Heather Mitchell, the acclaimed stage and screen actor, opens up about her latest role in the new TV show The Killings at Parrish Station, where she plays a detective haunted by an unsolved mystery. She reflects on life's greatest mysteries, her talent for toast art, and her experiences with co-star Hugo Weaving.
Life's Greatest Mystery and Funeral Songs
When asked about life's greatest mystery, Mitchell admits, 'I don't want to say anything too obvious, like death, but it is such a mystery. It's hard not to sound like a cliche, [but] the greatest mystery is: how does it all end?'
On the topic of funeral music, she shares a personal connection: 'My dear friend James Valentine died recently, through voluntary assisted dying; knowing his family so well, joy is the word that kept coming up, so I do not find the idea of death morbid.' She considers songs her sons love, particularly by Māori singer Teeks, but leans toward a recording of her father playing steel guitar and singing American folk songs.
Playing Presidents in RBG: Of Many, One
Mitchell recently toured in RBG: Of Many, One, playing not only Ruth Bader Ginsburg but also three US presidents and 29 other characters. She notes, 'I certainly got the biggest audience reaction for Trump, but I must say I really enjoyed Clinton.' She attributes this to the humor in Suzie Miller's writing and Clinton's southern drawl. 'It's a lot of fun, and I suppose it's the longest scene I've got with any of the presidents; Clinton and Ruth are sort of getting to know each other before she's chosen to be on the court.'
Mitchell admits she initially struggled to shed her character: 'In the first season I found it very hard to stop speaking like Ruth, because I was still trying to get the language and the voices, so even in my non-theatrical hours I was practising her movements. I found myself driving like an old lady, for example, but I am now completely able to switch her off.'
A Memorable Tarot Reading
Mitchell recalls a tarot reading that predicted she would meet a man, which led her to meet her husband, Martin McGrath. However, a subsequent reading with a different tarot reader turned unsettling. 'She put her arm around me and said, “There’s not much to her, is there?” and then said to Martin, “Never mind, where did she go wrong?”' The reader told Mitchell she would ruin her husband's life, marking her last visit to a tarot reader.
Overrated Shakespeare and Animal Spirit
On Shakespeare, Mitchell hesitates to call any play overrated but admits, 'I'm not as crazy about Twelfth Night.' She identifies with giraffes: 'I’ve always identified with a giraffe. That long neck, their head being so far and small compared to their body; it’s hard for them to get down on the ground, but they can.'
Toast Art and Co-Star Habits
Mitchell continues her toast art, creating portraits for crew members. She made 65 toasts for the crew of Dalliance, a show she co-produced. She prefers 'the whitest, most sugary, oldest fashioned bread' for portraits to avoid pockmarks, while rough sourdough suits landscapes. A Vegemite gallery in Victoria requested her Vegemite-on-toast art, and she hopes for free bread from a company.
Regarding Hugo Weaving, her on-screen lover in Love Me and Bodyline, Mitchell describes him as 'annoyingly nice. He’s so lovely to the crew, so lovely to everybody. He’s annoyingly pleasant and present and lovely. It’s almost annoying how fabulous he is.'
Films She Returns To
Mitchell revisits films connected to her childhood, such as It's a Wonderful Life and Citizen Kane. She recently rewatched Muriel's Wedding, calling it 'wonderful and joyous and fabulous.'
The Killings at Parrish Station premieres on Stan on 24 June.
