Barry Otto’s daughter Gracie has shared a heartbreaking update on her father’s health.
The 82-year-old star of Strictly Ballroom, Australia, The Great Gatsby and The Dressmaker was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years ago.
Gracie who has been documenting her father’s life since his diagnosis, recently celebrated the premiere of her documentary, Revealed: Otto by Otto, on Saturday.
The 37-year-old said she treasures the moments they share, even if he no longer recognises her.
‘I was asking him a lot of things – and then it got to be a huge rush to ask him while he was still alive. And he is still alive, but barely,’ she told Stellar Magazine.
Barry Otto’s, 82, (pictured) daughter Gracie has shared a heartbreaking update on her father’s health
‘He has moments of absolute clarity that happen very rarely and are usually about someone or something from the past…. it’s like he’s trying to remember who he is, and that’s quite beautiful in a way,’ she continued.
Her documentary, set to premiere on Stan on June 16, captures her father’s journey. However, she doubts he will ever watch it.
‘Dad doesn’t really watch things anymore, that’s the sad part,’ she told the publication.
Gracie, 37, (left) who has been documenting her father’s life since his diagnosis, recently celebrated the premiere of her documentary, Revealed: Otto by Otto, on Saturday. Pictured with sister Miranda Otto
‘I’ll show him some things. When I put Strictly Ballroom on, I kept pointing at him onscreen; I don’t think (he understood) until the end, and I turned around to see him clapping when his character was on, and he had tears in his eyes when they played ‘Love Is In The Air’ as the curtain came down,’ she shared.
Gracie’s documentary has been described as ‘absorbing’ but not a traditional biopic of her father and Aussie icon Barry.
Rather, it is ‘a deeply personal reflection on her relationship with her father shot over five years, in the twilight of his career and as his health deteriorates’.
The film sees Gracie take her father to Brisbane to relive his childhood, his poor upbringing, and his first foray into theatre in touching scenes.
Gracie said she treasures the moments they share, even if he no longer recognises her: ‘I was asking him a lot of things – and then it got to be a huge rush to ask him while he was still alive. And he is still alive, but barely,’ she told Stellar Magazine
The documentary also reveals Barry’s health struggles after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
The family kept Barry’s diagnosis quiet for a while, partly so he could keep working, but he felt that the film might help others dealing with the disease.
Barry has enjoyed an impressive film and theatre career spanning more than 50 years.
Revealed: Otto by Otto premiered at the Sydney Film Festival and will stream in Australia on Stan from June 16.
‘He has moments of absolute clarity that happen very rarely and are usually about someone or something from the past…. it’s like he’s trying to remember who he is, and that’s quite beautiful in a way,’ she continued
