Interactive > Exclusive Interview > Interview Text

Lisa Chappell - Interview - Questions & Answers

Lisa Chappell gave an exlusive video interview for our site. We have compiled the list of questions and answers for those of you who may have troubles downloading the media files. As with the video interview, this write up is only for this site, and copyright to lisachappell.net, please do not copy any parts of these questions and answers to any other site.

Quick Questions

Below are the list of quick fire questions we had for Lisa, although some of them took a while to answer, as Lisa liked going in to detail!

1. Your one must have in the fridge?

Baby Spinach, Bread, Honey

2. Do you play Tennis, if so how often?

Yes, Not as often as she would like.

3. If you weren’t an actress or singer, what job would you do – was there any other profession you thought you would be interested in?

Teach, children.

4. Did you write stories as a child?

Yes, Lisa did a lot of writing as a child

5. Did you have an idol growing up & do you have one now? Who?

David Bowie (for music), Meryl Streep, Lisa mentioned her friend also, for what she does for humanitarian rights, also friends who are bringing up families, and the Dalai Lama.

6. If you could pick anyone to play you in a film about your life, who would you pick?

Sandra Bullock, Drew Barrymore, Frances McDormand

7. What is your one must have for a long flight?

Water

8. Do you have a nickname & do you wish to share it with us?

No current nickname.

9. What is your favourite novel?

Peace like a River –Leif Enger, also Lisa said that Charlie and the Chocolate factory goes with her wherever she goes

10. Do you have a tattoo?

Nope, no tattoo, has thought about it over the years, but never had one

11. Do you play golf or any other sport?

Played golf twice, once was shocking, and once did quite well.

12. Your dream car is?

Lisa is not really into cars, and as hard as she tried she couldn't explain her dream car.

13. What make & model is your guitar? (not on interview clip, as Lisa needed to get back to us on the model number)

Martin, 000-16GT, Gloss Top, Auditorium

14. What is your favourite hobby?

Playing Guitar

15. If you were stuck on a desert island & you could only take 3 things with you, what would they be?

Water, Chocolate and an Ipod/Guitar.... it was a tough choice between the two, so we allowed Lisa an extra...lol

16. What age level is your children’s book aimed at?

5-10 year olds

17. Who what the best kisser – Nick, Alex or Roy the Dog?

Roy the Dog!

18. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why?

England and Europe, to visit friends and family that she hasn’t had a chance to see in a long time.

CD - Touring - Singing etc

Below are the questions asked about Lisa's album "When Then is Now".

1. Where did the title of your album come from?

Lisa had come back home after doing a peace march in Adelaide, and was inspired to write some songs. She had heard many stories related to the cause and march she was doing. She thought to herself, when are we going to stop doing this to ourselves, when are we going to be kind and peace loving, when are we going to get along, start respecting each other? When this happens, or when this happens… well… When then is Now! We have to stop putting this off. Lisa also had things going on in her own life, and found herself saying, when this happens I will be happy, or when that happens I will be happy, she then decided that was crazy, When then is Now! You have only got now.

She thought this would be a great title for the album, because she had always been saying things like, when this happens then I will put out an album, or when that happens then I will put out an album…. But again When then is Now!

2. Who is your current favourite singer and/or band?

Damien Rice

3. Favourite songs now or what favourite songs that have special meaning to you?

Anything Damien Rice off the album O. Also the first three songs off the Lucinda Williams, Essence album. Lisa says that she doesn’t actually place songs with people or events in her life as such. She does recall certain times should she hear a song, for example “Oh, I was 18 then” etc

4. When will your CD be available and can overseas people buy it?

As much as Lisa would like her CD to be out before Christmas, she knows it wont be. This worries her, as she knows that she said it would be. However, Lisa says, that you only get one shot at releasing an album, and she wants it to be released in the best way possible. She says that she can safely say it will be out some time in 2006, and if it is not in stores, it will be made available over the internet.

5. Will you be touring to promote your CD and/or sing live? If so, apart from Australia and New Zealand, might you be touring overseas to places such as, Netherlands, USA, UK, Sweden etc?

Album sales determine where a tour will take place, so Lisa says “You buy it, and she will play there”. If the album sales are high enough in a country, then she will consider touring there.

6. Where do you get your inspiration for your song writing?

Mainly Lisa writes songs from what goes on in her heart, and from things she observes that affect her. She was inspired to write a song after watching two birds flying extremely close together, and to watch them she felt it represented the embodiment of love, and purity, which then inspired her to write a song. She also wrote one after watching a couple at the Auckland airport, they were deaf, and Lisa was captivated by them, so much so she nearly missed her flight.

McLeod's Daughters

Below are the questions asked about Lisa's time on McLeod's Daughters. We had many similar questions, so we tried make sure they were all answered, some in the one question.

1. How difficult was it for you to make the decision to leave the show?

Not difficult at all, Lisa said she knew it was time to leave.

2. Why did you decide to leave?

Many reasons, but mainly Lisa knew it was time to move on, creatively and personally. She felt she had completed her journey with the character.

3. Do you still keep in touch with the cast?

Yes, when they all get the chance, Lisa sees Jess mostly as they are both in Sydney.

4. Do you have any regrets about leaving, and do you miss being Claire?

Lisa doesn’t have any regrets about leaving the show, nor does she miss being Claire, but she does miss Claire on the show if she sees it. She misses her dynamic.

5. What are your favourite and least favourite memories of working on the show?

Having a laugh with everyone. Lisa & Bridie used to loose it (laughing) during filming quite often. Lisa also mentions the animals as being favourite memories. Least favourite memories were the cold, the heat & the flies.

