Sigrid Thornton, actor, 57: 10 Questions

Sigrid Thornton on playing Judy Garland, her new singing role - and learning from Kirk Douglas on The Man from Snowy River.

TWAM 19 March 2016

Merle, your mum, chained herself to the public bar in Brisbane’s Regatta Hotel in 1965 to protest that women weren’t allowed there. What attitudes did you inherit?

My views on equality for women were clearly shaped early by my mother. Fortunately for me I was able to choose a career – it might not have been so a few generations before me when women weren’t allowed to work.

Your parents were academics. Is that what they wanted for you? I had such a strong drive to become an actor early that there was no question about it. They were supportive – they were theatre-goers, movie-goers and readers. Perhaps I didn’t fulfil some of their desires because I didn’t finish university. But they just wanted me to have a career and be happy.

You never had formal training; have you missed it? There was a time when I thought for social reasons it would have been good – not that I have any regrets. I matriculated at 16 and left home at 17 and wouldn’t pass that up for anything. I trained in the field and I continue to train.

The Man from Snowy River (1982) was your first big hit, then SeaChange (1998-2000) and last year Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door, playing Judy Garland. Have you ever wanted a normal life? That is my normal life. There’s been some kind of stage recognition factor for so long that I don’t take it too seriously.

You’ve played roles from Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, to a prostitute, to a lesbian police officer. Is there a favourite character? Judy Garland, and I loved playing Laura Gibson in SeaChange. She was neurotic enough to be continuously fascinating. Blanche was the most difficult, a piece of work. It was like going to war every night, but I’d do it again.

You’re starring in Fiddler on the Roof, the story of Russian Jews suffering under Tsarist rule, as Golde, the wife of Tevye. What was the appeal of that role? Part of it is that she is a true character role and she sings, and both of those are relatively new to me. It’s a joyful experience dancing, having a soundtrack and learning new skills.

Of the great actors you’ve worked with, who taught you the most? Working with Kirk Douglas, who’s now 99, in The Man from Snowy River was formative. I learnt a lot from him about screen performance. He would stay up all night working on scripts, getting things right. There was so much to admire about him.

How would you describe yourself? Constantly attempting to grow, an innate optimist, driven to excel. I’m very loyal, very concerned about egalitarianism. If I had a major tenet, it would be: “Treat others as you’d like to be treated.”

You have two adult children with your husband, producer Tom Burstall. Have they acted or worked behind the camera? Not really. Ben is doing a masters of teaching and Jaz works for a publishing company. I encouraged them to do whatever helps them to fulfil their aspirations. I don’t know if I turned them off acting!

Demographer Bernard Salt coined the term “the Sigrid factor” for the towns where you made movies that have since prospered. What do you think of that? It’s given me a lot of smiles and I thank Bernard for writing about me. I’ve been fortunate enough to work on a number of projects that have made their mark in the consciousness of the country.

Fiddler on the Roof opens at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on March 24