Ruby Rose: ‘Voice vote? That’s messed up’
Back in Australia for a new play, actor Ruby Rose discusses the Indigenous voice to parliament, her tattoos and ditching the ‘foot-soldier mentality’.
Actor Ruby Rose, 37, chats to Bridget Cormack about tattoos, being back in Australia, ditching the ‘foot-soldier mentality’ and learning her lines.
If I had to describe myself as a saver or a spender I would be … a reformed spender. I’m not so much a perfect saver, but I’m not interested in spending money to numb an emotion or feel another. It has been my experience that all of the best things in life don’t cost very much – if anything. There was a time I made work my entire world. Having come from little money and even less stability, it was my safe space. But then it almost left me quadriplegic. After that, I stopped glamorising my work ethic and foot-soldier mentality and have fallen in love with a true work-life balance. And a strict “no working with arseholes” policy.
If I could get one more tattoo it would be … oh, gosh. Getting a tattoo is easy, getting them removed is absolutely miserable. It has been years since I’ve gotten a tattoo, and even then it was a tiny stick and poke. And there isn’t that much space left.
The best decision I ever made was … rescuing a dog. And then getting her a friend and then getting one more, in case they get sick of each other.
My best technique for learning lines for my new play 2:22 – A Ghost Story is … Repetition, repetition, repetition. For me, there is no magic trick and what works for me might not work for someone else. Memorisation is muscle memory. Unless of course you have a photographic memory, in which case it’s a breeze.
Being back in Australia is … very healing and enjoyable. There is no place like home, no place like Australia. Having said that, everything here related to technology feels very alien. It’s become so advanced, I need a manual. We now pay for literally everything on our phone? Why are we taxing electric cars? That’s kooky. I have a lot to catch up on. One thing that has sadly not changed in the 10 years I’ve been away is our inability to appreciate, let alone treat our Indigenous community fairly. Or even acceptably. It is such a crime, deep shame and missed opportunity for connection, healing and change. There is still potential for us to have one of the most meaningful relationships of our existence and to correct thousands of wrongs in the process and yet here we are once again spending a ridiculous amount of money to hold a vote where a majority is voting on a minority’s rights. This is worse than when we held the referendum to allow gay people to get married. Sure, having straight people vote on who you love is brutal, but somehow it’s 2023 and we are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to see what white people think about what the Indigenous folk need. No ma’am. That’s messed up.
The last time I had to say no was … considering I’m doing press, probably an interview question, ha. Or any plan that starts after 7:30pm. I like early nights and early mornings, nature, road trips, home cooked meals and reading in the bath. I say no to a load of things outside of that.
If I’m cooking for friends I’ll probably make … a mess. It will be one of the most delicious meals. I’m especially good at cooking vegan food, but cleaning as I cook is not a strong suit.
On my mind at 3am is … 3am is insomnia hour and I am usually doing the maths to see how realistic it is I’ll get eight hours of sleep. It’s also the witching hour, but that’s none of my business. I wake up at 3:33am so frequently, it’s unnerving. I have yet to feel supernatural during or after it. Just tired.
The weirdest thing in my shopping trolley … I’m not even sure what is considered weird. Pea milk? It’s a milk substitute and it is pretty tasty. Good for you, too.
Ruby Rose is starring in 2:22 – A Ghost Story at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, from July 25.
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