A WORK OF ART
Family portraits are often stiff and tense affairs, all carefully arranged limbs, awkward smiles and general discomfort at something so staged and unnatural. But not for the Otto clan. Photographing acting legend Barry in his overgrown backyard, with daughters Miranda and Gracie and granddaughter Darcey, is raucous and fun. A scene of slapstick comedy with some high fashion and theatrics thrown in.
At one point, Barry (dressed in top-to-toe peach Gucci with high-heeled boots) windmills his arms in full flight to show the crew how his shoulders work after having surgery. After another take, Gracie runs off to retrieve Bluebelle, one of the family’s beloved Burmese felines, who happily poses in 90s-style reflective sunglasses Gracie bought online. Miranda, meanwhile, attempts to look all poised and professional, but has the giggles because no-one will shut up and stare down the barrel of the damn camera. An onlooker manages to squeeze in among the laughter that it’s looking like an Aussie backyard version of an Alessandro Michele campaign. “We’re available for hire,” Gracie shoots back. “If anyone will have us!”
The word that most often comes up when describing the Ottos – both self-prescribed and from outsiders – is eccentric. An, , , ) and been a theatre stalwart since the early 70s. Eldest daughter Miranda, 52, was born into the biz, but has carved out her own stellar career across blockbusters ( trilogy, ), television (, ) and stage (). Meanwhile her 32-year-old half-sister Gracie is a respected short-film, documentary and TV director, whose 2013 project was a festival favourite.
