Before playing Mary Poppins I: didn't know about the novels, I was never introduced to them when I was a kid. I really enjoy them – I love the mystery and magic and the games. I saw the movie and the musical in London, New York and Australia. Verity Hunt-Ballard, who played her first in Australia, is a friend of mine and I wanted to ask her about the harness she used for flying. It's a tight squeeze and you have to keep the feet in first position while flying.
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Mary Poppins is: there to get the job done – she's disciplining the kids and teaching the parents about being a family. In that Edwardian time she was repositioning the idea of what they can be – creativity and being open to what you love is more important than status or money. A lot of the magic tricks in the show are so much fun, like pulling things like a hatstand out of the carpet bag.
My proudest moment on stage was: in West Side Story playing Anita on the Australian tour in 2010. It was the most dramatic role I've played. It asked for a lot – dancing, singing and acting. I love the show: I think it's one of the best musicals all round.
My most embarrassing moment on stage was: when I was doing Dirty Dancing in Holland in 2009. There was a revolve and there was a trolley on it with plates and cutlery and someone hadn't put the stoppers on the trolley and it almost went into the audience. Forks and knives came off the trolley. My dance partner left me to stop it. I was like Bambi on the revolve.
I lived in the Netherlands for one and a half years and: for Dirty Dancing I had to learn Dutch – the songs were in English but the dialogue was in Dutch. My partner, Remco Keijzer, is Dutch. He's a musician – we have a jazz band together, Alinta and the Jazz Emperors.
Other than performing I love: adventure sports. Even doing the flying for this show I get very excited. I'll be flying above the proscenium arch.
Mary Poppins is on at the Canberra Theatre until to 29.
