I am NOT mental

Toni Collette as Shaz in Mental

Giles Hardie (with P.J. Hogan), The Sydney Morning Herald, reports

Meet the most Mental Australian, Shaz, a goddess of "mind blowin truths" answered your questions (with the help of the film's writer/director PJ Hogan).

Shaz was here and live!

The disgruntled, embittered and arguably mental character upon whom PJ Hogan's new film Mental is based, answered your questions for an hour in the comments section of the Sydney Morning Herald article.

But now, it's farewell Shaz.

"Australia, I bid you so long, farewell, aufedersein, good night." SHAZ.

The answers are still here for your enjoyment.

WARNING: Shaz is not a medical health professional, though she is willing to help identify what is mental.

Take a browse of Shaz's twitter profile @shazismental and it quickly becomes apparent that Shaz believes:

·         Perth is a fictional city

·         Justin Bieber is a ventriloquist's dummy

·         George Clooney should play Ted in the movie version of Play School

Is there anything that you won’t discuss with our readers? (why/why not?)

Me life’s an open book since that PJ Hogan hack made this film about me.

However there is sum things I think should remain private like me sexual preferences. For all me loyal lezzie fans out there, sadly me lezzie days are behind me (unless that’s you textin me little Dannii Minogue).

I also don’t wish to discuss me torrid affair with Kevin Rudd, or that regrettable drunken nite with Tony Abbott when I made Tony wear a bag over his head. Also that rash cougar-moment with young Sam Clark on the set of Mental should probably go unmentioned. And I definitely don’t want to talk about that nasty yeast infection I had last month. Apart from them secrets fire away readers.

How would you summarize your life philosophy?

I am a sagacious, all-knowing muse, yet humble and approachable. I am committed to collecting rare and unusual bongs, the care of me dog Ripper and JUSTICE. I am often called upon by world leaders and deep thinkers for me sage advice – for example the Dalai Lama just doesn’t get why he has 12 million followers on Twitter yet known slag and waste-of-space Kim Kardashian has over 15 million. Personally I don’t get why the Dalai Llama is ON Twitter in the first place – shouldn’t he be out Llama-ing sumwhere?

Kevin Rudd doesn’t get why I won’t return his calls (one word, Kev: stalker). I maintain sum mysteries should remain unsolved like why does anyone watch Big Brother in the first place.

Are you mental? (and what does that mean?)

I am not mental.

The title of the film refers to the state of mind of the director when he was makin it. And that Toni Collette’s a total nut job too, but I can’t say that in public cause she’s also litigious.

I wanted to call it Goddess of Mind Blowin Truths but they couldn’t fit it on the poster.

Look, I don’t think there’s no such thing as ‘normal,’ not in this country – I mean, Prime Minister Harold Holt drowns and they name an Aquatic Centre after him, they charge ya for the Internet which should be free cause when was the last time ya ever saw CYBERSPACE on sale by the yard at Spotlight, and will sumone pleeze explain to me the whole concept of Guy Sebastion cause I don’t get it.

Bug drives Lee mental

Sophie Lee

The Daily Telegraph reports

It’s the new Australian film already generating buzz ahead of its release in cinemas next Thursday thanks to a big-name cast including Toni Collette, Rebecca Gibney and Anthony LaPaglia.

But for fans of Muriel's Wedding it will be another familiar face in Mental that elicits a chuckle when Sophie Lee makes an unexpected cameo appearance.

Having starred alongside Collette as a wronged bride in the black comedy 18 years ago, Lee was at home playing with her three children when she received a call from Muriel's director PJ Hogan offering her the part.

"I couldn't say not to him," she told Saturday Confidential.

"And as he said it was a bit of a Muriel's Wedding reunion."

Although Lee's focus has shifted from performing to writing ­ not to mention caring for her primary-school aged children ­ in recent years, she says the acting bug hasn't died.

Gaining weight for dream role in Mental led to a terrifying health scare for Rebecca Gibney

Rebecca Gibney put on 14 kilos for the role of Shirley in Mental before she was found to be a step away from developing diabetes. Picture: Damien Shaw amien Shaw Source: Supplied

The Daily Telegraph reports

Evergreen actress Rebecca Gibney came within an inch of being a diabetic after suffering a health scare while making the Aussie comedy Mental.

Gibney admits now her "at all costs'' attitude when she auditioned for the role of Shirley Moochmore in the PJ Hogan-written and directed film, almost had a dire consequence.

The 47-year-old says she made it clear to Hogan that she wanted the part, knowing it it would be the biggest role she has ever had - despite her lengthy acting career.

"When I auditioned for the role, I said that I would stand on my head, I would do whatever it takes, put on weight, because I wanted this role so much I would do whatever to get it,'' Gibney tells AAP.

"I've done small roles in features before but this is certainly the biggest feature film role I have had.''

After being cast as the slightly nutty mother Shirley, Gibney set about gorging herself and doing next to no exercise to pile on the kilos to her fit frame.

Within two months Gibney was fast approaching her goal weight of an additional 20 kilograms, but then she noticed something was dreadfully wrong, health wise.

