Rachel Griffiths had one condition when she directed Michelle Payne’s historic win to the big screen

WHEN Rachel Griffiths took on the task of bringing Michelle Payne’s historic win at last year’s Melbourne Cup to the big screen, she had one non-negotiable.

WHEN Rachel Griffiths took on the task of bringing Michelle Payne’s historic win at last year’s Melbourne Cup to the big screen, she had one non-negotiable.

“We want to be true to racing. We don’t want anyone in the racing industry on any level to watch it and laugh. From jockeys to trainers to vets to owners, it’s got to feel truthful,” the Oscar nominee told Confidential on the red carpet for the Hacksaw Ridge premiere.

Rachel Griffiths in Sydney during a promotional tour. Picture: Toby Zerna

Rachel Griffiths wanted to tell the story but remain true to racing. Picture: Jane Dempster

Directed by Griffiths and produced by AACTA winner Richard Keddie, the film will go beyond Payne’s memoir ‘Life As I Know It’ to speak to the stories of women in the racing industry.

“Ultimately with the research that we’re doing I’m speaking to lots of female jockeys and there is a bit of aggregating stories,” she said.

This year’s upcoming Melbourne Cup Carnival will feature prominently in the film, although Griffiths won’t be with Payne throughout the racing season.

“I’m shooting this carnival for footage, we’re banking footage but she’s not involved with that aspect.

“I won’t be holding her hand over the Melbourne Cup carnival. We text and that kind of thing, (but) I don’t want her to feel like we’re stalking her,” the Muriel’s Wedding star laughed.

Michelle Payne with her Melbourne Cup. Picture: AFP Photo/Mal Fairclough

Speaking about her role as Bertha Doss in Mel Gibson’s World War Two epic Hacksaw Ridge, the actor-turned-director said she was passionate about big-budget productions being made in Australia.

“I was very proud of the Australian craftspeople involved, from Lizzie Gardener in costuming, to sound and photography. It’s really just people at the top of their game making a product that will be viewed around the world, it’s really exciting,” she said.

“We’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about, par on par, with anything that’s being made around the world. It’s great for our craftspeople to be working on a big budget project.”

Originally published as Rachel Griffiths had one condition when she directed Michelle Payne’s historic win to the big screen