Who is Belinda Campbell?
I’m an actor, drama tutor, playwright, retail assistant, daughter, friend, and excitable person. Recently, I celebrated my third Melbourversary (3 yrs living in Melbs!) and am happy about it.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
I would put a cardigan on, because my arms are a bit cold, if my knitted vest wasn’t so cute! I thought I was practical. My blue floral op-shop tablecloth is also cute, but I’m not going to wear that now am I? (It’s interesting to note that this tablecloth doesn’t actually fit the table. It appears that cuteness wins over practicality…. If you see a woman wearing a tablecloth later this afternoon, it may be me).
Who inspires you and why?
Emma Thompson, Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Kenneth Branagh, Jude Law, Kate Winslet inspire me with their believability, depth and versatility in the many roles I’ve seen them play on screen. Larry Moss inspires me with his brilliant book The Intent to Live and in the workshop I saw him teach, with his gentle yet direct instruction and openness. My friends inspire me with their humour, wackiness and talent. My parents inspire me, with their fierce loyalty, practicality, resourcefulness and love.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I will forgive. I will recycle. I will tell stories through acting and writing. I would make everything solar powered clean energy, give away $1000 notes to strangers on the street for no reason, cure disease and famine and World Peace.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I love to visit my family in New Zealand and the beautiful beach that was my home growing up. On the to-do list: London, Vancouver (where my father was born and we visited when I was a wee dot so I don’t remember a whole lot), New York, Rome and somewhere in Turkey. Because of family, theatre, famous land marks and markets and ancient artefacts.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take then to, and why?
Melbourne’s lane-ways are always a must do for a coffee, and Yarraville is lovely (especially when they have a market on). Southbank is a beautiful walk across the bridge and along the river. That would have to end in a pint and a show at The Malthouse Theatre, because I always have a great night there.
What are you currently reading?
I’ve just finished Perfume by Patrick Suskind, and it was brilliant, I absolutely loved it. The Intent to live by Moss, I mentioned before is an important read for me at the moment. The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton, a Canadian/New Zealander who won The Man Booker prize 2013 (she’s only 28! Now that’s inspirational!). I’ve just begun this book and I’m really loving it. She paints beautiful pictures of people.
What are you currently listening to?
Angus & Julia stone’s album Down the Way, Comedown Machine by The Strokes, and right now: Beethoven’s Adagio from the Pathetique Piano Sonata.
A graduate of Christchurch’s National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art, Belinda Campbell is an actor, playwright and founding member of West Independent Theatre. Her theatre credits include: The Power of One, Secret Bridesmaids’ Business, Radium Girls (NZ) and The Witches of Eastwick (NZ).
Belinda has written and will perform in The Bookworm for West Independent Theatre (16 – 20 September) as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. For more information, visit: www.westindependenttheatre.com for details.
Image: Belinda Campbell