Underbelly

09 September 2010, 07:00

Allison Dine was the Australian underworld’s rough diamond. Born and bred in New Zealand, the impressionable 20-something flew over to Oz following her mother’s death, with a burning desire to live life in the fast lane.

She soon fell under the spell of one of Australia’s most notorious criminals -Terry Clark.

Blinded by love, Allison began a thrill-seeking life style and was seduced into the world of drug trafficking.

The ‘good girl gone bad’ complexity drew New Zealand actress Anna Hutchison to step into the shoes of the underworld’s most glamorous drug dealer.

Speaking to STV, she said: “She was someone that was so peaceful and from such a normal background, she was a kindergarten teacher.

“She would do anything for him. She went from someone really straight-laced to someone running a heroin organisation for the love of this man.”

Faced with the challenge of playing a real life persona, Anna delved into archived news reports.

“I think she is in hiding at the moment so I didn’t have the luxury of calling up and saying ‘hey, how would you like me to play you?’ but knowing it was real, it brought a lot more seriousness to it.

“You know the whole time that it is truth based but the writers have made the situations more interesting for the viewers. They have been given a fish bone and they have fleshed it out.”

She added: “Other characters I have worked on, you work with the director, maybe even the writers and other actors and you pad it all out together, but this one you knew in the back of your mind that you had to hold true to actual events that had happened, so it was really incredible.”

Time and distance exposed the love-struck Allison to Terry’s womanising ways, allowing her to remove her rose tinted glasses and see the love of her life in a true light – as a cold blooded murderer.

“She gets to push him away and gets the upper hand because, in the relationship, she was always the one who would do anything for him but it was about taking some control back and saying ‘not any more’.”

Unravelling and recreating the character of Allison Dine was a memorable part of Anna’s experience but what was the most fun? Well, transforming into a glamorous 70s girl, of course!

“It was so much fun,” the actress said as her voice lit to life in that way we girls do when we talk about shopping. “I am quite a girly girl regardless but this was so fantastic.

“Every day, you get your hair blow waved, it was so much fun, and then you would get your little bit of make-up and go up to wardrobe which was out of control, even the little shoes and there was a one piece red jump suit with a special gold belt.”

Now hooked on vintage clothing, she added: “It was a really good era of clothing. I would always say ‘oh, I wonder what Louise, our costume designer, has got in store for us this time’. She never let us down!”

Following her prominent part in Underbelly, Anna worked on the film Cabin in the Woods with Josh Wiggins and Drew Goddard. However, one place this Go Girl actress has yet to tick off her wish list is Scotland.

“If the opportunity came up, I would absolutely jump at the chance to work in Scotland. I have got a lot of Scottish heritage on my father’s side and the rest of my family are all Welsh, so it would be fantastic.

“I have never visited but my uncle has done the whisky tour. He is very Scottish, a Gallacher, so he keeps saying ‘you have got to come over’ so I am quite excited to do a tour around there.”

Faced with three words to describe the country rooted in her family tree, the Underbelly star was quick to choose her choice words: “Green, kilts and clean,” she said. “Those are the things that come to mind.

“Oh, and I think bagpipes as well because I really love the song Amazing Grace and every time I hear that on the bagpipes, it brings tears.”

Find out more about Allison Dine and the real story behind the Australian drug crime wave.

Last updated: 27 August 2010, 16:07