Stage and screen star Madeleine Galea, who got her big movie break with a role in the Nicolas Cage movie Knowing (2009) and has also appeared on stage in Romeo & Juliet and Trance, talks about the Australian film industry’s comeback after the surge of Covid.
I read somewhere that you’ve “always been a lover of stories” – can you talk about that? And how that spurred your decision to pursue a career in the arts?
Stories are special to me. I’m intrigued by how you take an event or an idea and spin it into something that people can’t look away from. When I was growing up for me the big thing was fantastical worlds and creatures like those in Harry Potter and the Lord of The Rings, but the older I’ve gotten the more I’m drawn to people’s lived experiences. The truth can indeed be stranger than fiction and that never fails to fascinate me. This love definitely had an impact on my desire to pursue acting. With acting, you don’t just get to hear people’s stories but you get to live them and bring them to life for new audiences. As an actor, you never really have to choose what you want to be when you grow up because in truth you get to be something new almost every day.
As a young woman, how much of it was about “wanting to be a star!” and simply being intrigued in performance. I imagine it’s always a bit of both with most young actors?
Young or old, man or woman, I’m sure everyone gets a little starry-eyed at times, but for me that wasn’t really a motivator to pursue acting as a career. I can’t speak for others, but acting for me is a calling. Whether I’m up on a stage or in front of a camera, getting to act sets my soul on fire. If you want fame and fortune there are far easier careers to purse than acting. It’s hard work that needs to be done diligently and often involves many pedestrian activities. I am intrigued by my fellow humans and acting is a way of exploring that.
One of your earliest jobs was in a Nicolas Cage movie. How amazing was that!?
Working on ‘Knowing’ was an amazing experience. It was the first time I realized just how expansive film production was and the sheer amount of energy and effort that went into producing the two and half hours we see on screen.
How difficult is it to be an actor? I imagine you have to have a thick skin?
Right before I graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts one of my teachers sat us down and gave us a fair warning about how difficult the first few years would be, and they were right. There is a lot of rejection and frustration, but every time I send in a self tape, go to a rehearsal or work on set I remind myself that I get to act today, and for that I am very grateful. I by no means have answers to the trials and tribulations that actors face, but a lesson I am slowly learning is that its very important to have a strong team around you, a group of people who will support you through your difficulties and celebrate your triumphs.
Is it harder to find work in Australia, being there’s generally less productions on the go at any one time?
I’m currently based in the US, but I have heard from friends who live in Australia or who just moved here that it can be difficult. But on the flip side for Australians in America it can also be a real struggle. Whilst there may not be as many productions in Australia, you always run the risk of employment not going your was in the US if you don’t have a green card. Work visas aren’t simple things to come by and the criteria that needs to be met can be challenging for young actors and those at the beginning of their careers.
Australia is in better shape with the pandemic, are productions back in full swing there?
Australia has indeed managed Covid-19 very well. I believe there are lots of projects currently shooting and stage shows going up at the moment, including ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’, ‘The Marksman’, ‘Drummer Queens’ as well as ‘Hamilton’ which is set to open in March.
How are they keeping actors on sets safe there now, during the pandemic?
The safety protocols on film and TV sets is extraordinary. From PPE to covid testing, productions are doing everything they can to operate safely. I started work on a project back in November that is shooting here in NYC over several months and their covid protocols are intense. Every day that we are on set we get tested, as well as mandatory KN95 mask wearing, routine hand and space sanitization, distancing and reduced capacity on sound stages. The crew we work alongside are wearing face shields, masks and goggles as well as disposable gowns for those working in hair and makeup. The industry is taking it very seriously and they are going the extra mile to make people feel safe while at work.
You spend your time between the stage and screen – – what do you prefer?
I love both. For me, the experience of acting on stage is different to working in front of the camera but each is rewarding in its own way. Being on stage is electrifying, being in the moment and working off the energy you get from an audience. With screen work, it’s such an intricate experience and the more I learn about the process of filmmaking, the more I enjoy acting in the medium. With stage the audience only gets to experience the choices you make in that moment (unless they come back night after night) and so you only get that one shot in the moment before getting a chance to try something new the next show. On camera you could do 12 takes and each time play with something different, but you don’t have any control about which one makes it to the final cut.
How’s 2021 looking?
I’m excited for what 2021 will bring. I’m working steadily at the moment and am hoping to split my time between Australia and the US if covid allows. I feel like the entertainment industry is right on the cusp of a wave of new content and it’s exciting to be around for that. Season two of ‘Lying For A Living’ is premiering soon on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, so check that out!