86 The Australian Women’s Weekly|JUNE 2018
Celebrity
LISA WEARS BUL TOP AND SKIRT.THE RICHNESS OF LIFE
It’s fair to say Lisa McCune
doesn’t do things by halves.
While rehearsing and
performingGloria,she will
also begin ilming a new
comedy seriesHow To Stay
Marriedfor Network Ten,
alongside her good friend
Peter Helliar. The show
explores the challenges of
sparking up a marriage that
has become lacklustre.
“I’m driving him nuts
phoning all the time asking
how he’s going with the
script,”she laughs. “I can’t
wait to start ilming, Peter is
so much fun and this role is
light and funny, it’s a fun look
at relationships and marriage
and touches on the issues that
I’ve been dealing with in
my family.”
As Lisa has raised it, I
delicatelybroach the question
of whether or not she’d consider
marrying again? “Hopefully I will on
television again. But other than that,
no, I don’t think so.”
In between their own busy schedules,
Lisa’s children will often come and see
her perform or hang out on set, but
she’s still deliberating about whether
they’ll be in the audience on the
opening night ofGloria.
The play, which critics have described
as “an adrenaline rush” revolves around
the egos and ambitions of a team of
writers for a Manhattan magazine
who become the subject of a mass
shooting. The script explores topical
issues of gun control and how the
world is grappling with new media.
The chameleonic actress will play two
lead roles across two acts.
“It’s a really fascinating play,” Lisa
says. “It is challenging and confronting
and the themes are very current. It’s dark
but it is funny and satirical. I said to
my kids, ‘I’m not sure this is something
you guys want to come and see’.”
But this is exactly the sort of role that
Lisa now cherishes, roles that take her
well out of the comfort zone and well
out of her audience’s comfort zone, too.
During her “gap” year she voraciously
read books and has a head full of ideas,
characters and stories she hopes may
one day transfer to stage and screen.
“Before I took a break I was very
busy in the brain. Now I’ve got space
for knowledge and I’m soaking things
up. I’d love to do a television series
about news. I’ve been reading about
female war journalists and to me that’s
fascinating material. I look at the roles
that are around at the moment and
I think there’s some good work for
women now.
“I’d also love to do another meatier
drama – I really enjoy series television
and I think the time will come back
when series TV is produced again.”
Even though the kids are unfussed by
what Mum does, Lisa can see that each
of the children has their own creative
streak and may follow in her showbiz
footsteps. She says Remy, “has lashes of
it, she’s naturally gifted as performing
goes.” Oliver is very funny and Archer
has taken a deep interest in photography,
so much so they are taking a family
road trip for him to gather a portfolio.
“Archer takes a camera with him
everywhere he goes. I’m taking him to
the Snowy Mountains – I said to him,
‘let’s just get out and go shoot’.”Down the track she too
may ind herself behind
the camera, perhaps even
directing. Along with her
passions for performing,
Lisa would love one day to
follow in the footsteps of the
likes of Nicole Kidman and
Reese Witherspoon, who
havereceived critical acclaim
for theirwork behind the
camera, too.
“I’d love to produce and
direct, I’d love to ind a mentor
who can take me through
that process. There are really
wonderful women behind the
scenesand I have aspirations
to do other things that bring
stories to life.”
For the time being though,
she is happily ensconced in
the very domestic day-to-
day struggles of lunchboxes,
homework, nurturing kids
through the traps of social
media and managing the basketball
teams, all while learning complex scripts
and building an abundant kitchen garden.
Time is precious – she’s using it wisely.
“I think I have the kids for a small
window now – they’re growing and
changing and becoming their own
people. I can see that the window of
time with them is shrinking so I need to
grasp hold of it and make the most of it.
Travel is on the agenda for us all. I want
to create experiences for us and I aspire
to minimalism now. The richness of life
is about experiences, not material things.
“There’s a great line in this play –
youth is a weapon – and it really is,
our kids have the world in their hands.
This play is also about knowing when
to step out of the way and let the
younger generation come through,
which is something that really resonates
with me and I think it’s an issue every
parent grapples with, when to step in,
and when to let go.”
Whenever that time comes, it will no
doubt add another chapter to the life
of this stage and screen sweetheart.AWWThe Melbourne Theatre Company’s
production ofGloriaruns from June 16
to July 21. Visit mtc.com.au.