The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Getting to know you
Edinburgh-based actor and theatre-maker Alice Mary Cooper talks about looking after our planet, ourselves and sausage sizzles
Q Which writers and actors inspire you?
A Deborah Mailman, an Aboriginal Australian actor; Taika Waititi, a New Zealand director and writer; Declan Greene an Australian playwright and Spy Monkey, a clown group.
Q If you hadn’t been involved in theatre what would you have liked to have done? A I fancied being an environmental lawyer…I’m still not ruling it out!
Q Favourite playwright?
A I don’t really have one and more often admire writing that has come out of a group-devised process…but I do like the work of Daniel Kitson and Steph Smith.
Q And movie?
A I recently loved Jojo Rabbit, but classics for me are The Wizard of Oz and Grease – I’ve seen them both probably 100 times!
Q Your house is on fire, what one item do you save?
A I don’t think I’d risk my life for anything I own – but at a push I’d probably be quite boring and go for my laptop (because I’m terrible at backing it up…)
Q Last meal on Earth?
A A buffalo pizza from La Disfida pizzeria in Sydney followed by my mum’s moist chocolate dessert cake with vanilla ice cream and raspberries.
Q Dream dinner guests?
A With no time limit and a few translators I would say…Nelson Mandela,
John Muir, Barangaroo (Aboriginal Australian and wife of Bennelong), Olive Cotton (photographer), Elizabeth I, David Bowie, Fanny Durack and Lucille Ball.
Q First thing you’d do if you won £1 million?
A Go out for a really nice meal with my friends – perhaps at a place called Gardeners Cottage in Edinburgh – I’ve always wanted to go!
Q What would be your superhero power/name?
A I am actually already a Superhero… just not very well known! I’m Captain Eco Pants (an energy-saving superhero).
Q Quiet night in or big night out?
A Can I have both? Start quiet and go big. Q City break or weekend in the country? A City break.
Q Early bird or night owl?
A Definitely a night owl – no matter how hard I try not to be!
Q Save it or spend it?
A Save it – I’m not a great spender
Q Open water swimming or spa day?
A I would love an open water swim and then a spa day…if not a spa day in a Japanese Onsen.
Q Home or abroad?
A Abroad – but only because I have a good home to come back to. Q Savoury or sweet? A Sweet.
Q Happiest childhood memory?
A The sausage sizzle (a BBQ) post Little Athletics on a Saturday morning – basically I got a sausage sandwich with ketchup and onions after three hours of track and field events – definitely worth it.
Q And most embarrassing?
A I am not embarrassed easily and honestly can’t remember a single embarrassing moment…but I am sure I had a few.
Q Biggest regret?
A It’s not so much a regret as a wish…I wish I hadn’t been so stressed at uni and enjoyed my time a little more. I enjoyed it, but goodness was it stressful!
Q What are you proudest of?
A Managing to reach my ripe old age and still be making and touring shows and performing as a clown.
Q Who do you admire most?
A Right now, health care workers, cleaners and anyone at home selfisolating with children – heroes! All of you. Q What advice would you give to your younger self? A Meditate daily for 30 minutes. Trust me.
Q What three words would your best friend use to describe you?
A Gosh, you would have to ask them… but perhaps, “silly, late, thoughtful”.