Marieke Hardy
"Everyone there was in high heels and very glamorous dresses, and I was wearing scuffed boots and bobby pins. And clothes, obviously - don't get the wrong idea there."
While being remarkably profanity-free, this single comment sums up the charm of the serially-inappropriate Marieke Hardy.
She writes for The Age. She presents a radio show for Triple J. She contributes to television shows like Packed to the Rafters. All this, and she still wants to make sure I understand that she wore clothes to an awards show - one where she was nominated for an award, no less.
Hardy is a self-proclaimed "Melbourne gal born and bred" who shares her time between Sydney and her hometown. She moved to the harbour town in January 2008 to do Triple J's breakfast show Robbie, Marieke and The Doctor, but she recently moved back after homesickness got the better of her. As she points out, "Who needs it to be so sunny all the time? Honestly."
Working in television
As the daughter of television producers, Hardy grew up around the television industry. However, she says she still had to prove herself when she was establishing her career, in part because of that family history.
"There was a strong perception that I was only getting work due to the fact that my parents were in the industry, and the only way I could prove that wasn't the case was by submitting decent work over a period of time."
"It wasn't much fun for the first few years, but after fourteen years as a freelance screenwriter I think I've managed to pull it off. Either that or my folks are paying some hugely decent bribes."
"Over a period of time"? Hardy first had a script accepted when she was fourteen, for the television show All Together Now. Since then, she's written for eleven different shows, including two solo projects: the drama Last Man Standing and the children's show Short Cuts, for which she won an Australian Writer's Guild AWGIE Award.
Hardy says that the diversity of her projects is part of the fun. "I love taking on new genres and seeing how to make my style work in a challenging context."
Online life
Of course, you may know Hardy by her other name: Ms Fits. Under this name, Hardy posted to the "irritatingly smug" blog Reasons You Will Hate Me for nearly four years before hanging up the keyboard the day she turned 32: Monday May 26, 2008.
"I absolutely loved blogging and miss it terribly," Hardy says. "It still surprises me that people approach me to this day and say, 'Hey, I really liked your blog.' I think, 'Who the hell are you?' I thought it was just my friends reading. How weird to know all these strangers have been picking over my thoughts."
Weird indeed, for someone who has over seven thousand followers on Twitter and talks with them on a near-daily basis about whatever happens to be on her mind. Considering some of the topics, you could be forgiven for thinking her bosses may have problems with this, but Hardy says her higher-ups don't mind - as long as she doesn't mention them.
"My bosses seem somehow very understanding about my online life and very respectful about letting me say what I want to."
"I once tweeted about an editor referring to me as 'the poor man's Ruby Rose' - a slam - and she sent me a text saying, 'Oi!' She was fine about it, as I didn't name her, but I know she'd prefer any work-related correspondence to stay between us and not get used for fodder."
The future
So even with the frequent interstate 'commute', Hardy manages to fit in screenwriting, the radio show, "Backchat" in The Age's Green Guide, and Twitter. That schedule probably helps explain why she's put off writing her planned novel until next year.
"It's impossible to juggle radio commitments and my weekly column and television writing with a novel," she says. "I'm paring back some of my work for 2010, so fingers crossed, I'm able to get it down. The more I talk about it, the more it'll happen - right?"
Oh, and the award? Cosmopolitan's Fun, Fearless, Female Award for women in radio went to Kate Ritchie, not Hardy. That said, Hardy outright dismisses any ideas of hard feelings.
"Even if I did despise Kate Ritchie - which I don't, she seems like a very nice person - there's no way I'm spilling my guts via a youthcentral interview. Can you imagine?"
Fair call.
Disclaimer
The content of these stories and articles are provided for information and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed are those of our roving reporters/editorial team members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Victorian Government. While every endeavour is made to ensure the currency, accuracy and authenticity of content, it can not be guaranteed. The Victorian Government does not accept any liabilities for any loss, damage, cost or expense you or others might incur as a result of the information or advice (or the use of it) on this website or in the articles. People using the site should undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content.
