With a motion picture to be made about her life, and the aftermath of those fake photos still haunting her, Pauline Hanson tells Glen Williams why she’s now in hiding.
Hurt by the scandal of fake near-nude photos which damaged the resurrection of her political dream, Pauline Hanson has been living as a recluse in self-imposed exile.
Such was the personal damage, the once fiery and confronting Pauline has chosen to become a quiet lady of the shadows. For several months now she has shunned media coverage, preferring the solitude and safe haven of her rural Queensland property.
“I’ve taken a step back,” a still visibly shaken Pauline tells Woman’s Day in the first interview she’s given since the nude photo scandal. “I was absolutely devastated by the photos that came out during election time. I threw my hands up in disgust. Here were more lies and scandal thrown at me, to discredit and sabotage me as I was going into an election.
“When I first went into politics, I was very trusting of people. The fake nude photos were pretty much the straw that broke the camel’s back. I’ve lost trust in everyone.”
Now, with a film slated to be made about her colourful and controversial life, Pauline admits she’s bracing herself for more blows to her character.
“It’s a big call for me to be speaking to you now,” she says in that familiar trembly voice.
“But I felt I had to say I’m frightened of how they’re going to portray me. Is the movie going to be the truth, or are they going to sensationalise?
“I’ve got to live here and so do my children. I’ve only agreed to speak to Woman’s Day to let the public know my hesitant feelings about this movie.
“Yes, it’s an honour to have people think your life is worthy of a movie, that you’ve played a part in Australian history, but what concerns me is how much it’s going to be based on truth.
“When I asked that question, the producer held up two fingers, about an inch apart, and said, ‘About this much.’ He told me you only need an inch of truth to make a film that is ‘based on a true story’.”
And Pauline, 55, is the first to admit she can’t stand the idea of having her personal and public life “hijacked” by fiction yet again.
“I’ve been ridiculed, condemned, had false charges laid against me, imprisoned – so much has been done to stop Pauline Hanson representing the public and putting her views before parliament.
“I don’t regret anything that I’ve done. Yes, I’ve been quiet these last few months, deliberately so.”
So does Pauline, for all her reclusive behaviour, intend a return to political life?
“At the moment I’m really happy with my life. But politics will never be out of my system until the day I die.”
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