From Screen to Audio: Iconic Aussie Actors Reflect on Representation and Their New Venture
Pia Miranda, a name synonymous with one of Australia’s most beloved coming-of-age films, recently opened up about the profound impact of her breakout role and the evolving landscape of representation in Australian media. While she starred as the relatable Italian-Australian teenager Josie Alibrandi in the 2000 classic Looking for Alibrandi, Miranda admits she had no inkling of the film’s monumental success and cultural significance at the time of signing on.
The film, based on the equally popular novel, not only propelled Miranda’s acting career but also resonated deeply with Australia’s migrant communities, offering a much-needed reflection of their experiences.
Speaking about her character, Josie, Miranda highlighted the scarcity of such specific roles for actors of diverse backgrounds in mainstream Australian media during the early 2000s. “It took a really specific role to come along for me to have that moment on screen,” she shared in a recent interview. “I think it meant a lot to people, because it was one of the first times people saw themselves reflected back… those migrant stories were very few and far between.”
Miranda candidly reflected on how Looking for Alibrandi was a career-defining moment. “I really think my career would have fizzled out if it weren’t for the film,” she confessed. “I remember the first time I won a role where the person didn’t have a vowel at the end of their name, and I was like, ‘Oh my god, I made it.'” This sentiment underscores the significance of seeing oneself authentically portrayed. “That was really exciting for me, just to play an Australian with no reference to my background… because that’s what Australia is,” she added.
Missing the Hype, Finding the Impact
Interestingly, Miranda and her co-star Kick Gurry were largely unaware of the book’s immense popularity prior to filming. Growing up in Melbourne, the novel wasn’t a staple of their school curriculum, meaning they missed the initial “hysteria” surrounding it.
“It probably wasn’t until we were shooting a scene with lots of extras, all these kids, when we walked out of our trailers they started screaming and crying, yelling, ‘Josie and Jacob’,” Miranda recalled. It was at that moment, witnessing the fervent reaction of the young fans, that Gurry remarked, “I think this might be quite big,” to which Miranda agreed, “So do I.”
Despite the initial lack of awareness about the book’s widespread appeal, Miranda recognised the film’s potential importance for the migrant community even before stepping onto set, simply by reading the source material. “It wasn’t just important to people who had the Italian migrant experience; it was important to people who had the migrant experience,” she explained. “That’s what makes it so great, that people from all different cultures, it means a lot to them.”
A Shared Experience of Navigating the Industry
Vince Colosimo, a fellow screen icon and Miranda’s castmate in their new project, shared a parallel experience of working within the Australian media landscape as an Italian-Australian man during the same era.
“Being with my background and working in this country… when I went for an audition, I saw the other guys in the waiting room, some really great Australian actors,” Colosimo recounted. “I knew I had to go into that room and I had to be really, really good, or I wasn’t going to get it otherwise… that was how I felt. I prepared myself, knowing that I was going up against these really good actors.”
He continued, “When you won those roles, there’s an air of confidence that comes in… you feel like you can do anything.” Colosimo, who has portrayed a diverse range of characters, is perhaps most famously known for his role as Frank in The Wog Boy, a 2000 comedy that playfully challenged stereotypes associated with Greek and Italian immigrants, starring alongside Greek-Australian actor Nick Giannopoulos. The film’s success mirrored that of its live stage predecessor, which had sold out theatres nationwide.
The Power of Seeing Yourself
Tai Hara, known for his work on Home and Away and also lending his voice to the Full Throttle audiobook, emphasised the critical importance of representation in Australian media. “If you can see yourself on screen, for any young kid, you can be it as well,” Hara stated.
He expressed gratitude for the shifts he’s witnessed in his own career. “I’ve been fortunate in my career that it has shifted and changed. There have been plenty of roles where my ethnicity hasn’t even been mentioned because it doesn’t define me or my character in that way.”
Venturing into Voice Acting with Full Throttle
The trio – Miranda, Colosimo, and Hara – recently collaborated on an Audible Original book titled Full Throttle, a racing love story. While all three are seasoned performers, they found voice acting to be a unique and challenging experience compared to on-screen work.
They collectively agreed that conveying happiness was one of the most difficult emotions to capture effectively within the confines of an audio booth. “Anything that you usually see is hard to convey,” Colosimo observed. Miranda elaborated, “I think happiness is the hardest, actually. What’s hard is trying to sound authentic; what feels authentic doesn’t always sound authentic.”
Hara echoed this sentiment, adding, “With the visual taken away, so much of the acting relies on you finding those emotions through your voice.” Their shared experience in Full Throttle highlights the nuanced artistry involved in bringing stories to life through voice alone.
