The Sydney Morning Herald logo

Great people answer tricky questions: Benjamin Law’s best interviews of 2022

Here, reader favourites from Good Weekend’s Dicey Topics deep-dives | A former High Court judge | Two comedians | A new federal MP | A football player | An actor | Two singers | Two health experts

13 stories

‘Yield!’: Former High Court judge Michael Kirby’s surprising relationship secret

The 83-year-old talks about living through the AIDS pandemic, why he still gets up at 6am for work, and why giving in is the clue to a happy marriage.

  • Benjamin Law

‘Trying to out-fact someone who’s religious is absurd – and cruel’: Hannah Gadsby

The comedian discusses growing up in Tasmania’s bible belt, her career Plan B, and the unexpected outcomes of money and marriage.

  • Benjamin Law

‘Even Josh Frydenberg called Monique Ryan’: Dai Le on the call that never came

The MP for Fowler ponders why rival Kristina Keneally didn’t phone after her win, how a car park got her into politics – and a difficult mother-son chat.

  • Benjamin Law
Advertisement
Casey Dellacqua: “I was able to find my voice and speak up for the LGBTQ+ community. I was
proud of my relationship, but it was difficult hearing comments that were so harmful.”

Tennis commentator Casey Dellacqua: ‘It was difficult hearing comments that were so hurtful’

The former professional tennis player discusses the dominant emotion she felt when retiring, finding her voice for the LGBTQI community, and childbirth.

  • Benjamin Law

‘Kids force you to articulate things’: Hamish Blake on tackling tricky conversations

The Gold Logie award-winning presenter on how he explained death to his kids, his criteria for taking on work, and a little-known party trick.

  • Benjamin Law
“The richest I’ve ever been is not because of the amount of money I had, but the way I felt when I first got it.”

Singer Rickie Lee Jones: ‘10 years ago, I lost everything’

The two-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter talks about her love affair with Tom Waits, losing everything at 57, and how she overcame her stage fright.

  • Benjamin Law

‘You’re still a human being’: Brett Sutton on public criticism during COVID

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer talks about coping with the politicisation of his role in the pandemic, studying Buddhism, and losing his father at a young age.

  • Benjamin Law

How faith helps me as a scientist: epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre

The biosecurity expert discusses the need for resilience and dealing with gutter politics, plus: why she rates Australia’s pandemic response a five out of 10.

  • Benjamin Law
Advertisement

‘I actually gave back money’: Former AFL star Tom Boyd on losing his love of playing

The former Western Bulldogs player talks about the challenges of too much money, his record-breaking contract, and the joy of gaining control over his life.

  • Benjamin Law

‘I’m not just a woman and Asian, I’m older…’ Michelle Yeoh on making it in Hollywood

The Malaysian actor discusses why she doesn’t see herself as a sex symbol, her admiration for Aung San Suu Kyi, and the way she’d like to die.

  • Benjamin Law

Entrepreneur Dick Smith on that moment he agreed with Pauline Hanson

The former Australian of the Year discusses how he started a business with $600, why he never entered the political arena – and the one thing better than sex.

  • Benjamin Law

‘We’re all in the queue’: How writing helped Indira Naidoo understand death

The journalist, broadcaster and author talks about learning to process the death of ‘the most charismatic person in the room’: her sister.

  • Benjamin Law
Lyndon Watts: “I’ve lost a lot of faith in the leadership of the country. But the arts are very adaptable.”

Hamilton’s Lyndon Watts: ‘There’s no right way to be sexual’

The actor discusses the slow move in theatre away from all-white casting panels, the difficulties he faced as a teenager – and why he wants to play an elf.

  • Benjamin Law

Other editions

The March 21 edition

Stephanie Alexander and The Cook’s Companion at 30 | Free-diver Ant Williams | Debra Adelaide and Gabrielle Carey | How to deliver a baby on a plane

  • 11 stories

The March 14 edition

The high-strung, low-key world champ who could become our most-capped swimmer | Ukraine’s world-leading robotics work | Filmmaking at -50C | Consoling a friend

  • 13 stories