It became a bit of an obsession for me since 2013. Waiting
for 20 minutes after The Bachelor/
Bachelorette ended, hitting “refresh” until Rosie Waterland’s “Rosie Recaps”
were on the Mamamia website.
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| Rosie's favourite host, Oshie and his hair. Source: mamamia.com.au |
But as the final episode aired in “Bachie” Season 4 on 15
September 2016 we waited. We waited for hours. Finally I went to bed, and woke
up to a post from Mia Freedman herself saying that Rosie wouldn’t be writing
that last recap, because she was unwell and needed to be in hospital to
recover.
She’d authored a critically acclaimed book, The Anti-Cool Girl, but Rosie Waterland
was hiding something from all of us, even her best friends. Her mental illness
had got the best of her. On the night of her final Bachelor recap ever, she
downed a bunch of pills and a bottle of vodka to quiet her pain.
That pain was triggered by the sudden unexpected accidental
death of her best friend and self-described soulmate, Tony Sergi. Mates since
acting school, flatmate, sounding board, boo. She convinced herself she was ok:
“I’m okay, I’m okay. I’m not okay.” She describes her downward spiral and
realisation in her second book, Every Lie
I've Ever Told.
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| 2013 photo of Tony and Rosie, Credit: Twitter |
In her style, she hasn’t remained silent about her trauma.
Since her recovery, Rosie Waterland hasn’t slowed down. She’s finished her
second book, started a podcast, has a TV show in the works, and embarked on a second
comedy tour, Crazy Lady.
I had a chat with Rosie leading up to her comedy show at the
Theatre Royal on Friday 20 October, 2017.
JZ: Have you been to Tasmania before?
RW: As a kid, my mum found out she was adopted and her birth
parents were in Launceston. We came here a few times.
JZ: What are you looking forward to seeing?
RW: Wish I had time, but 24 hours and out.
JZ: What? Not even the Vaginas at Mona? If ever there was an
exhibit for Rosie, it would be the Wall of Vaginas.
RW: Yass! The Wall of Vaginas!
JZ: Would you pose for one?
RW: Absolutely.
JZ: Are you outdoorsy at all? What outdoor Hobart thing do
you want to see?
RW: Not really an outdoor person. I’d rather be on my couch.
JZ: Tell me about your eyelashes.
RW: (laughs) They make me feel like a Disney Princess! I had
my first pro photo shoot for my first book. Loved them and flipped out on my
social media. The place I have them done got so many requests, their website
crashed! I get them done every 3 weeks and they bring me joy. They asked me if I wanted free ones for LIFE.
I never feel bad for taking free stuff.
JZ: Like that time you got a free car?
RW: Yeah, but I had to give it back.
JZ: Your stories are about the people in your life. Who are
your mentors?
RW: Jamila (Rizvi) my first editor at Mamamia. She is my mentor in
work and in life.
JZ: Richard Glover was one of the first advocates of your
work. Would you consider him a mentor?
RW: Yass! I am so lucky to have him as a friend! I always
looked up to him. He’s always championing my work.
JZ: What makes you funny?
RW: (laughs again, but uncomfortably this time). You know I
wake up every day thinking “this is the day everyone finds out I’m a fraud." It’s my imposter syndrome. So you asking this question really brings that out.
So it’s a mystery to me. I write like I talk. Maybe that’s why.
[I think I’ve caught her imposter syndrome now, because
sensing I’ve triggered something, I’m terrified the interview is about to end.
I move on quickly.]
JZ: This is your second comedy tour. Why are you doing this
tour now?
RW: I studied drama and acting for 3 years. I missed being
on stage. With writing you do the finished work and get the feedback long after
you finish the product. On stage I get the feedback by engaging people
real-time.
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| Rosie's Crazy Lady. Courtesy: Frontier |
JZ: What’s your ritual for going on stage?
RW: I like to get there early for lots of self-prep time.
With about 20 minutes to go, I’ll have a glass of wine, and put on Beyonce.
JZ: What are you tackling in this show?
RW: I like to call it a “Funny Show about Mental Illness.”
It deals with the death of my soulmate Tony, my attempted suicide and
everything in the past year. It’s about 80% funny/ 20% serious. I can’t talk
about something serious without throwing in a fart joke.
[I think everything I’ve seen her write has a fart joke.]
JZ: How do you think other people take your stories?
RW: Entertained? (She's not sure about this) I’ve taken the stories and crafted them. A
lot of people think it’s easy, just to write about your life, but I’ve been to journalism school.
JZ: How do you deal with people who think they know you
based on your stories?
RW: It’s flattering! I love it! Sometimes people expect me
to be more outgoing. But I’m just socially awkward and inept.
JZ: How does 30 feel?
RW: I’m 31 now! It’s more settled now.
JZ: What are your takeaways from the last year?
RW: We (Australia) seem to be very good at recognising
mental illness, but we are lacking in mental health assistance. We encourage
people to speak up, but then they can’t get a bed. You just get sent home.
JZ: What’s your message for those who have or might have
mental illness?
RW: Mental illness will always be a part of my life. I may
think I’m ok, but I won’t be later. I need to look after myself.
JZ: Do you have any regrets?
RW: It’s all lead to where I am now. Everything happens for
a reason.
JZ: How is it living with your mum?
RW: I like to say she’s living with me! She’s been sober for
a year, which is the longest I’ve known her to be sober. It’s like getting to
know a different person. It’s interesting and sometimes frustrating!
JZ: I have a few Would you rather? questions:
Chris or Liam Hemsworth? Luke – the one in Westworld.
NSync or 98 degrees? NSync a millions times.
Gossip Girl or Gilmore girls? Gilmore.
Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars, for sure.
Bali or Fiji? My couch. I’m not a beach person.
Blake, Sam or Richie? BLAKE because it was the most
interesting.
One word to
describe:
Writing -
FUN
Trolls -
PATHETIC
Sisters -
LOVELY
Comedy - AMAZING
Tony -
SOULMATE
Rosie did not disappoint in Hobart! She had so many stories to tell us (including she's a professed pimple popper) that she sometimes got sidetracked on her book material. The show, like her book, is her night in hospital, interupted by the other lies she's told. Her openness and honesty, together with her unconventional upbringing makes her a voice for our time.
Rosie Waterland's final show of Crazy Lady is at the Athenaeum in Melbourne on 27 October. Tickets here.
If you have feelings of depression and self-harm, please contact LifeLine 131114.
