Iconic stars Hugo Weaving and Paul Kelly lead red carpet at How To Make Gravy premiere in Sydney

Hugo Weaving led the way at the premiere of the film adaptation of Paul Kelly’s classic song, How To Make Gravy, with the musician himself making a rare appearance.

December 21 is commonly known as Gravy Day in Australia, the date referenced in the iconic Paul Kelly song, How To Make Gravy.

So it was only fitting last night marked the premiere of the movie adaptation of song, which stars Hugo Weaving, Daniel Henshall, Brenton Thwaites and the delightful Kate Mulvany.

“I’ve been a big PK fan for decades and this has been one of my favourite songs for decades,” Mulvany tells news.com.au at the red carpet premiere at the Palace Cinemas in Sydney’s Moore Park.

Hugo Weaving at the How To Make Gravy premiere in Sydney on December 21. Picture: Ben Symons

Kate Mulvany also stars in the film as Joe’s sister Stella. Picture: Ben Symons

“So to actually get the chance to be in your favourite song as a character on film is just a really meta dream come true. The whole cast was so great. It was a bit like being at Schoolies. We’re on the Gold Coast and we were shooting and having fun, but there was a lot of fun off-screen as well.”

Stream How To Make Gravy from December 1 on BINGE, available on Hubbl.

The How To Make Gravy cast. Picture: Ben Symons

Daniel Henshall and Jonah Wren Phillips play father and son in the movie. Picture: Ben Symons

Brenton Thwaites plays Dan in the film. Picture: Saverio Marfia/Getty Images

Adapted for the big screen by ARIA award-winning musician Meg Washington and director Nick Waterman and set to premiere on BINGE on December 1, the film tells the story of a newly imprisoned man named Joe (Henshall), who writes a letter home to his family as they prepare to celebrate their first Christmas without him.

Director Nick Waterman (left) and musician Megan Washington adapted Paul Kelly’s classic song for the big screen. Picture: Ben Symons

Mulvany plays Joe’s sister Stella and French actress Agathe Rousselle plays his wife Rita, who tries to keep it together for their three children while he navigates harsh prison life with the help of veteran lifer Noel, played by award-winning actor Hugo Weaving.

Weaving was among the stars at the Sydney premiere on Thursday night, and he tells news.com.au that he couldn’t be more proud of the movie.

“It’s a film about family and about wanting to be at home at Christmas and it’s about missing that,” he says. “And it’s about a man saying sorry for something he’s done. So it’s something that we can relate to.”

Paul Kelly talks to media outside Palace Cinemas in Sydney’s Moore Park. Picture: Saverio Marfia/Getty Images

He continued, “I think we all understand what families are like at Christmas, how wonderful and excruciating sometimes Christmas is. It is a very Australian film. I think it’ll be hugely celebrated by everyone in this country. It was a delight to make, and I’m very happy to have been in it.”

The man of the hour, Paul Kelly, also made a rare appearance on the red carpet to show his support for the cast, especially for young actor Jonah Wren Phillips, who plays Joe’s son Angus, a character referenced in the original song.

“I think young Jonah who played Angus did a beautiful job, so I think he really shines,” Kelly says on the red carpet. “I also remember a beautiful scene between Stella and Joe in the prison also, I think really, really great scene.”

How to Make Gravy premieres December 1 on BINGE, available on Hubbl and watch On Demand on Foxtel.