Who is Kieran McGrath?
Sydney-based actor and singer and who tragically never became a dancer – Kieran to my friends and Uncle Kizzy to my family back home in Melbourne.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
In slower times, I’ve employed the classic actor trait of earnestly looking at jobs around me and thinking “why don’t I just do that instead?” Favourites have included mailman, publican in a rural town (a la Julie Nihill’s character from Blue Heelers) or air conditioner mechanic.
Who inspires you and why?
I’m very inspired by my friends and family who manage to keep up with everything that is thrown at us in life and also manage to raise a family. Some of my friends (also actors!) have very young kids and my sisters are superheroes bringing up the most amazing families. I look at them all with awe. Also like doctors and fire fighters and stuff.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Make all public transport free.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Recently I went to the Snowy Mountains and that’s up there on the list. A few years ago I also toured to Cairns with shake and stir theatre co’s The Twits (playing these school holidays at the Sydney Opera House!) and anybody in Australia who has never been to Far North Queensland absolutely MUST go. It’s stunning.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I love to take people out to some of my favourite restaurants and bars near where I live in Sydney – Bart Jr. in Redfern, Bella Brutta in Newtown and then a martini at Bar Planet.
What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading The Spell by Alan Hollinghurst (nearly done I swear) and next on my list is Detransition, Baby! by Torrey Peters – both recommended by my partner Steve from the Potts Point Bookshop and both of whom I got to see at the most recent Sydney Writers Festival.
What are you currently listening to?
Bootleg clips of Rachel Zegler in Jamie Lloyd’s new production of Evita in London.
Happiness is?
An early mark and a pub dinner special.
What does the future hold for you?
I hope a lot more of the same – I’ve been so lucky to have such a varied career over the last 8 years and I hope that continues. I’ve had the chance to do lots of different kinds of work and I hope for myself that I continue be surprised by whatever happens next.
I would love for that energy to continue outside my work too – I want to be surprised and challenged and end up somewhere I never expected but that makes me feel happy and secure. Being an actor makes me so happy – anything that keeps me on that path works for me.
Kieran stars in Shake & Stir Theatre’s production of Roald Dahl’s The Twits – which is currently playing at the Sydney Opera House until 19 July 2025.
Image: Kieran McGrath (supplied)