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My dad told me that no one could ever make it as a writer, that my chances were equivalent to winning the lottery – which was good for me, because I like to have something to prove.
From my dad I learned to be good to people, to always be honest and straightforward. I learned hard work and perseverance.
My dad is very successful in his business. He’s always been big in having hobbies and having little ways to get away. He always made time for hunting and fishing. He always encouraged me to do it.
We had our first earthquake over here recently. That was a bizarre feeling. I just became disoriented and I remember my dad freaking out. Nothing broke or anything.
I want babies. I think I’ll be a great dad.
I suppose not everyone has a dad who wrote a book saying he didn’t believe in the Parliamentary road to socialism.
I used to listen to my dad a lot as a way of trying to be close to him, as well, because my parents were divorced and I didn’t spend that much time with him. And I used to put headphones on and listen to my dad talk and sing and I found that quite… bonding with him, in a weird way.
Things with my dad were pretty good until I won an Academy Award. He was really loving to me until I got more attention than he did. Then he hated me.
I would ask my dad what he did, and he’d say, ‘I listen to people’s problems.’ In some way what he did for a living is in my genes.
But although Australia was also involved in the Vietnam conflict, I can remember my dad telling us that if we were in Australia, we wouldn’t be drafted until we were 20.