THE story OF US
THE MURIEL’S WEDDING STAR AND HER ACTOR HUSBAND ON LOVE AND MARRIAGE
Life has come full circle for much-loved stage and screen star Pippa Grandison. Twenty-five years after the actress starred as Nicole, one of Toni Collette’s tormentors in the film Muriel’s Wedding, she’s performing to packed houses around the country in the movie’s hit theatrical adaptation – this time as Muriel’s mother Betty.
“So much has happened in my life and now I’m the mum, which is so lovely,” says Pippa.
Happily, too, there have been many diverse roles along the way for Pippa, now 48. And by her side for the past two decades has been her husband, writer/ director and actor Steve ‘Slem’ Le Marquand.
“We met on a remake of South Pacific in Queensland in June 2000,” says Pippa. Steve adds that his future wife made an instant first impression on him.
“One morning, they picked up all of the cast members in a minibus,” says Steve, 51. “When Pip walked onto the bus, I said to the chap next to me ‘Who’s that girl?’ before going straight up to introduce myself. The spell had been cast.”
Pippa was equally smitten. “I turned around and looked into his eyes and thought ‘What’s that feeling?’,” she recalls. “We said hello and then he went back and sat down.
“I thought it was the stuff of fairytales, but it was such a wonderful feeling. It was love at first sight.
“Every day I was excited because I knew I was seeing him. It was such a wonderful time.”
As Pippa and Steve laughingly reveal, however, their co-stars at the time weren’t exactly in favour of the blossoming relationship.
“Everyone tried to dissuade us,” says Pippa, to which Steve adds: “They all thought it was just going to be an on-set romance, but it’s one that’s already lasted for 19 years, so I think we’ve proven them wrong!”
Almost 10 years ago, Pippa proposed to Steve in memorably impromptu style.
“We’d recently had Charlie and I was getting the washing off the line one day and walking up the back steps into the house,” recalls Steve. “Pip was sitting out on the verandah getting some sun when she said, ‘Slem, do you want to get married?’ to which I replied, ‘Yeah, sure!’ ”
“It wasn’t very romantic,” laughs Pippa, “but I wasn’t planning a proposal. I didn’t know it was going to come out of my mouth.” To which Steve adds: “But it was terrific – it was spontaneous and real.”
In January 2011, under the shade of a frangipani tree in the garden of Steve’s family home in Sydney’s Castle Hill, the couple became husband and wife.
“It was the hottest day
– about 43 degrees,” says Steve.
“So everyone was jumping in the pool with their suits and dresses on,” says Pippa.
Today the couple are based on the NSW Central Coast with the joy of their lives, their daughter Charlie, 10. “I was nervous about becoming a mother – I wasn’t confident that I’d be any good at it,” Pippa admits, adding with a smile: “We’re very lucky.”
“Charlie’s a fabulous person,” she says proudly. “I’m constantly amazed at how bright and wonderful she is.”
And, as Pippa says, the secret to their happiness is a simple one. “It’s just about being together as a family.”