PicoDash

The actor shares the clips and memes keeping her company at 2am – including two reality TV dons and a tiny house

• Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email

Hello! I’m Melissa, I’m an actor and sometimes writer, which means I spend the majority of my time endlessly scrolling through the slop on the internet to find that one perfect meme to send to a best friend with no context. It’s during these mind-numbing scrolls that I find I am most inspired, usually either at 2am – half-blinded by the blue light on my phone – or on the toilet.

During a time where the world feels particularly frightening and fragile, I have found myself going back to these clips and memes that have had a culturally significant impact in my life. So, in the vein of Las Culturista’s top 200 cultural moments, I give you my top 10.

1. Real Housewives of Melbourne (Gina Liano to be specific)

Born and raised a Melbourne girlie, I know Melbourne royalty when I see it. The way I would pay to have Gina Liano drag me for filth. For the purposes of this column, here’s a short intro to who she is but I’d highly recommend you search for the clips where she just roasts everyone. Sinfully delicious.

2. Twilight memes

You think I’d be embarrassed about seeing the first film at the cinema eight times. And you’re right, I am.

3. Tiny house with Morgan Jay

His delight at the reveal perfectly encapsulates my love for miniature things. Why are you so small!?

4. Emo animals

This is just one of MANY. It makes me think of the time I tried to like punk to impress my ex-boyfriend. Ooft. We’ve all been there right? Right … ?

5. Brian Jordan Alvarez

This character Brian plays is everything I aspire to be. Elegant, confident, rich.

6. Recap guy

This guy is doing God’s work as far as I’m concerned. Short recaps of your favourite and not-so-favourite storylines. He’s watched it so you don’t have to – and if you have, congrats, you have lived.

7. Turkish memes

There are so many excellent memes that encapsulate what it’s like growing up in a Turkish family. Unless you have a strong connection to the culture, these won’t make sense – but boy oh boy, hell hath no fury like an aunty with a thong chasing you down the road or force-feeding you a second serving of dinner before calling you fat. Bliss.

8. What!?

This is so simple. Mate scares mate, they die of laughter. The sheer delight of finding something so funny you could literally pass out. Chef’s kiss. I watch this every day.

9. Pooja, what is this behaviour

While I loathe the term catfight, this argument between Big Brother India housemates has fuelled me ever since I saw it. It’s perfect. I’ve worked in reality TV and may or may not have worked on a show not unlike this one, but never have I witnessed anything so exciting. To be a fly on the wall …

10. Veep

Tony Hale and Julia Louis-Dreyfus have the perfect onscreen chemistry. I could watch this show on repeat for the rest of my life and be content. Bonus content: look up the bloopers; the way I lmao is something else. When I’m feeling particularly fragile, I’ll watch the bloopers and any fear or anxiety I have slowly melts away.

• Melissa Kahraman is in Sydney Theatre Company’s A Fool in Love from 6 February to 7 March 2024

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEoKyaqpSerq96wqikaJulocG2vsRoaWlqY2S7sMKOaXBopZWhtrS%2FwGaimqCilrqiuoytn55lYWV6p8HNp6Ceq6Riwam1zaCqZqFdna63sYyerZ6qXaiyprqMqKVmrJiaeqq6056pp52k