When something feels a bit scary, it’s often a good reason to embrace it, says Sigrid Thornton. The much-loved Australian actor talks to Cassie Tongue about returning to Sydney Theatre Company to play Irina Arkadina in The Seagull, and why risk-taking has become part of her makeup.

Sigrid Thornton in a white robe and slacks, holding a rose. She sits in a darkwood chair next to a table.
Sigrid Thornton. Photo © Rene Vaile

Sigrid Thornton made her Sydney Theatre Company debut in 2022, playing an editor caught in the middle of a debate about truth, lies and creative licence in The Lifespan of a Fact. She hadn’t been onstage in a few years, and her love for the theatre came pouring back. It was a new beginning.

Maybe that’s why – despite the gruelling...