Toni Collette knows how to surprise fans.
After being asked to film an intro video for a screening of her 1994 film Muriel’s Wedding at the Glasgow Film Festival, Collette, 52, decided to shock everyone and show up to the event in person.
“I was invited to make a wee intro video for a screening of Muriel’s Wedding at the Glasgow Film Festival tonight. Instead, I hopped on a train from London, and joined the dance!” Collette shared via Instagram on Friday, March 7, alongside a video of her dancing with fans to ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” on stage at the screening, as well as a black-and-white selfie with attendees.
“I had no idea how much love would be in that room,” Collette’s caption continued. “Love for Muriel. Love for the film. And love for me. It was outrageously fun, and quite moving. When I was twenty I had no idea how this story would resonate all these years later. Wow wow wow. Thank you for having me. I’m truly touched.”
Muriel’s Wedding follows the story of a socially awkward young woman named Muriel, played by Collette. Despite her disposition, Muriel aspires to have an ultra-glamorous wedding and to move from her hometown.
Collette’s character spends a lot of her time listening to ABBA songs, a fact that was used as fuel for the film festival’s Muriel-inspired dance party.
“I’m filming in London which is just down the road,” she told the crowd, as reported by the BBC. “So I thought maybe if I have the day off I can find my way there, and I did happen to have the day off.”
The movie launched Collette’s rise to fame, making $16 million in Australia and another $15 million in the United States.Collette went on to star in movies including The Sixth Sense, About a Boy, Little Miss Sunshine and Hereditary.
The actress has several projects underway or due to be released soon, including the podcast series “Madam Ram” in which she voices Georgia Frontiere, the mini series Wayward, as well as movies Under the Stars, Goodbye June, A French Pursuit and The Prima Donna.
“Madam Ram” follows the story of Frontiere, a woman who once hoped to be an opera singer and ended up becoming an owner of an NFL team. Frontiere inherited the St. Louis Rams after her sixth husband unexpectedly died and subsequently navigated a world largely run by men. The team made the playoffs 14 times in the 30 years Frontiere was at the helm and reached the Super Bowl three times, with a win in 1999.
