Rachel Griffiths to Star in Clarice Beckett Play at Melbourne Theatre Company

Rachel Griffiths will make a triumphant return to the Australian stage after 25 years, starring in a new play about the life of artist Clarice Beckett. The actress, known for her roles in Total Control and Muriel's Wedding, will take on the lead role in Clarice at Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) next year.

Griffiths's last stage role was in 2002, when she appeared in the modern classic Proof at MTC. After making her Broadway debut in 2012 in Other Desert Cities, she swore off theatre, citing exhaustion. However, with her children now mostly grown, she feels ready to return to the stage to tell a distinctly Australian story.