The Sydney Morning Herald logo
The Sydney Morning Herald logo

Dicey Topics

Advertisement
Walton’s novel draws on the story of her great-great-great grandmother.

‘He’s keeping himself in very fine form’: How Tasma Walton and Rove McManus keep the spark alive

The actor and writer, 52, has penned a novel based on a true story of an enslaved ancestor.

  • Benjamin Law

Latest

“I was drawn to the people who didn’t fit in. I was like, ‘You don’t fit in … I don’t fit in …’ ”

‘Yo, you’re going to hell!’ Anisa Nandaula on culture shock in a new home

For the Ugandan-born comedian, fitting in to Australian society was no laughing matter.

  • Benjamin Law
Erik Thomson: “The year after I left All Saints, I made $8000 in one financial year.”

If Erik’s hit show had been in the US, he’d be retired. In Australia, he was essentially broke

Actor Erik Thomson on the financial realities of his choice of career – and the extra pressure he felt to overcome them.

  • Benjamin Law
Kae Tempest: “I had three commandments written on my studio wall. One was, ‘Write what you can’t bear to admit.’ ”

‘Write what you can’t bear to admit’ – plus two more rules Kae lives by to make art

British writer, performer and poet Kae Tempest on his sources of inspiration, plus: the power of being active through love, rather than inactive through fear.

  • Benjamin Law
Diinesh Palipana: “We have career politicians now … We need politicians who aren’t politicians.”

Dinesh ‘spiralled’ in law school. Then he had a revelation

Dinesh Palipana, Queensland’s first graduate doctor with quadriplegia, reveals what his pursuit of a law degree taught him about life.

  • Benjamin Law
Tayari Jones:

A struggling writer was told her career was ‘done’ –  then everything changed in 48 hours

Tayari Jones is the author of five novels. An American Marriage won the Women’s Prize and was an Oprah’s Book Club selection. Her latest novel is Kin.

  • Benjamin Law
Advertisement
Tanya Hennessy: “I’ve done everything I ever wanted to do. I never live with regret.”

‘I’d rather be homeless than not meet my baby’: Inside Tanya’s long road to motherhood

The comedian, podcaster, TV presenter and author on her surprise first career, her yearning to become a mum – and chance meetings with politicians.

  • Benjamin Law
“I was under the poverty level,” Martel says of the time when he was writing Life of Pi. “It didn’t matter because I was working on this book that I loved.”

The unexpected thing Booker winner Yann Martel was doing while writing two books

Canadian author Yann Martel on writing his breakthrough novel Life of Pi, why he hates Trump – and dealing with “a tidal wave of money”.

  • Benjamin Law
Charlotte Walker: “Young people make up a larger proportion of voters than ever before, but we’re not represented.”

Australia’s youngest-ever senator on the ‘she’s far too young’ argument

Charlotte Walker, who won her seat for Labor at the federal election on her 21st birthday, discusses sexism, ageism – and her commandments for good leadership.

  • Benjamin Law
Australian actor Shabana Azeez in The Pitt.

‘You’re already doing it flawlessly’: The Pitt star Shabana Azeez on her US accent hack

The actor on growing up in Australia, attending medical “boot camps” for her role – and whether being good at acting necessarily requires training.

  • Benjamin Law