‘In the popular 1980s soapie Prisoner, I played a so-called biker’s deaf moll’

Tracy Mann opens up about the one role that made her squirm, surviving cancer, singing opera and remarrying later in life.

Actress Tracy Mann: I’ve inherited a wonderful family by remarrying late in life. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers/The Australian

I like to be called an actress … and people go, ‘Why not an actor?’ I’m an old-fashioned girl. Acting opportunities for older women have improved although the forties are difficult. Then you kind of move out the other side – as long as you haven’t had any work done, so you look like a real 60 or 70-year-old or whatever. You know, just keep healthy.

Opera singing lessons were required for ... my role in David Williamson’s new play, Aria. I’m not an opera singer and fortunately, Monique, my character, is a little rusty. She’s not our dear Joan. I have to sing the aria The Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute. My best will be her worst. I’m not nervous about it. It’s an extraordinary role. She is such a narcissistic monster, and so a lot of fun to play, and the aria is just part of the torture that she puts her children through every year.

This is my fifth Williamson play … and what explains the extraordinary longevity of his appeal is that he gets the Australian psyche; he represents us, and he has for many years. People love laughing at themselves. Australians, we’re pretty good at doing that. He says things people may be thinking. And these days, oh, my God, you can’t say a lot of things. I also think he’s lasted so long because he keeps writing. He’s got four plays on this year!

Playing a judge in the forthcoming series of The Twelve ... were big shoes to fill after dear Keith Robinson (who played a judge in series two and passed away in 2024). Filming The Twelve in Western Australia was like theatre, because it was a set with a beautiful courtroom. I had some fabulous actors as jurors and watched from my perch as one brilliant actor after another came on to be a witness. I used to say I was getting paid by the word: “Upheld!”. I had to tell off Sam Neill quite frequently. Sam is a master at his craft; very relaxed and terrific to watch.

I had breast cancer in 2015 but … I felt very lucky it was stage two. We got it quickly, and that’s why I had the double mastectomy and chemo. Just get them off. The curious thing is, when you face something like that, you just deal with it. You just go through it. I had a lot of wonderful support, which really helped.

There is a sense of gratitude I’m still here, although … the fear of cancer returning is always with you. Any little niggle, you go, “Oh hello, what’s that?”

Despite being a practising Buddhist … I’m shocking (at attending teachings), but I do my best. I still meditate. We live on the far south coast of NSW, so I don’t have a Buddhist centre nearby. But Buddhism is still is a very important part of my life.

In the popular 1980s soapie Prisoner, I played a so-called biker’s deaf moll and … I couldn’t get away with that now; playing that role. When I look back at what I did, it (the crude depiction of deafness) was dreadful. I spoke without using consonants. I think I would approach that role a little differently now.

An unexpected item in my shopping trolley is … I may, on opening night, throw in a Lindt white chocolate. But I’m very dull.

I’ve inherited a wonderful family by … remarrying late in life. I have six grandchildren, with another two due any moment. So Christmas next year will be eight grandchildren – they’re all from step children. My husband and I have a property six and a half hours’ drive south of Sydney, which we call home. When I’m not treading the boards, I’m treading the dirt. And that’s a great joy.

Aria is on at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre until March 15.