36 HIT THURSDAY MARCH 5 2015 HERALDSUN.COM.AU FROM NEIGHBOURS COVER STORY TO TINSELTOWN Giving voice to great women Melinda Schneider and Beccy Cole are paying their respects to the queens of country, writes Noel Mengel

Melinda Schneider’s cup of Hurts, later recorded by Gram achievements is overflowing. Parsons with Emmylou Harris. There was the success of her “I called Beccy and said do 2010 Doris Day tribute album, you want to do this together?’’ Melinda Does Doris, and her Schneider says. “She slept on it touring Doris stage show that for a night and said yes, it was followed. that simple.’’ In 2012 she gave birth to her The division of labour, which first child, son Sullivan. songs to sing together, which to She has loved her time with take solo, happened easily. him during her break from “We both have strengths in music but by the start of this different areas; I’m more into year she was eager to get her the big ballads and Beccy loves Margot Robbie teeth into a musical project. the story songs. She is such a has hit the big “I thought I could do an great storyteller and does songs time; (above) album of original songs or an like The Night The Lights Went with Focus co- album of covers and that idea Out in Georgia so well.’’ star Will Smith; just kept nagging at me,’’ Cole grabbed headlines in (top right) in Schneider says. “And that I 2012 when she became one of Neighbours. should do it with Beccy Cole.’’ the few country artists to come There was obvious out as gay. commercial appeal after “Beccy said the only song FULLY 2013’s chart-topping I am definitely not Great Country doing is Stand By Your Songbook by Troy “There Man!’’ she says. Cassar-Daley and were so many The recording wonderful songs Adam Harvey. by female artists happened just as “Troy and just screaming painlessly as the Adam’s album was to be done” sharing of the songs, so successful but captured in a couple there was a huge gap of days at Rod and Jeff FOCUSED there because there were so McCormack’s Music Cellar An all-or-nothing attitude and a refusal to be fazed by many wonderful songs by studio on the NSW central female artists just screaming to coast with the cream of big stars has made Margot Robbie one of Hollywood’s be done,’’ she says. Australia’s country session So Schneider (below, right) players. hottest properties, writes Tiffany Bakker and long-time friend Cole “When we recorded the (below, left), have joined forces duets we did them as real duets, for the Great Women of Country together in a room and looking album. It features many of the at each other while we were Margot Robbie sweeps into a stayed on the country smashes by women singing, pushing each other on. Los Angeles hotel room looking show for a really that have crossed over to I thought that was important.” – shockingly – for something to “There’s that thing long time, or they mainstream success, including While Schneider loved eat. “I’m starving,” she says, just in the back of your completed their Dolly Parton (9 to 5, Jolene, Coat recording the album she feels as an assistant magically mind that it could contract and went on Of Many Colours), Patsy Cline her greatest achievement is one appears out of nowhere and all be taken away” to do something else. (Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Walking closer to home. “I was a mum a hands her a, um, Paleo bar. So I sussed out the people After Midnight), Jeannie C. month before I turned 41 and “I don’t think I’ll eat it,” says MARGOT ROBBIE O N who’d made that move, and Riley (Harper Valley PTA), I’m loving every minute of it,” the 24-year-old actor, frowning. DEALING WITH FAME then started asking them how Tammy Wynette (D.I.V.O.R.C.E., she says. “ I’m just so grateful I “It looks like it’s actually made they did it.” Stand By Your Man) and Bobbie was able to have a baby.’’ out of rubber. God, I’d kill for She also saved her money. Gentry (Ode to Billy Joe). some chips.” Indeed, Robbie, who did her “I knew I’d need a good There is room for a medley HEAR GREAT WOMEN OF COUNTRY Thankfully, the Gold Coast time inside the Neighbours amount to move, so I didn’t of Olivia Newton-John’s (EMI) IS OUT NOW native hasn’t gone all LA on us acting factory from 2009-11 spend any at all. Contrary to country hits, a soulful (these days, she’s actually says she was making plans for a popular belief, you don’t interpretation of one of Bonnie SEE MELINDA SCHNEIDER AND London-based). She’s been in US assault only a few months necessarily get paid a lot on Raitt’s greatest songs, I Can’t BECCY COLE, HAMER HALL, town promoting her latest film, into her stint on the show. Neighbours,” she smiles. Make You Love Me, and the MARCH 27. ARTSCENTRE Focus (opposite Will Smith), “I had a pretty clear game “Some people do, but if your Everly Brothers classic Love MELBOURNE.COM.AU and attending the Oscars, plan. I started speaking to contract wasn’t negotiated well, where she was adjudged one of people who had you’re barely making anything, the night’s best dressed. (“It’s worked on except enough to pay your rent nice to get dolled up!”) Neighbours and bills.” From the outside, Robbie’s and who had These days, of course, rise in Hollywood has been made the Robbie’s a long way from swift (it’s amazing to think she transition (to counting her dollars, only left Neighbours in 2011), the US). I commanding big bucks per but from the inside, it’s all been realised that movie. Still, she says her new highly strategic. people either financial status hasn’t changed “It’s way more fun to write her spending habits. ‘overnight sensation’ and “I still haven’t really spent then make it sound like, any on myself. I think there’s ‘Well, she won the lottery!’” always that thing in the back says Robbie. “In a way, I of your mind that it could totally did, because it’s still all be taken away.” insane, no matter how Not that she really much planning you do. It has to worry. After might not necessarily go her breakout your way, but there were a performance in last lot of plans in place. It’s not year’s The Wolf Of Wall as much as a fluke as it Street, Robbie is may seem.” in high demand.

