Meet Madeleine Galea | Actor & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madeleine Galea and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madeleine, how do you define success?
To me success equates to freedom. The freedom to pursue creative interests without the burden of financial, temporal, or societal factors having to alter my decisions. I see successes as a constantly evolving thing, less of a marker at a point in my life, and more of a feeling that you relish in and then continue moving forwards, working to enjoy the feeling again.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Theatre and Cinema is such a unique art form in that it almost entirely relies upon collaboration. Instead of isolating an individual, the best ideas germinate from the collective. An actors’ work, as experienced by an audience, is a culmination of countless intentions and suggestions, the actor is merely the vessel to turn these ideas into a tangible reality. To discern what sets me apart from other actors is to ask what sets me apart from other people, you cannot separate who you are from the roles that you play, so inherently my difference comes from my lived experiences. No one else can bring MY experiences into their work as they haven’t lived through my life. I’d rather lean into this mentality than to try and elevate myself above others, or try and convince you that I’m “different”, there’s enough competition in the industry, and we all have different stories to tell. At the moment I’m very excited about delving more into writing, both for screen and stage. During 2020 and 2021 I saw some pretty lacklustre role breakdowns and it thoroughly motivated me to go out and create the roles that I wanted to see more of.

With acting, it feels more like a million tiny shuffles, as opposed to large steps in the right direction. Every audition, role, meeting, or class, whether good or bad, tells us more about what we want and the direction we want to go in. Whilst no, I haven’t won an Oscar yet, I’m proud of all of the little things that go into each inch I’ve moved forwards. Zoom classes at 3am, innumerable self tapes, side gigs, background work, and most of all picking yourself back up with a smile after you don’t get the outcome you want. I watched far too many friends walk away from acting during covid, frustrated with life not moving at the pace they had hoped for. It’s been the largest lesson I’ve learned so far, the value of persistence.

If there’s one thing I’ll say about myself as an artist, it’s that I’m hungry. I have an insatiable desire to create and weave stories, and I hope I never get full.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Since I’m in Melbourne at the moment, I’ll give you a local itinerary.

First off we will not be skipping any meals, whatsoever.

Melbourne is very well known for its cafe culture and fancy brunch food, and it would be a travesty not to indulge in what the city has to offer. Higher Ground, on Little Bourke St in the CBD, is one of my favourite spots for breakfast. They have a small menu, constantly shifting to reflect the seasons and produce availability. Delightful, delicious, and definitely worth the wait if you are unfortunate enough not to have made a reservation. Another favourite is Eden Espresso in Malvern, my dad swears by the Chargrilled Goodness sandwich. Bustling with families and a hefty slew of regulars, you can’t help but have a great time and a great brekkie.

One we’ve digested and discussed why Melbourne has the best brunch in the world, it’s time to consume a bit of culture. One of my favourite places in Melbourne is the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), and no trip to Melbourne would be complete without a visit. The building itself is stunning, and so is what you find inside. With free entry to the permanent collection, and several major exhibitions each year, there’s always something new to come back and explore. One of my favourite works in the gallery is Anguish by August Friedrich Schenck. Seeing it tucked away amongst a multitude of scenes in the 19th century European paintings gallery is always a stirring experience.

We can tick Federation square off the bucket list as we walk through it to get to ACMI. Do I love ACMI because I’m an actor and all things film and TV fill me with wonder and awe? Yes. Do I think it’s also a very cool museum that charts the history of television and cinema and Australian culture? Yes. Once again, with free entry to the general collection, there really isn’t any excuse not to go.

That’s a lot of walking and absorbing, so it’s probably time for lunch or dinner. Flinders lane has an abundance of incredible restaurants, and is one of my favourite parts of the city. It also happens to be the home of Chin Chin. With cool interiors and some incredible South East Asian food, you are guaranteed to have an amazing time. We will definitely be ordering the Feed Me menu. For a completely different experience, we would head to Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar. Pellegrini’s is one of those places that is steeped in local mythology, but boy does it deliver every time. The food is delicious and the granita is superb, no matter the season.

Melbourne is also home to an awesome theatre scene. Two places you can count on to be producing innovative and memorable work are The Malthouse Theatre, and Theatre Works in St Kilda. Featuring everything from Ancient Greek tragedy to audience immersive experiences, I’ve lost count of how many shows I’ve seen at the Malthouse. Theatre works feels like a hug. I’d love to perform there one day, and in the mean time, I’m soaking up the plethora of wonderful material they have on offer. Last year I saw Pramkicker, put on by Dirty Pennies Theatre Company, and was absolutely blown away.

Shopping is always fun when you’re on holiday, so here are some honourable mentions of great places to go for very specific things.

Readings on Lygon street – amazing bookshop, where I go to buy crime thrillers and plays.
Shag – vintage fashion, perfect for anything with sequins or beads.
Curiosity Merchants – Crystals or Christmas beetles set in gold, they are an apothecary of whimsy.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my ShoutOut to my family, in particular my parents. I am eternally grateful for their endless support and patience, especially tackling the turbulent unknown of creative industries. From my first foray into acting, to where am am now, they have never sought to alter my conviction or sway my course. I feel very lucky to have had such pillars of love with me every step of the way, especially pillars that have been so vocal in their encouragement.

Website: www.madeleinegalea.com

Instagram: @the_maddsiah

Image Credits
(Black and white shot) Luana Seu