Ten Terrifying Questions with Rachael Coopes!

Currently a presenter on Australia s beloved Play School, Rachael is an award-winning storyteller working across many forms, writing, acting and producing for international screen and stage for over two decades. While storytelling is her career, yoga is Rachael’s passion. Having been handed her first books on yoga philosophy and Buddhism at a young age while struggling with mental health issues, they have become the foundation of her entire life. A yoga teacher for over a decade now, Rachael’s greatest passion is translating this ancient, powerful wisdom in a way that speaks to everyone.

Today, to celebrate the release of her new book Find Your Strength, Rachael is on the blog to take on our Ten Terrifying Questions! Read on …

Rachael Coopes (Photo by T. Leeroy).

1. To begin with, why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled?

Born on a RAAF base in Werribee, Victoria, with a Dad in the military, it wasn’t long before we moved to Sydney where I spent my early years selling mulberries. There was a mulberry tree in the garden of our apartment building in Drummoyne. So with the help of my best friends, who lived in the block next door, we picked ice cream containers full of mulberries and sold them back to our neighbours for one cent each. I remember long, summer days pool-hopping between buildings, peeling our sunburnt noses, running around and riding bikes in the streets until dark. Side-ponytails, fluoro clothing and terry-towelling playsuits were a thing. I wore a plastic necklace with a picture of Michael Jackson around my neck and loved My Little Pony. I had two Cabbage Patch Kids called Bud and Clay.

High school years were spent as a weekly boarder at St Catherine’s school in Waverley, which I loved. Life was one big sleepover with girls from all over the world and country NSW. We ran through the cemetery to Bronte Beach every morning as the sun came up and lived for late night vegemite toast and Milo before bed. I represented NSW in Rhythmic Gymnastics, loved debating and public speaking and was a massive empath and always had big feelings about the world.

2. What did you want to be when you were twelve, eighteen and thirty? And why?

When I was 12 I wanted to be a nun. It just seemed very enjoyable, they were always so calm and happy. I think something appealed to me about the dedication, spirituality and grace of it all.

At 18 I wanted to be an actor. I was studying an Economics degree at Sydney Uni, but shooting films, TV series and commercials throughout my uni years.

At 30 I was living in Paris, teaching Financial English to CEOs, CFOs and consultants by day, and studying acting with French master of clown, Philippe Gaulier by night. I still loved acting, but devising and writing became more satisfying as a storyteller. Had I just wanted to just write, I would have stayed in Paris. But I wasn’t ready to stop acting, so off I went to LA for pilot season, where McLeod’s Daughters called me back to Australia.

3. What strongly held belief did you have at eighteen that you don’t have now?

I’m sure there were many. I saw things as black and white. There wasn’t much grey. Now all I see is shades of grey. (Not in a Fifty Shades kind of way. My dating life is more like the black and white obituary pages in the “newspapers” – remember those?)

4. What are three works of art – this could be a book, painting, piece of music, film, etc – that influenced your development as a writer?

Firstly – three is hard. It’s just mean. Impossible really. But here’s (sort of) three.

Le Dernier Caravansérail – Théâtre de Complicité. Six hours of theatre based on stories of refugees from across the world in one cohesive piece. In my practice as a playwright, I love research-heavy projects that lead to a compelling work of fiction. It’s such a powerful way to get people to think about big issues and themes, and feel in a visceral way. This work was a masterclass in that.

Pema Chodron’s When Things Fall Apart and Glennon Doyle’s Untamed – both for the same reasons. They speak with complete authenticity, in a way that puts into words what we all feel, but can’t quite articulate. In this way we don’t feel quite so alone.

Fleabag (especially series 2) by the incredible Phoebe Waller-Bridge – because it was such a great reminder in being brave, bold, funny and fiercely honest. Like Ted Lasso, I love the mix of real human experience with flawed lovable characters, and comedy.

5. Considering the many artistic forms out there, what appeals to you about writing non-fiction?

I love contemplating the big, intangible subjects and communicating them in an accessible and engaging way. Non-fiction is a powerful way to do this. You can dive deep and then come back up to the surface, figuring out a way to communicate the beauty in the depths of the sea.

6. Please tell us about your latest book!

Find Your Strength is a practical handbook. One of the primary yogic texts is set on a battlefield. Not on a mountaintop or ashram. On a battlefield. In it, our hero Arjuna doesn’t want to fight. Krishna, his guide, “God”, the universe, (whatever that experience of connectivity is for you) tells him he has to fight. But, he says, he will teach him yoga. In other words, he will give him all the tools he needs to face the battle with strength, clarity, and calm.

Like everyone does at some point, I found myself on the battlefield of life. My fight was facing single parenthood. After decades of studying yoga and mindfulness, now pregnant and very alone, these ancient teachings saved my life. Using personal stories to bring them to life, and practical exercises to put the concepts into practice, it’s a manual to surviving life’s shitshow moments, and hopefully have a few laughs along the way.

7. What do you hope people take away with them after reading your work?

I hope people feel that they are not alone standing on the inevitable battlefield of life. That there are some useful tools to help us navigate them. And that ultimately they feel empowered to weather whatever storms arise instead of trying to change the conditions.

8. Who do you most admire in the writing world and why?

Salman Rushdie, for his words.

9. Many artists set themselves very ambitious goals. What are yours?

Like so many creatives, I just want to work. If I can share stories until my mind stops working, it’ll be a life well-lived.

10. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Don’t try to emulate anyone else. Find your own unique way of seeing the world and get that on the page. Done is better than perfect. Start with the things you care about- the things that light you up – the stories that keep coming back to you. Let it be messy and imperfect. Fail, learn, get better, move on.

Thank you for playing!

—Find Your Strength by Rachael Coopes (Affirm Press) is out now.

Find Your Strength

Sensible advice to prepare yourself for life's battlefield

by Rachael Coopes

Sometimes there is no other option than to fight. But where do we find the courage when we haven't any left?

Find Your Strength is a guide to becoming a warrior and thriving on the battlefield of life by actor, PlaySchool presenter and award-winning writer Rachael Coopes. Introducing ancient wisdom in a fun and modern way, as well as sharing some inspiring personal survival stories, this witty, wise and practical manual will help you feel stronger and more invincible than you ever thought possible...

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