Schapelle Corby teases possible reality TV future
In her first public appearance since returning to Australia, an emotional Schapelle Corby has discussed her hopes for the future, including a baby and even – perhaps – an appearance on reality TV.
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Schapelle Corby has discussed her wish to lead a “cleaner” life in future, including a hoped-for baby with boyfriend Ben and even an appearance on Australian reality TV.
The convicted Bali drug smuggler broke down in tears during an appearance on Studio 10 this morning, after a similarly emotional interview with Kyle and Jackie O on Sydney’s KIIS FM.
Since her May 2017 return to Australia, Corby has done her best to avoid media attention, but today’s two interviews – following an exclusive interview with News Corp Australia on Sunday to spruik the updated version to her 2006 memoir – gave Australian audiences the first real sense of the toll nine years in prison put on her mental health.
Asked about her desire for motherhood, the 42-year-old said she and her partner Ben Panangian had tried for a baby on the two occasions they had met up since her return to Australia.
“If it happens, it happens,” she said.
“I have been home for two and a half year years, so I have been overseas in different countries and seen him twice.”
In the KIIS FM interview – which she did with sister Mercedes sitting by her side in the studio – Corby playfully declared “never say never” when asked about the possibility of appearing on reality TV.
Corby previously confirmed to News Corp Australia that she had been asked to star on reality television programs, including The Bachelorette, but it was not an option as she is not actually single.
When Jackie O suggested the famously media-shy Corby would never agree to such a deal, she playfully replied “never say never”.
Asked if she would consider I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, Corby replied “I’m a vegetarian”.
“I can eat leaves … I can eat roots and leaves”.
The radio duo then suggested the popular hit The Masked Singer – where she was already considered to be one of the mystery singers.
“When I was on parole, I used to watch the Korean Masked Singer. I was so excited. I loved that show. But I don’t know any Australian celebrities. I would have been like Lindsay Lohan.”
In both interviews, Corby broke down while speaking about the toll her time in Bali’s notorious Kerobokan jail had taken on her mental health.
“I want to start living a more clean life, so I need to get rid of all these cobwebs and fears … to move forward in my life and stop looking over my shoulders,” she told the Studio 10 panel.
Corby said the worst aspect of her time in prison was her mental illness.
“I lived in my brain, the brain is very powerful. I could not control anything. I couldn’t eat. Mercedes had to come in and sleep in the prison a few times with me. I was catatonic … it was horrific.”
She said she still had flashbacks to her time in prison.
“I choose to be fine,” she said. “It happens many times; it’s a flash and it’s gone. I haven’t left, it’s still part of me.”
The screening of footage from her time in Kerobokan before the Studio 10 appearance stirred Corby deeply, with the former beauty therapist starting the interview in tears.
“I didn’t think I would have to watch. It’s very hard,” she said. “That footage is very raw.”
Later, when shown video of her sentence being read out in court, Corby revealed that the moment had been confusing for her as she had misunderstood what the magistrate had said.
Prior to the hearing, she had tried to master counting from one to 20 in Indonesian, but on the day, her learning failed her and she thought for a moment that her sentence was two months.
When her translator told her that was not the case, she next asked if the sentence was two years – only to be told no again.
When she realised her sentence was in fact 20 years, Corby said, “I just turned to the prosecutor and I started yelling.”
Corby also got emotional in the radio interview when talking about people who questioned her honesty.
“Mental illness is real and a lot of people accuse me of faking this … look if I could have lived without mental illness, oh God, my mind would be so much better, my life would be so much better,” she said.
Corby, who was found guilty in 2005 of smuggling 4.2 kilograms of marijuana in a boogie board bag, said she had “become a complete fruit loop” after the death of her father while she was in prison.
“I had to have medication but who was going to give it to me?,” she said.,
“I couldn’t think, I couldn't move, people would hand feed me and I couldn’t swallow.
She continued: “I couldn’t drink … I was a zombie.”
Mercedes said she slept in prison with Schapelle to help her shower and sleep.
Schapelle said her mind had deteriorated so badly she was having illusions.
“I had become a complete fruit loop,” she said.
“I thought my doctor was Mr Squiggle”
“The birds were telling me you can’t let them know anything.”
Mercedes said she once found Schapelle on the roof of the prison “looking for ducks”.
Corby has just updated her 2006 autobiography, My Story: Schapelle Corby, co-written again with journalist and author Kathryn Bonella.
She described writing the updated version of her story as “a really great journey” but when asked about the profits from the book, she said she did not know where they were going.
“All I know is I needed to finish this book,” she said. “It is not about money. It is about me finishing my story. It is about going back and being cathartic to myself and my supporters, to let them know what really happened.”