On the Couch with Ngaire Dawn Fair

Ngaire Dawn Fair oncWho is Ngaire Dawn Fair?
An organism made of meat and bones hurtling through space on a giant rock pretending to be other organisms made of meat and bones hurtling through space on a giant rock. Not a Scientist.

What would you do differently to what you do now?
I’m always jealous of Art Department on set. I like attention to detail and the idea of making micro worlds. Once I was complaining about my suitcase not being realistically heavy and so the stage manager filled it with bricks before the show. It wasn’t a graceful exit.

Who inspires you and why?
All the women out there in life and in the spotlight being funny, being vulgar, powerful and human and shifting boundaries and expectations.

What would you do to make a difference in the world?
An insightful play or performance can inspire or help people through hard times. I would one day love to be an ambassador for Animals Australia, the difference they have made for creatures over the last few years has been incredible.

Favorite holiday destination and why?
I like tropical weather. A bustling city or a forest or the ocean. As long as it’s balmy. I love New York in the summer and Kakadu all the time.

When friends come to town, what attraction do you take them to and why?
I adore the Botanical Gardens, they must be the most beautiful gardens in the world. Kinfolk, Tipo 00 and Yong’s Green Food are some of my favorite places to eat.

What are you currently reading?
The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide.

What are you currently listening to?
Nothing new and cool. Ever. Is there a course for that?

Happiness is?
Being onstage at Red Stitch with a great script and a keen audience. Citizen Cacao chocolate is instant happiness. Laughing and being silly with my partner. Too much fresh air.

What does the future hold for you?
More storytelling in any capacity I hope. A dog or five.

Ngaire graduated with a Diploma of Acting from The National Theatre (2008) and joined the Red Stitch Actors Theatre Ensemble in 2012. Theatre credits with Red Stitch include: Eurydice, The Flick, ROAM, Herding Cats, 4000 Miles, The Pride and My Romantic History.

Other theatre credits include: Stray (Big West, La Mama), No Names No Pack Drill (Pine Heights Theatre), One for the Road (Pine Heights Theatre), Electronic City (Hoy Polloy), The Butterfly Catcher (ITCH Productions), Bodybag (ITCH Productions) Playhouse Creatures (National Theatre) and Top Girls (National Theatre).

Ngaire’s film and television credits include: The Courier (James-Henri), Holding the Man (dir. Neil Armfield), Audrey’s Kitchen (Working Dog), Offspring (Southern Star), Mr and Mrs Murder (Fremantle Media), Crawlspace (Wolf Creek Pictures), Winners and Losers (Seven), The Slap (ABC), Killing Time (Fremantle Media), Rush (Southern Star), Satisfaction (Satisfaction Productions) and Neighbours (Grundy).

Ngaire is currently appearing in the return season of The Flick at the Red Stitch Theatre until 23 May 2015. For more information, visit: www.redstitch.net for details.

Image: Ngaire Dawn Fair