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DIRECTOR Jared Leto’s Christ-like hair is no more. THE BIG READ CALLS CUT Director David Ayer revealed the actor cut off his locks to play The Joker in Suicide Squad — with Margot Robbie.

“I sussed out people who’d made that move, and started asking them”

H O W ROBBIE L E F T NEIGHBOURS

Next up she’ll be seen as and I had a pyjama top on and Jane opposite Alexander ripped shorts and my shoes Skarsgard in Tarzan, and were wet.” then as supervillain Smith, however, just thought Harley Quinn in the she wasn’t interested. latest from the DC “My first thing was, oh, she Comics stable, Suicide doesn’t want this job,” he says. Squad. “She comes in, hair everywhere, She says she’s no make-up and just a bit of a approached her mess. Then she started career with an all or performing, and blew us nothing mentality. all away.” “It’s always been “Margot is fearless,” adds sink or swim. For Focus producer Denise Di Novi. example, on The “It was a tall order for actresses Wolf Of Wall to walk in and not go, ‘Oh my Street, I thought, God, it’s Will Smith,’ but Margot I can’t half-arse was like, ‘Hey, it’s Will Smith, this; I’m going to that’s cool.’” Tiga’s driven have to go all out or Smith, however, reckons I’m going to look there were other reasons for stupid. I’m an all-or- explaining Robbie’s laidback nothing kind of girl. I’d attitude. to perfection rather do it full on or not at all.” “Margot was 23. She was like, Robbie took that same ‘Oh, who’s Will Smith?’” attitude into her latest film “I hadn’t seen The Fresh This self-confessed thrillseeking DJ Focus, where she plays Jess, Prince of Bel Air,” adds Robbie, a con artist in training. After “so he had to clarify who Jazzy is always on the lookout for new and she crosses paths with Will Jeff was, but I get it now.” Smith’s experienced master Asked about Smith, Robbie exciting music, writes Mikey Cahill manipulator, Nicky, the two says that he was “everything try to out-con each other in that you would expect”. “It’s more ways than one. really nice to be able to do an Robbie says she was interview and be able to answer After prodding Tiga for any says, ‘What you driving?’ I said, attracted to the role for its that question genuinely. He information about his next ‘Bugatti’.” originality. exceeded my expectations and singles, Montreal’s most cred But apparently not “I hadn’t seen a story like they were set very high.” DJ/producer and Turbo everybody picked it as a hit. this on screen. I liked the way it The two had such a palpable Recordings boss plays ball. “I played that record to loads moved between genres,” she chemistry on screen (Robbie “They’re called Don’t Break of labels and managers and says. “Also, I’m a sucker for a calls rumours of an off-screen My Heart and Goldchain Romeo nobody cared about it. Most love story. I love The Notebook! dalliance “rubbish”) that they ... that’s more than anyone else people didn’t take it seriously. But at the same time I love heist even started improvising during got,” he says. People thought it was a demo films and I love action films, takes. She even convinced It’s worth looking ahead until it reached the club and DJs and this combines all of that.” Smith to add in an Aussie joke. because Tiga’s club banger then it happened. In hindsight, Robbie “He was worried about it, but Bugatti comes in the midst of “Bugatti was textbook reckons she was lucky to I was like, come on, Australians a seemingly endless inspiration. The track get the job at all. When will laugh! I thought, my friends purple patch for the “We live was written and she got the call to will get a kick