Rachel Griffiths reveals the first film her children saw her star in, where she was ‘unrecognisable’

BEFORE hosting the World Movies’ 20-year birthday movie marathon, Rachel Griffiths reveals the movie she did that she barely recognises herself in.

Supplied Entertainment EMBARGOED to Nov 1, 2015. TV Guides first use: Rachel Griffiths. Supplied by SBS

MURIEL’S Wedding didn’t make the cut — but that didn’t stop acclaimed actor Rachel Griffiths stepping up to host World Movies’ delivery of 20 of the best films in the past two decades.

And there’s a good chance one of them, Amelie, will be part of Griffiths’ weekly family movie night.

“Mum gets to choose the movie on Friday nights,” Griffiths says.

“It’s my call — (for the kids it’s) a little bit of education, maybe something a little bit outside their comfort zone. I’d be looking forward to Amelie — I think my daughter’s now old enough.”

The Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe and AFI winning Australian actress returned to Australia with husband Andrew Taylor and their two children three years ago after a decade in Hollywood working 80-hour weeks on network shows including Six Feet Under and Brothers and Sisters in search of ‘a more normal life’.

MORE: Networks reject Julia Gillard TV drama with Rachel Griffiths

Firm favourite ... Audrey Tautou as Amelie. Picture: Supplied

Griffiths relishes taking control of the remote on Friday nights — even more than she relished taking control of hosting duties for World Movies 20th birthday celebration, which sees the channel screen 20 award-winning from the past 20 years over 20 nights.

They include Amelie, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Life is Beautiful, The Skin I Live In, Motorcycle Diaries, The Intouchables, Run Lola Run, and Pan’s Labyrinth.

While Griffiths didn’t have a hand in choosing all of the movies, she’s impressed with the final list.

“I don’t disagree with any on the list — and I discovered a few and I think that was kind of what you want,” she says.

Muriel’s Wedding — the movie that launched Griffiths’ and fellow Aussie Toni Collette’s international careers — didn’t qualify because it’s 21 years old.

Where it all began ... Griffiths and Toni Collette in scene from Muriel's Wedding. Picture: Supplied

“You would think they could have cut the host some slack,” Griffiths jokes.

Griffiths does make the list with another one of her Hollywood films 1997’s My Best Friend’s Wedding, in which she starred alongside Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz.

It made a recent movie night at Griffith’s place — ‘the first performance my children have actually seen me do’ — and took the image of their famous mum at work in their stride.

“It was funny — I was so unrecognisable that I think they actually forgot that that mad old lady that screams at them every day is related,” Griffiths laughs.

WM CELEBRATES: 20 YEARS with RACHEL GRIFFITHS

STARTS MONDAY, 8.30PM, with AMELIE, continues until NOVEMBER 28 on WORLD MOVIES CHANNEL.

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Originally published as Rachel Griffiths reveals the first film her children saw her star in, where she was ‘unrecognisable’