Culture

Hannah Gadsby Is Still Fiercely Campaigning To Be Ruby Rose’s Understudy On ‘Orange Is The New Black’

"[We're] basically the same person".

by Meg Watson  10 August 2015

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Ruby Rose is now world-famous for her role as Stella Carlin on season three of Orange Is The New Black. With all her edgy quips, androgynous style and flirty glances as Piper’s latest love interest, Rose has instantly become Tumblr’s favourite plaything and (for better or worse) a walking definition of the phrase “girl crush”. But, just two years ago, the thought of all this seemed absurd as the Australian model and DJ fangirled over the show and joked about getting a role on Twitter.

Now, comedian Hannah Gadsby is trying her luck in this same style. For the past couple of weeks — seriously, this has been going on for weeks — she’s been emulating Rose’s Instagram pictures and showcasing her versatility for the role.  This started a little while ago when she was on a charity hike for Amnesty International in the Northern Territory. Here, clad in cargo pants and cow-themed trucker cap, she suggested she “could very well be the perfect Ruby Rose understudy”. 

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After a positive response to the idea — and what was likely the growing realisation this is 100 percent the best way to spend your time while wandering exhausted in the outback — the campaign soon grew.

A rose by any other name: is me! Sexy road trip… Puckering like @rubyrose #hike4humanrights

A photo posted by thegadsby (@thegadsby) on

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Eventually, because they’re “basically the same person”, it even scored some official hashtags: #rubyroseunderstudy and #hannah4oitnb.

  Basically the same person #rubyroseunderstudy #hannah4oitnb #hike4humanrights   A photo posted by thegadsby (@thegadsby) on

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Nailing it. Enjoying the view. #hannah4oitnb #hike4humanrights #rubyroseunderstudy

A photo posted by thegadsby (@thegadsby) on

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  Four days without a shower… Smelling rosy. #rubyroseunderstudy #hannah4oitnb #hike4humanrights   A photo posted by thegadsby (@thegadsby) on

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It’s important you realise just how many photos there are.

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There are a lot.

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The running total as of this morning is 49. And, in the past two weeks, she’s only halted the campaign once to post a gif of Tony Abbott and a chamellion licking their respective reptilian mouths.

I still have a long way to go it seems #rubyroseunderstudy #hannah4oitnb #oitnb

A photo posted by thegadsby (@thegadsby) on

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  I don’t wanna grow up either Rubes! #YOLO #rubyroseunderstudy #hannah4oitnb #orangeisthenewblack #netflix   A photo posted by thegadsby (@thegadsby) on

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My natural habitat is the beach too, rubes! #bff #rubyroseunderstudy #hannah4oitnb #netflix

A photo posted by thegadsby (@thegadsby) on

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It just doesn’t stop.

  And here is another request… Thanks @kalipop1970 #rubyroseunderstudy #hannah4oitnb #YOLO #orangeisthenewblack   A photo posted by thegadsby (@thegadsby) on

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I guess I’m not as committed at rubes #rubyroseunderstudy #hannah4oitnb #bff #animals #love

A photo posted by thegadsby (@thegadsby) on

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Though Hannah’s yet to receive any correspondence from the show itself, Ruby Rose did retweet the story when it was initially posted by Buzzfeed — hopefully indicating she was open to the idea. In that same piece, Gadsby reiterated all the similarities that make her eligible for the role: “both bullied, both quite publicly out about our sexuality”. “There’s quite a lot we have in common… except good genes,” she said. 

Following on from this, she’s also released her first (unsolicited) audition tape: 

  This is my first audition tape for @oitnb #rubyroseunderstudy #orangeisthenewblack #hannah4oitnb #netflix   A video posted by thegadsby (@thegadsby) on

If Rose got her role after one stray Tweet, Gadsby probably deserves her own spin-off show.