Now jockey Michelle Payne’s fairytale life story is being made into a big-screen movie, confirms Oscar-nominated Aussie actor Rachel Griffiths.
Rachel, best know for hit TV series Six Feet Under and movies such as Hilary and Jackie and Muriel’s Wedding, says the film will be based on her famous Flemington win and her subsequent autobiography Life As I Know It.
“I’ve been obsessed with her from the moment she took her hat off on her horse,” Rachel tells The Daily Telegraph.
“I said, ‘Who is that masked girl? I want to tell her story’.
“She’s just one of those quiet doers. She’s what you want your child to be.
“She believed in herself when others didn’t and she’s handling this huge change of fortune gracefully and generously.”
The movie, which is currently in development, will be Rachel’s debut as a feature film director.
No word yet on who will play the first women to ride the Cup winner, or her equally famous brother and the horse’s strapper Stevie, who has Down syndrome.
But Rachel, an ambassador for Longines on Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill, says production is scheduled for early 2017.
“We will probably be doing some footage at the Slipper this time next year,” she says.
Meanwhile, it’s been a giddy succession of guest appearances for Michelle and Stevie since the life-changing first Tuesday in November 2015.
One of their most memorable was being crowned King and Queen of Moomba to commemorate the Victoria town’s Labour Day festivities.
“It’s such a great honour that you would choose Stevie and I,” said a humble Michelle.
For a recap of Michelle’s amazing win at Flemington, click here.
