A Quick Chat With Louise O’Dwyer

Louise O’Dwyer is no stranger to Chekhov.

Not only is she currently appearing in Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya at Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne, she has studied the acting technique of Michael Chekhov (Anton’s nephew) for many years. She was awarded a scholarship to attend the MICHA (Michael Chekhov) Festival in New York in 2009, and returned to New York in January 2012 for the Michael Chekhov winter workshop series.

She has performed in theatrical productions across Melbourne – from the Fringe, to Chapel off Chapel and La Mama, is is also
singer-songwriter-guitarist, playing gigs in Melbourne, Sydney and
Spain.

We caught up with Louise O’Dwyer to ask her our 20 questions!

1. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An Actor

2. Who is the most important person in the world to you?
God

3. What animal best represents you and why?
A deer – peaceful but flighty

 4. If you were a contestant on Deal or No Deal, how much would you need to be on offer before you walked away?
$5

5. What was the first piece of theatre/film/TV you ever appeared in and how old were you?
Theatre: Tristan and Isolde, I was 8.  I remember being completely mesmerised by our imaginary boat, and at the same time appalled to be so close to Kim Oldfield, a boy in my third grade class.

6. Windows or MAC?
Who?

7. Favourite food?
Burger rings

8. Who is the actor you would most like to work alongside?
Laura Linney

9. What five songs would be the first you put a mix tape?
Alice – Tom Waits
Burning up – Madonna
Moonlight Sonata – Beethoven
Whole lotta love – Led Zeppelin
I love rock’n’roll – Joan Jet

10. What is the best thing about theatre in Australia?
That it is growing

11. What’s the worst thing about theatre in Australia?
That it is undervalued

12. Name one moment when you looked around, breathed happily and felt content.
At the end of rehearsals today, after working a scene with Richard Bligh and our director Laurence Strangio – one of those great moments of feeling – ahhh – this is working!!

13. Where is the most interesting place you have travelled?
Prague, and Venice.  Oh, and New York.

14. Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met?
Did a screenplay reading with Hugo Weaving….walked passed the lovely Julianne Moore in New York.  But that’s not really meeting, is it?  Hmm.  Guy Pierce?

15. Most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
I was in Louis Nowra’s Capricornia, playing Amelia Earheart, the famous Aviation woman from the 1930’s.  I walked on, fitted-out in aviation costume.  My fellow actor, who was meant to come on and interview me didn’t appear, so I had to stand on stage, improvising.  I said some rather odd, dull things before scampering off to find the actor and murder her.

16. What’s your life motto?
Less is more, but more is even more.

17. What’s your favourite post-show snack?
Wine and cheese. Very French.

18. What’s your biggest phobia?
Tin-foil on fillings?

19. What is the worst date you’ve ever had?
Yup, the book is coming out soon.

20. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Eating wine and cheese at the end of a shoot with Laura Linney

 

Hotwire Productions presents Uncle Vanya

Wednesday 16 May until Sunday 3 June
Fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

Tickets: $38.00 / $25.00. Bookings: 03 9662 9966 / fortyfivedownstairs.com