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Alyssa OPINION Sutherland; (below) with Travis SHOW HAS Fimmel and Dianne A TALENT Doan. “I can’t judge FOR TRUE Aslaug ... if I do I can’t portray DIVERSITY her properly”

ALYSSA SUTHERLAND COLIN VICKERY ON HER CHARACTER NATIONAL TV WRITER

Sometimes it is the least likely TV shows that have the most to say about modern multicultural Australia. No, I’m not talking about serious current affairs programs such as 7.30, Q & A, Insight or Dateline. And I’m not thinking of our local dramas which, with a couple of exceptions, are still predominantly white bread. I’m not even talking about Here Come the Habibs! Nine’s new comedy was slammed for what was seen as a retrograde use of ethnic stereotypes. Instead, I’m going to hold up Australia’s Got Talent as the TV program on air right now that best reflects Australia in 2016. Yes, that’s right. A daggy amateur talent program hosted by Dave Hughes with judges Ian “Dicko” Dickson, Sophie Monk, Eddie Perfect and Kelly Osbourne is leading the way. It shouldn’t be a surprise. Reality and talent shows have a great track record of spotlighting cultural inclusivity. MasterChef Australia has A always been unashamedly funny story behind it, I’m afraid. blogs and memes devoted to some reason, society has this cross cultural. Who can forget It’s just my little piece of home. her, that wasn’t always the case. thing where women aren’t plating up I’ve always liked finding the “She sure got a bad wrap in allowed to do terrible things on against Julie Goodwin? Southern Cross in the sky when the beginning,” Sutherland says. screen. Men can do it, that’s OK Australian Idol alumni are an I’m back here.” “When I first came on, a and can be understood. But ethnic smorgasbord including WALK At that stage of her life, she picture of me was posted on the people are getting used to Jessica Mauboy, Casey had already been working for show’s Facebook page and I was women doing questionable Donovan and Stan Walker. six years. Sutherland won the so excited to see it. Then I saw things. Cyrus Villaneuva, of Girlfriend magazine model what people were saying in the “I really wanted to push that Filipino descent, won last search in 1997 and quickly comments … it was like, oh, oh and show a darker side to this year’s The X Factor. became sought-after around my gosh, I’m done.” character. One of her This year’s Australia’s Got the world. Her arrival at the end of relationships in particular … Talent is just as diverse. Indian IN THE Life has changed is questionable.” taxi driver Pardeep wowed the dramatically since then. Playing someone who sparks judges with his impersonation Sutherland took something conversation and debate, of Michael Jackson. Sikh of a gamble a few years ago “Women aren’t making people think about how Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa scored when she scaled back her allowed to do they’d respond in a similar four “yes” votes from the judges incredibly lucrative modelling terrible things situation, gives her a thrill. for her spoken word poetry. career to focus on acting. on screen” And getting to know Aslaug A lot of these contestants “It wasn’t a jump to so well over the past few have moving personal stories. DARK performing. It was a slow ALYSSA SUTHERLAND seasons has changed her. Take speed drummer TJ, raised It took Alyssa Sutherland some time frickin’ dawdle … years of hard WILL TEST LIMITS “This role has made me a less in Ethiopia, adopted at four and work and training.” judgmental person. I can’t judge arriving in Australia not to come to terms with being identified Those countless classes and Aslaug, because if I do then knowing how to speak English. workshops gave her the skills to season one ruffled many I can’t portray her properly. That childhood tale is every with her Vikings character, writes nail an audition, to play Aslaug feathers, with some fans “I have to understand her, bit as powerful as Go Back to in the hugely popular historical describing the character as a have empathy for her. Where You Came From. Shannon Molloy epic Vikings. “home wrecker” after she “It’s made me look at things a So don’t be too quick to While the Queen character hooked up with Ragnar, a bit differently, more broadly.” dismiss Australia’s Got Talent as is a viewer favourite now, with Viking warrior and the husband When she’s not in Ireland fluff. Something profound is of her friend Lagertha. filming the show, Sutherland is happening amid the frivolity. A lot of Alyssa Sutherland’s life nephew, in which she “She is very complex and in Los Angeles with her has been spent getting ready to enthusiastically teaches multi-layered,” Sutherland says. husband, Laurence Shanet. AUSTRALIA’S GOT TALENT, CHANNEL travel somewhere, from exotic the toddler how to say “I love delving into that. That It’ll be a little while until she 9, SUNDAY 7PM, MONDAY 7.30PM photo shoot locations to glitzy “selfie”. side of it is incredibly knows whether there’ll be a European runway shows. While talking about rewarding.” fifth season of Vikings. If it’s When we sit down, it’s the Australia — and The new season picked up again, she’ll head day before the 33-year-old leaving once again — of the drama will back to Ireland almost straight model and actor is due to fly Sutherland see Aslaug go away to start filming. back to Los Angeles. The subconsciously brushes “into even If not, 2016 is a little more Vikings star is feeling a little the faded Southern darker uncertain. melancholy about it. Cross tattoo on territory”, she “I don’t like the whole not “I spent Christmas in her wrist. hints — a direction knowing part. Not at all. Brisbane with my family and it “I got it that may once “I wish I knew what was was really lovely,” Sutherland forever ago,” again test her going on in my life. says. “Not too hot, which is she says. “I likability “But I love my work, so it’s all always good.” was in New with a trade-off. It’s worth it.” She reaches for her phone York and 21. viewers. and shows off a video of her There’s no “For VIKINGS, SBS, WEDNESDAY, 8.30PM Speed drummer TJ.

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