Anyone who has survived hotel quarantine knows the importance of keeping the brain active – and US actor Kyle MacLachlan, currently holed up in Sydney, has chosen to spend at least one of his 14 days practising the Australian accent.
It needs a little work.
The Twin Peaks star landed in Australia this week to begin filming Joe Exotic, which started shooting in Brisbane last month. MacLachlan will play Howard Baskin in the upcoming US series, which is based on the life of big cat activist Carole Baskin – one of a number of screen projects spinning off of the blockbuster success of Netflix’s true crime documentary series the Tiger King.
On Tuesday, the actor filmed himself with his trademark cup of coffee and the rainy city skyline in the window behind him. “G’day from Sydney!” he began, saying he was “doing OK” despite being isolated.
He then launched into a short monologue about life in lockdown, crammed with a smörgåsbord of Aussie lingo delivered in a variety of accents, some of which exist.
“Crikey, my day is chock-a-block! Fair dinkum!” he began, in a clip that has been described as a “timeline cleanser” on yet another day filled with bad news.
For those who need it, a translation after the tweet.
Day 2 of quarantine. Really feel like I’m settling in to Australia! pic.twitter.com/IA70B93GRd
— Kyle MacLachlan (@Kyle_MacLachlan) August 23, 2021
“Once I pull on my dacks [pants] for brekky [breakfast] to arvo [afternoon] and even on till din-din [dinner], I’m flat out [busy]. There’s heaps to do. And even though it’s defo [definitely] not hard yakka [work], I’m no bludger [lazy person]. I reckon [think] it will pay off. When I finish my quarantine, first thing I’ll do is get into my budgie smugglers [men’s brief-style swimsuit], slip on my thongs [flip-flops], grab my esky [cooler] and head to the beach for a sunbake.
“Then after a couple of snags [sausages] on the barbie [barbecue] with my cobbers [friends?], we’ll soak a slab [24 beers] or even a goon bag [plastic bladder filled with cheap wine sold in a box] from a bottle-o [bottle shop]. Oh, it’ll be a right good piss-up [occasion of excessive alcohol consumption]! No wukkas [worries]. Well, it defo looks like we need a brolly [umbrella] today, huh?”
Hearing him say goon bag is healing https://t.co/fhNhc91Fa8
— deadgrandma (Jpop Dad) (@deadgrandmablog) August 23, 2021
how it feels when you take them home and they won't stop saying 'deadly' https://t.co/7S8c0cQPCe
— alison whittaker (@AJ_Whittaker) August 23, 2021
As Twitter user Dan Smith pointed out, MacLachlan’s post-quarantine plan to have a boozy barbecue with his “cobbers” (?) was as hopeful as his vowel sounds. Reeling from a Delta Covid outbreak, Sydney will be in hard lockdown until at least the end of September. “Sorry mate but I don’t think you’ll be doing any of that … Bit devo but gotta stay in iso [isolation].”
It’s the second video McLachlan has shared from his MacLachdown (you’re welcome), after posting “a little Australian trivia” about the funnel-web spider on Monday – in a clip which ended with a violent twist.
Day 1 of quarantine in Australia.
— Kyle MacLachlan (@Kyle_MacLachlan) August 22, 2021
The wildlife is giving me the nicest welcome 🕷 pic.twitter.com/5Qe2qY6Tro
Damn fine content.
