“I realised that, to me, success looked like Dolly Parton”: Krew Boylan on Seriously Red

Seriously Red is the lovable indie comedy-drama from Krew Boylan, who both penned the screenplay and stars as the down-on-her-luck Red, who finds her calling in life as a Dolly Parton impersonator. With the Australian oddball humour, tacky kitsch and underdog tale sensibilities of Muriel’s Wedding and Strictly Ballroom, the film is a charming romp, with a lot of heart and soul bubbling underneath its comedy, which ranges from deadpan to slapstick in a beat. An epic supporting cast, featuring Rose Byrne (in the best Elvis impression since Austin Butler) and Bobby Cannavale on typically top form, impressive musical numbers, full-throttle costume design and a healthy smattering of Parton pearls of wisdom (“It costs a lot of money to look this cheap”) make this a delight from start to finish. If nothing else, it leaves viewers with the feeling that they could do worse than being a bit more like Parton.

The Upcoming had the pleasure of a wonderful in-depth chat with Boylan ahead of the feature landing on screens. She shared how she came to write the screenplay and star in a film about a Dolly Parton impersonator, getting the legendary singer’s permission to use her music, and the fun of transforming into the character. We also spoke about her experience of working alongside Byrne and Cannavale, and with Gracie Otto as director, what the story has to say about identity and finding oneself, plus her next projects, which aim to bring joy and dancing to the world above all else.

Sarah Bradbury

Seriously Red is released digitally on demand on 13^th February 2023.

Watch the trailer for Seriously Red here: