68 The Australian Women’s Weekly|MAY 2019
Interview
thismomentum,theleadingladyroles
a burgeoningstarmightrightlyexpect
didnotmaterialise.
“Shewantedto know– afterThe
Sapphires, whichwasa romantic
comedyof sorts,andextremely
successful– whywasn’tthereanother
Aboriginalwomanof colourin a central
romanticcomedyrole,”Rosemarysays.
“Soshewentandjustdidit.”
Mirandais moremodestaboutthe
process,whichshedescribesas a
collaborationbetweenfilmmakersand
thepeopleof theNorthernTerritory.
DirectorWayneBlairandtherestof the
productionteamembracedthesetting
andeveryoneworkedhardto connect
withthecommunitiesin theNorthern
Territoryandtella storythatwastrue
to thespiritof theplace.Indigenous
languageis woventhroughthescript,
andvibrantweddingcostumeswere
createdbyIndigenousdesigners.
ProductionmanagerLibbyCollinsis
Tiwi,andshewasa crucialenvoy
betweentheparties.Theproduction
calledonextrasfromKatherineandthe
TiwiIslands,andMiranda’smother,
fatherandauntymakecameos.
“MyfamilyonTiwisteppedin and
sharedtheknowledge,”Mirandasays.
“BringingIndigenouspeopleintoan
Indigenousstoryis imperativebecause
that’swhatgroundedthefilm.Their
knowledgeofthecountryspeaksmuch
deeperthan‘Here’sa prettylandscape’.
Theirknowledgeofthecountryreally
madethefilm.”Miranda,James,their
familyandfriendsarepartofa new
waveofvoices,includingFamilyLaw
creatorBenjaminLawandKittyand
KikicreatorNakkiahLui,changingthe
wayAustraliais representedonscreen.
LastyearMirandaandNakkiah
launchedpodcastPrettyForAn
Aboriginalwheretheydiscusspower,
dating,sexandracewithirreverent
humour,winningfansandawards.
Theirsearinglyfunnytake-overofthe
seriesfinalof ABC’sGetKrak!nwas
calledgroundbreakingand“must
watchTV”.
“UsbeingtheonlytwoAboriginal
womenin thisspace,wejustsortof
gravitatedtowardsoneanother,”
Mirandasays.“Wemanaged to really
make each other laugh.”
AsMirandatalksabouthermission
to openAustralianscreensto more
voicesandfaces,she’sas friendlyas ever,
butcarriestheresponsibilityof hertask.
“I feelpeoplearestilluncomfortable
withsomeof theissuesthataffect
Aboriginalpeople.It’sstillincredibly
contentious,”sheexplains.“WhenI talk
at eventsoronTVI’mconstantly
makingnotes...I don’twantmywords
takenoutof context.I don’twantpeople
to thinkI’mtryingto startanywars.”
Yet,TopEndWeddingevincesnoneof
thatcaution.It is joyous,light-hearted.
Therearemomentsof pathosbutthe
afterglowis sunny.Thiswedding-themed
rompacrosstheNeverNeverthat
followsa race-against-time,will-they-or-
won’t-theynarrativeis designedto
delight.“It’smorethanjustFour-X,
humidityandcrocodiles,”Miranda
laughs.Aftera Januaryhoneymoonin
Vietnam,andthepremiereof herfilmin
Utah, Miranda returned home to planforthefuture.Shehopesto collaborate
morewithNakkiah,andfollowin the
footstepsof creator/performersshe
admireslikeReeseWitherspoonand
MindyKaling.Nowshehastakenthe
leapof faithintowritingandproducing,
herworldhasopenedup.
“I’vebuiltmycareeronbeingthrown
in thedeepend,”shesays.“I’vemadea
lotof mistakesalongthewaybutat the
sametimepeoplehaveseensomethingin
me.I’mconstantlymappingoutmy
future.”Wecan’twaitto seemore.AWWTopEndWeddingopens nationally in
cinemas on May 2.Mirandahasjust
emergedfrom
thebusiest
periodofherlife,
withherfeature
filmandwedding
to James (right).