Wicked diva tells her story
Musical theatre starlet Amanda Harrison is back in Perth for her one- woman show which proves life as a performer isn't all red carpets and standing ovations.
Best known for her acclaimed portrayal of Elphaba in the Australian production of Wicked and her Helpmann Award-winning role as Oz in We Will Rock You, Harrison said Up Close & Reasonably Personable would provide an insight into her life as a mother, a wife and a diva.
"People can expect to learn a little more about me as a person," she told AAA.
"It's a personal journey about my time as an actress and as a mother. It's a humorous take on life after motherhood and how that's affected my career path and my slant on life."
Though many people assume theatre stars spend their days drinking champagne and their evenings basking in the spotlight, Harrison was quick to point out that most of her life was positively normal.
"As much as I have loved being in this career and doing these amazing shows and having these wonderful jobs, there is a banal side to my life where I just go home and I change nappies and I take kids to school - I am quite normal," she divulged.
A former colleague, British-raised, Perth-based entertainer Ben Elton is rumoured to be coming to Harrison's show but the Melbourne- based mum would rather not know if he's in the audience for fear of psyching herself out.
"I have a fondness for him and I think he does for me because once he cast me in the role of Oz in We Will Rock You. He understood me and understood my ability and what I'm capable of as an actress and a comedian," she explained.
"He really responded to that and he's always been really supportive of things that I've done. It's one of those mutual respect things. He's wonderful and I hope he gets to see it but I don't want to know who's in the audience; I don't want to know who I'm performing to."
Up Close & Reasonably Personable is at DownStairs at the Maj from tonight until Saturday.