After a visit to the doctor she was told to immediately stop stacking on kilos.

"I was hoping for 20 kilos or as much as I could," she says.

"I put on 14 kilos in eight or nine weeks and I found out towards the end of gaining the weight that I was insulin resistant and pre-diabetic.

"I was one step away from diabetes so if I had put on more weight I would get diabetes. So I stopped and we decided to employ the use of a fat suit.''

Gibney stopped her aggressive eating habits following the health scare but she didn't immediately trim down.

She maintained her overweight figure for as long as she could during the shooting of the feature movie without further putting her health in jeopardy.

"The double chin is all mine,'' Gibney jokes.

"PJ doesn't like tricks - he wants the characters to be real and likes actors to put on the weight.

Gibney has rarely been out of work in her acting career, mainly for TV roles, but since being cast in Mental she has become intoxicated with the idea of appearing in another feature movie.

She says one is on the horizon for early next year, but cannot name it for confidentiality reasons.

Gibney says television, such as Packed To The Rafters in which she appears as Julie Rafter, is an insatiable beast with little time to perfect a scene because of the chaotic shooting schedules.

It's one of the reasons she enjoyed shooting Mental because of the time spent filming and perfecting the scenes and performances of the actors.

"In television you get so little time to do anything, you are doing things on the run and maybe get an hour to do a scene.

"In film you get a whole day to a scene if you need it.

"I'm not under any illusion I am going to have a film career and if this is the last feature I ever do, I am going out on a high because it's such a wonderful movie and to be part of an incredible cast and working with PJ Hogan.

"If I never do another movie, I'd be happy.''

Mental opens in Australian cinemas on October 4.

Say hello to the new Muriel

Actor Lily Sullivan will see herself on screen for the first time on Saturday when Mental premieres at the Melbourne Film Festival. Picture: Adam Ward Source: News Limited

Vicky Roach, News Limited Network, reports

Meet the new Muriel - 18-year-old Lily Sullivan.

Director P.J. Hogan cast the Queensland schoolgirl in his raucous new comedy Mental, which he describes as The Sound of Music on acid, after an open casting call.

Sullivan plays the pivotal role of Coral in the semi-autobiographical film about a dysfunctional family of girls and the crazy nanny who turns their suburban world on its head.

Hogan says his first Australian film since Muriel's Wedding (1994), which sees him reunited with Porpoise Spit muse Toni Collette, shares a definite kinship with its ABBA-inspired predecessor.

And Sullivan's audition reminded him of the one he did with a then unknown Rachel Griffiths.

"When I cast Rachel Griffiths, she was not how I imagined the part, but she was the only actress for the role. She had star quality. I could see it. And when she acted opposite Toni, they had a great chemistry together. It was the same thing with Lily.

"Toni takes no prisoners when she acts with you. She goes for it and when she serves, boy, you better return that ball. Lily was the only one who stood up to her.''

Sullivan took a term off school during her HSC year to embrace the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"I sent in a self (audition) tape. Two weeks later, my world had changed completely.''

The fledgling actress celebrated her 18th birthday on location in Queensland.

"I had my first legal glass of champagne with Toni Collette at the wrap party. How cool is that?''

Muriel's team in Mental reunion

Deborah Mailman and Toni Collette (rear) with some of the cast of Mental.

Philippa Hawker, The Sydney Morning Herald, reports

Eighteen years after Muriel Heslop dreamed of a world beyond Porpoise Spit, the Muriel's Wedding team is back. Writer-director P.J. Hogan and Toni Collette are reunited in Mental, a new movie that will be the closing night attraction at this year's Melbourne International Film Festival.

Mental, says MIFF's artistic director, Michelle Carey, is the perfect closing feature. ''I came out of it feeling quite a buzz, and I think audiences will too. It's raucous and hilarious, but also really moving.'' Collette plays a hitchhiker, Shaz, who is hired by a philandering politician, Barry Moochmore (Anthony LaPaglia) to look after his five daughters while his wife, Shirley (Rebecca Gibney), is in hospital. It's a film, says Carey, that asks ''how society thinks about mental illness, and where mental illness ends and eccentricity begins''.

The movie is ''almost like a western, with Collette as a stranger who comes into a suburban home, turns it upside down and changes the lives of everyone around her'', she says.

MIFF, which runs from August 2 to 19, launched its full program yesterday. Several Australian features are screening, including Jack Irish - Bad Debts, starring Guy Pearce, which is the first of a series of ABC adaptations of the crime novels of Peter Temple. There will be a Bollywood-themed party following the world premiere of Save Your Legs, written by Brendan Cowell and directed by Boyd Hicklin. This feature is based on the real-life exploits of a suburban cricket team whose members tour India, dreaming of glory, only to face defeat. ''And,'' says Carey ''it's great that Melbourne audiences will have the chance to see Amiel Courtin-Wilson's Hail,'' after the drama screened at Adelaide, Venice and Rotterdam festivals.

The Age is a festival sponsor.