out of it.” house cat: Plush, in a time when finished before I audition, she was Robbie misses home. (For Let’s Go Dancing, everything knew it. I was on a beach in the record, she really misses Shoes, You Gonna that succeeds thinking about the Croatia, and had Milo, Nutri-Grain and Dilmah Want Me (featuring seems like it was car. I can sit and 48 hours to get to tea.) Asked why Australians Scissor Sisters’ Jake made in a bulls--- people — New York to meet continue to do well in Shears), Louder Than laboratory” everyone wants a Smith to read for Hollywood, she pauses. “If a Bomb ... all the way story. Sometimes things the part. En route, someone has made it happen in back to Sunglasses At Night. just happen, it’s a silly little her luggage went Australia well enough to make Unlike other DJs, say Felix idea, executed properly,” Tiga missing. the move to the US, they’ve Da Housecat, who got stuck in a shrugs. “I was wearing the obviously worked their arses rut, Tiga’s quality control has Later, an idea was floated clothes I’d been off, and they have a good work been impeccable. The 40-year- to add a rapper for crossover backpacking in and I was ethic because it is so difficult,” old remains humble. appeal. filthy,” she says. “I had been she muses. “Then again, maybe “It doesn’t always feel like “Randomly, Bugatti featured swimming, right before there really is just something that. Internally you feel ups and on some show in the UK where knowing that I had to quickly in the water.” downs,” he says. “I always try a panel critiques tracks. Vic rush to New York, and so my and find something new and Mensa was on there and said clothes were actually still damp, SEE FOCUS OPENS TODAY exciting. With DJing I’m always he’d love to rap on it, he was trying to find new records I effusive in his praise. But for me wanna play. It becomes a habit. there was only one name: Pusha If you can survive long enough T. It has sincerity.” Wall Street star told you become like a shark. Triple J gobbled up the SUICIDE a US newspaper “I’m quite competitive in a Pusha T version of the track. BLONDE she would love to way, I’m competitive with “There’s a nice twist to it,” do more. myself. I get bored easily. I’m a reasons Tiga. “It happens Margot Robbie “You don’t need thrillseeker!” he chuckles. periodically, when a track is so wants to do more to have Tiga’s faux bravado is never blatantly out of the norm, so Suicide Squad commitment issues far from the surface — he’s by unapologetically different, it movies. She plays to be frightened by far the most entertaining DJ on succeeds. By its very nature it Harley Quinn, the the fact that you Twitter. Do yourself a favour becomes a poke in the eye. Joker’s girlfriend, in might have just signed and follow @ciaotiga. (Sample “We live in a time when The Suicide Squad which 10 years of your life tweet after Madonna had her everything that succeeds seems will be released in 2016. away,” Robbie said. “But with fall: “Note to self: for debut like it was made in a laboratory. The 24-year-old admitted to MTV her, it’s a character I don’t think LIVE show at @SonarFestival There’s a certain naive charm she is nervous about meeting would ever get boring. Ever. So if do not wear cape.”) to Bugatti.” co-star Jared Leto, who will they did Suicide Squad One, Two Bugatti was always going to play the Joker, Batman’s arch and Three, I would be over the be a hit; that much was clear the SEE TIGA, PRINCE OF WALES, MARCH enemy. But The Wolf Of moon about it.” first time you heard the dopey 14, $39.80, refrain, “Girl comes up to me, PRINCEBANDROOM.COM.AU

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