Some say Celeste Barber’s now too hot to parody beauty standards …

Celeste Barber: The AACTA-nominated actor, stand-up comedian and social media star, 41, has more than 9 million followers on Instagram. She stars in Netflix’s Wellmania and hosted ABC TV’s The Way We Wore.

“Humour is the best equaliser ever. It’s a really important thing, especially when it comes to women and their bodies.” Credit: Paul Harris

RELIGION

Big question: what do you believe in? [Unimpressed] Ben …

Just a gentle question to start off with. I believe in the power of people – of community and grassroots connection. I feel that there’s real strength in people coming together for the greater good.

You’ve said before that the wellness industry feels like the new church – an organised religion. Are you a follower? Definitely. The world is billions of years old, so if 10 minutes of morning yoga helps you through, do whatever you need to do.

So what’s your form of wellness? My motto this year is “shedding and slapping”. With work and everything in life, I can get so overwhelmed – and for what? So, I’m shedding that stuff. And if anyone gets in my way, they get slapped. Also, I do Pilates twice a week – not to fit into jeans, just so I don’t suffer a prolapse!

Well, this will be the first time the word “prolapse” has been on the page. I’m proud of us.

To which sins are you most susceptible? Drinking.

How do you atone? Well, we’re dead in a minute, so – again – I do what I need to do.

MONEY

You grew up in Terranora, in north-east NSW. What did your parents do? They were sex workers. No, my dad was a cabinet-maker and my mum owned homewares stores.

What did you never go without, and what didn’t you have access to? I don’t know if we went without anything. My parents are still alive. I grew up in a very stable home, which allowed me to stick my head out and try things, then come back to safety. That’s just so lucky. There’s not many people that can say that.

You went to drama school. Why did you choose acting? The financial security? Yeah! [Laughs] No, it’s all I wanted to do, and I was good at it, so I was on the first f---ing plane out of there. “I’ve got to go and be weird with other weird people! Get out of Terranora and go to … Penrith!”

How did you make a living once you’d graduated? I’ve only made a proper living off my chosen industry in the past five, seven years. Before then, it was working in cafes, bars, teaching dancing, teaching acting, parking cars – all those things to get by. I kind of enjoyed it.

And now you’re famous. Does that mean you’re rich? Well, if you look on the worldwide web, I’m valued at $380 million.

Is that true? [Dryly] Yeah. Sure. Why not? [Scoffs] If I had that much money, you’d never hear or see me again.

You work as an actor, author, social media star and comedian. Have I missed anything? Tom Ford muse.

Look it up, everyone. I’ll send the link to everyone who reads this.

Complete this sentence: “Money can’t buy you …” I was going to say happiness, but that’s not true. So, “Money can’t buy you class.”

“But it can buy you …” Prada sandals. I’m looking at some now.

BODIES

Your Instagram videos take the piss out of impossible beauty standards. Have you always been confident in your skin? No, but I don’t think about it as much as people might think I do. When I do a post, I don’t compare myself [to conventionally attractive women]. I look at it through a comedy lens. The intention is to make people laugh and realise that it’s not that big of a f---ing deal.

Many think of you as a body-positivity activist or role model. How does that framing sit with you? I never set out to be that, but it makes sense that people think it. I’m fine with that. Humour is the best equaliser ever. It’s a really important thing, especially when it comes to women and their bodies.

What do you make of the claims “Celeste Barber is now too hot to be parodying impossible beauty standards”? People can say what they want. I run my mouth off, so I can’t tell other people that they can’t do the same. But I don’t like it when narratives are built around, “She cannot do that now because she looks a certain way”. No one is not giving [actor] Jonah Hill a role because he’s lost a bit of weight. And I won’t have myself pitted against people.

Including past versions of yourself? People change. In just about every interview, [rapper] Lizzo gets asked about her body. I get asked about my body. [Plus-sized model] Ashley Graham gets asked about her body. That needs to get equalled out. Talk to Bella and Gigi Hadid, the Jenners, supermodels: “How do you maintain this? Were you born like this or are you in the gym eight hours a day?” They’re what’s seen as “normal”, whereas we are “other”. I don’t like that. If we have to talk about our f---ing bodies, let’s talk to everyone about theirs.

What’s something you can do with your body that you’re really grateful you can do? I’m really flexible. I can do a great high kick.

Benjamin Law co-created Wellmania with Celeste Barber and Brigid Delaney. Barber’s live show, Backup Dancer, will tour Australia in August and September.

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