Much loved Australian actress Lisa McCune stars as M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias at Theatre Royal Sydney from May 13- May 31. She tells us why the role hits close to home as a mother, and why being in Sydney is so special.
If you didn’t know that the 1989 blockbuster movie Steel Magnolias, which starred Sally Field, Julia Roberts and Shirley MacLaine to name a few, was actually a play first, don’t worry. Neither did actress Lisa McCune, and she’s starring in the Australian production of the play which opens May 13, 2026, at the Theatre Royal in Sydney.
“When the conversation first came up last year about doing this, I assumed they were writing it from the movie but it’s actually the other way around,” she tells Sydney Travel Guide ahead of the Sydney premiere at Theatre Royal.
And if you remember what a tearjerker that movie was and are bracing yourself for more tears in this star-studded production, McCune, whose role was played by Sally Field in the movie, wants to set the record straight. Yes, there’s an emotional sucker punch, and you will probably cry, but the sadness doesn’t linger.
“The laughs are huge, there are so many great one-liners delivered beautifully by my fellow cast,” she says.
“It’s a really funny play with a beautiful emotional truth at the heart of it. It’s like a good lolly – caramel on the outside and a great chocolate burst in the middle.”
Written by Robert Harling in 1987 as a tribute to his sister, Steel Magnolias follows a group of women in a small Southern town as they navigate the milestones and setbacks of everyday life, from weddings to births, break-ups and loss.
The play takes place over two-and-a-half years and is set entirely within Truvy’s beauty salon, where these three generations of women gather and chat. It’s here where McCune’s M’Lynn, her daughter Shelby (Jessica Redmayne), Ouiser (Belinda Giblin), Clairee (Debra Lawrance), Truvy (Mandy Bishop), and Annelle (Lotte Beckett) form deep bonds.
McCune, who won four Gold Logies in a row from 1997-2000, said there was “deep respect” among the ensemble of great Australian female talent who all worked with dialect coaches to nail their Southern accents.
“The play moves very fast, the dialogue is very fast and it’s witty and we’ve had such a lovely rehearsal time together. We’ve all taken to it and we all fit our characters beautifully,” she adds.
McCune confesses she’s not one to spend hours and hours getting her hair done – “I”m so lazy with my hair!” – but she connected with the bonds formed by these women in Truvy’s.
“It’s this place where these women go and laugh,” she explains. “And they are so accepting of each other, I love that. I love that they are truly accepting of each other and there’s a beautiful message in that. They all just get on with it.
“Clairee and Ouiser, [played by Olympia Dukakis and Shirley MacLaine in the movie] the two older characters have had friendship since their youth which is remarkable because these two women are so blunt with each other. But they know that the stuff that they say is said with love. It’s funny.
“And then they welcome this newcomer into their world with Annelle [played by Daryl Hannah in the movie] and they take her in and they nurture her in a way that she finds her place in this town.”
For McCune, a mother of three, playing M’Lynn has meant drawing on something closer to home. Her character’s daughter Shelby has diabetes, is getting married, and is gently pushing her mother away as she steps into her own life. She can see the parallels with M’Lynn about how much she loves her children and how hard it is to let them go.
“I have a daughter who is probably a couple of years younger than the character in the play, so I see the parallels. There’s one particular moment where Shelby has a line to her mum about worrying and you can hear this audible groan from the parents in the audience. I love that they recognise it straight away.”
At the heart of the play is the emotional truth that life is hard but on it goes, a message that McCune says is felt by the audience night after night.
“There’s a line in the play that, ‘life goes on’ and I love that,” she shares. “It’s a beautiful message. They understand that it’s not going to be all unicorns and rainbows, you’re going to have to deal with the hard stuff.”
McCune’s perfect Sydney day
While based in Melbourne, McCune was born in Sydney and her mum was a “Sydney girl” so she holds a special place in heart for the Harbour City. Her favourite thing to do is explore the city by foot.
“I always love coming to Sydney,” she tells.
“I just love it. I always find myself based here for a few months every year. I love the Botanic Gardens, it’s just so beautiful.
“My new routine is that I will jump on the train and I go to Katoomba and do the Grand Cliff Top Walk down through to Leura and catch the train home.
“It’s a beautiful city … I love all the galleries that are nestled on the side of the gardens so you can have this day where you come away feeling really refreshed because you’ve stepped into the gardens and had a llittle bit of art and music. It’s wonderful.”
Steel Magnolias runs from May 13 to 31 at Theatre Royal.
Performance times: Tue-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7:30pm, Wed, Thurs & Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm, 3pm & 6pm (times vary weekly).
Prices from $59 (Transaction fees apply).
Bookings theatreroyalsydney.com or 1300 163 808
