her and never let her go.
ALEX ANDRIA OCASIO - CORTEZ
I’m a bit exhausted by the state of
the world, but American politician
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gives
me hope. She fights for things like
environmental justice and talks
about immigration and the effects
of colonisation. She breaks these
ideas down to make them accessible
to everyone and opens the halls of
power to those of us outside.
Plus, she has nerves of steel. She
stares down men twice her age who
patronise her with comments like, “I
really admire your energy for someone
who’s got such a lack of experience.”
She takes it on the chin. To see her back
herself even when her capability is
questioned because she’s a woman of
colour is inspiring. I know what it feels
like to be made to feel inferior, but
looking at Alexandria reminds me that I
am smart enough, talented enough and
capable enough – I don’t have to be a PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHNNY DIAZ NICOLAIDIS; GETTY IMAGES. EDITED BY ALLEY PASCOE.
blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy. CLOCKWISE
You’ve gotta love her ferocity. And FROM ABOVE
how she wears hoop earrings and listens Miranda with
her mum
to [singer] Lizzo. She’s a real person, not Barbara;
someone pretending to be real. Hero. actress Ursula
Yovich; and
American
Watch Miranda Tapsell in the marie claire politician
and Hyundai Venue self-made success Alexandria
video series, Behind Every Great Ocasio-Cortez.
Woman... Is Herself at hyundai
behindeverygreatwoman.com.au.