For many Australians, the 1992 Melina Marchetta novel Looking for Alibrandi was a piece of our cultural identity.
In 2000 Australian actress, Pia Miranda portrayed Italian-Australian Josie Alibrandi on the silver screen adaptation and shone a light on the usual teenage woes but all with a unique Aussie twist. From boy woes, the stress of the HSC, friendship dilemmas and perhaps the most important theme of the film, the struggle of belonging in a multicultural Australia.
And who could forget when Josie fell in love with bad-boy-turned-keeper Jacob Coote… while our hearts broke for the tragic demise of school captain John Barton, played by Matthew Newton.
We are still giggling over the iconic scene when Josie struts down Sydney’s George Street in her lace red formal dress only to stop when she thinks she sees Jacob Coote’s car. “In a panel van?” she shouts.
This coming-of-age film inspired a generation and is still a vital part of Australian pop culture today.
The movie’s brilliant story came together in a perfect union with the stellar soundtrack that held the same nostalgia as your first Triple J Hottest 100 album – think Killing Heidi, Silverchair, Hamish Cowan’s rendition of U2’s With or Without You, and of course Nineties queen Alanis Morissette.
Pia was joined by some Australia’s brightest actors, including Anthony LaPaglia, Kick Gurry, Leeanna Walsman and Matthew Newtown.
It’s been 17 years since Looking for Alibrandi hit the big screen and to celebrate, we decided to look back at the stars of the iconic flick and seeing where they are now.
Click through the gallery to find out
Melina Marchetta’s 1992 novel was adapted into the 2000 film, Looking for Alibrandi. Gaining Aussie cult classic status, the coming-of-age film defined a generation. We take a look at where the film’s cast are now.
Pia Miranda played the titular character, Josie Alibrandi. Her phenomenal portrayal of a teenager trying to navigate her way through high school was relatable, bold and brilliant. “I loved being a part of such a positive story. People would come up to me and tell me just how much the film meant to them – it’s about people who don’t fit in, it’s about finding yourself, so why wouldn’t I love being a part of it,” Pia said about her experience.
These days, 43-year-old Pia is mum to darling daughter, Lily and is still in the acting game. The talented actress made her return to our screens on the critically-acclaimed Australian drama Wentworth as Jodie Spiteri.
Anthony LaPaglia is one Australia’s biggest acting exports. He pulled at the heart-strings playing Josie’s long-lost father Michael Andretti. We still shed a tear when he said to his on-screen daughter, “You’re going to go on living. Because living is the challenge, Josie.” These days, Anthony is huge on the Hollywood television scene. With two Emmy-Awards under his belt, many would recognise Anthony from his role on Without a Trace.
Be still our beating hearts… The ultimate Noughties boyfriend was Jacob Cootes, played by Kick Gurry. With his flavour-saver, leather cuffs and array of Bonds chesties – Jacob was the boy from the wrong-side of the tracks who we all wanted to date. We still treasure the moment he slow danced with Josie at the formal and his brilliant one-liners like: “You get into punch-ups with aspiring models, you wipe your nose with your sleeve… you’re my kind of chick. Why are we such a disaster together?”
Now Kick, 38, is making his mark on the silverscreen. He stared alongside Tom Cruise in the 2014 blockbuster, Edge of Tomorrow and Mila Kunis in Jupiter Ascending.
Greta Scacchi played Josie’s lovable mum, Christina Alibrandi. She showed us that being an adult didn’t mean you had to have everything figured out.
The Australian-Italian actress found fame both in Australia and abroad. An Emmy Award-winner, Greta infamously turned down the role of Catherine Tramell the 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct – which was then made famous by Sharon Stone. These days Greta spends her time acting in the odd tele-movie.
Who could forget Josie’s (and our metaphorical) arch-nemesis, Carly Bishop, portrayed by Leeanna Walsman. A member of the “beautiful people”, she was the mean-spirited and at times racist classmate that we loathed. Thankfully, Leeanna and Pia were great mates off-screen.
Leeanna, 37, has come a long way from her evil Carly days, taking to the stage and our TV screens as a critically-acclaimed actress. Most recently she portrayed serial killer Ivan Milat’s sister, Shirley Milat in the channel Seven thriller, Catching Milat. She’s also appeared on Underbelly and Wentworth Prison.
Matthew Newton played one of the most-loved yet troubled characters, John Barton. John’s storyline was unbelievably heartbreaking after he committed suicide. Delivering one of the film’s most poignant moments was where he voiced his letter: “If I could be anything but what I am, I would be tomorrow. If I could be what my father wants me to be, then maybe I could stay for that, too. If I could be what you want me to be, I’d want to stay. But I am what I am, and all I want is freedom.”
Sadly, Matt’s life took a dark turn when he was embroiled in many personal scandals including a domestic violence charges and assaults against his now-ex-partners, Brooke Satchwell and Rachael Taylor. He has moved to America in a bid to clean up his act and has since become engaged to 20-something US womanm Catherine Schneiderman.
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