6. Favourite episode to film, and why?

Lisa said the last episode was her favourite episode to film, but then goes on to include the final few episodes. She enjoyed being able to let the ‘girl’ show in Claire, and she loved the journey that Claire went on in the last few episodes. The ‘death’ scene was among her favourites, as it was so beautifully written, and very emotional.

7. Do you watch the current MD?

When Lisa gets the chance she watches it.

8. What are you most proud of as your role as Claire McLeod?

The fact that Claire touched so many people, in such a positive way.

9. What was the guest role you originally auditioned for?

Lisa thought she was going for a guest role, but actually found out she was going for the role of Claire. Originally, Bridie was going to play the part of Claire, and Jess was going to play the role of Tess, that all changed after Lisa’s audition.

10. Was it difficult to step out of Claire’s boots, and do you find yourself now, 2 years later drawing on Claire’s strengths and did playing Claire change you in any way?

It took Lisa about 9 months to get ‘Claire’ out of her system, and start to talk, walk, think & act like herself again. Lisa liked Claire’s centeredness and no nonsense attitude, and feels she has kept a bit of that. She also feels she draws on Claire if she is every in a situation that has her out of her own comfort zone, she may wonder to herself “Now, what would Claire do here”

11. You looked very natural and comfortable with the horses on the show. However it is mentioned you had never ridden previously. How difficult was it for you to learn? Do you enjoy horse riding, and since you have left MD have you had a chance to ride again, or do you plan to?

Lisa did enjoy the horse riding, but has not found time to do it again since leaving MD. She said that it was tricky to learn, and she wanted to do the best she could. So she did have some intensive training, and also spent time living up near the farm putting in every spare minute she had. She said she would spend lunch breaks, time off etc practising, she did this for a few months before then feeling like she looked like she could ride. At which time she then moved back to the city.

Acting General

Below are the General questions asked about Lisa's career in acting

1. Do you think you will return to acting in a weekly Drama series or Comedy?

If the chance came up, and the timing was right, Lisa would love to, especially a comedy.

2. How did you start out in acting and what inspired you to pursue it?

While doing a school drama production, “Carousel”, which she loved doing. She enjoyed it so much, that she decided she would like to do acting all the time. Lisa began doing acting, singing and dancing classes, she also did a bit of modelling to pay for all the classes. She then got a role on Gloss.

3. Out of all the roles you have played in, what did you find the most challenging, and why?

Suzannah, in the Herbal Bed. Lisa found this role very challenging for various reasons.

4. If you could play any character on stage, film or TV which character would be your dream role?

Lisa initially said Carrie Bradshaw, as she is addicted to Sex in the City at the moment, but she then also went on to say that she would love to play an inspiring role, maybe a role written about someone who has changed the world in some way.

5. Is there one role, one character that “you” have portrayed that has affected you or changed you in a personal way?

Claire. Lisa especially loved Claire’s flaws, because she believes that is what makes us real as people. She also loved the way Claire grew, and learned along the way. Lisa also feels Claire affected her the most, because she affected so many other people in a positive way.

General

These are some fun and general questions, again we had a lot of similar questions asked, so although your exact wording may not be here, we tried to role many questions in to one.

1. When did you become a vegetarian and why?

Lisa became a vegetarian while filming the epdisode in which Becky has a little poddy lamb that she needs to look after. Lisa says that the lamb had so much personality, and was very cheeky. When it came time for lunch that day, she just couldn’t eat the lamb cutlets. However Lisa also says, that she feels not everyone suits being a vegetarian, but if you have enough energy and you are making the choice for you then cool. She does not rule out eating meat again in the future, as she says it is not a political statement, and if she chooses to eat meat again, then she does so, as she was a big meat eater, and used to eat it twice a day.

2. How much fan mail do you get & what does it feel like having fans all over the world?

Lisa is very surprised and touched by the amount of fan mail she receives. During the interview, Lisa also mentions that she is going to work with us to set up a new fan mail system, as it upsets her that people are waiting so long for replies, and she is getting even busier now, so it is going to be even harder to keep up. Off camera, Lisa mentioned that at minimum she gets around 3-4 letters each weekday!

3. The good fairy appears in front of you and says :- “Lisa, I am the good fairy, I will make 3 of your wishes come true” What would those wishes be?

The album gets released & does well - She finds her soul mate - and Lisa also wished for World Peace.

4. If you could be invisible and had one week to do anything, what would you get up to?

Lisa loved this question, but was unable to answer it directly…lol. She said that she would have so much fun with it, and get up to lots of naughty things. Lisa said she was going to be thinking about the answer to that question for a long time, so her idea was for you all to come up with what you would like to do if you were invisible, and that it would probably be similar to what she would do.

5. Would you be happy to share how you came to have the scar on your cheek?

Lisa was more than happy to share her scar story with us. She says that she was such a tom boy growing up, and has scars all over her, a few of which she pointed out. Word for word, this is what Lisa had to say about the scar on her cheek.

“You know how there is a chair, and you sit on the top of the chair not the seat. And then you rock, and then your mother comes in, and says, don’t do that you will fall backwards through the window and split your head open. So you get off the chair, and sit on the seat, until she goes around the corner leaves the room, then you get back on the chair, you sit on the top, and you start rocking…. Then you fall backwards and smash your head open and go through the window!”

The last question we asked Lisa was quite an inspirational one, which is why we left it until last.

What do you think is the most important thing that each person can do to make a positive difference in this world?

Love themselves!

Lisa went into detail saying that she believes, from her own experience, that for everyone to be able to get along in this world, they need to first love who they are, be comfortable with who they are.. warts and all.

To go back to main interview page.