Ruby Rose: Orange Is The New Black's Latest Convict On Life Inside And Out Of Litchfield Penitentiary

By Portis Wasp

When you find yourself in possession of a face that causes people to stop in the middle of the street and question, “Maybe it’s… May-bell-ine?”, don’t be all too surprised if your looks land you in one of two places: Hollywood or prison. In the case of Ruby Rose, former Australian MTV VJ, turned model slash DJ, both destinations have been ticked off her bucket list real quick by landing a stint on Orange Is the New Black.

Joining the cast for their third season on June 12th, we caught up with Ruby to chat about her new role, what it’s like to have over half a million people follow her on Instagram and who she’d rather share a cell with out of fellow Aussies Margot Robbie and Rebel Wilson.

MTV Style: Talk us through an average day in the life of you...

Ruby Rose: Well, I’m trying this new thing where when I wake up, I give my animals and partner a hug and a kiss, and then think about what I want to achieve that day and meditate – all before I pick up my phone and start obsessively going through emails and texts. It’s just so easy to wake up, grab your phone and get to work. I miss the days of not having a mobile phone where you would wake up and be productive, all while being able to stop and smell the roses, and be present.

MTV Style: But then what would your 560,000 followers on Instagram have to live for? Does it ever get a little weird seeing that thousands of people have liked a picture of you, say, devouring an In-N-Out Burger?

Ruby: Only when those 560,000 people know you have been a vegetarian your whole life, and then assume because it’s an In-N-Out, I’m randomly eating beef.

MTV Style: That’s awkward.

Ruby: Cue fan outrage! Just a grilled cheese guys, I promise. I definitely can’t wrap my head around that number of people being on my Instagram, it’s quite surreal. I should probably be more calculated and wise with my posts, but who has time for that?

MTV Style: You've always been very open with your fans on social media and often share snaps of your lovely fiancée Phoebe, your dogs, and important social topics you feel strongly about. Would you say you have always lived your life with no filter? 

Ruby: Yes, I suppose that’s probably why I was bullied so much in school; I’m not sure who you are supposed to learn boundaries and filters from, maybe your parents? Well, whoever it is obviously didn’t have very strict rules on staying inside the box. I’ve always been sort of an extrovert and unapologetic. It has both served me well and gotten me into trouble, no doubt.

MTV Style: When people find out you are engaged to Roald Dahl’s granddaughter do they ask you what your favourite Roald Dahl book was growing up and if Phoebe is anything like Matilda? 

Ruby: Not generally, this is probably only the second time I have been asked that. I liked James And The Giant Peach and The Twits, and I can tell you there is no way Phoebe was Matilda!

MTV Style: Did you ever think your good looks and winning personality would land you a stretch in Litchfield Penitentiary for the third season of Orange Is The New Black? 

Ruby: It was bound to go either way; land me in real prison or Hollywood. I was a huge fan of OITNB and I was so incredibly taken aback and excited to be cast as Stella. I thought I would come to LA, get a small role on an average web series, move to a guest spot on a daytime series on TV, then - God willing - get a cool indie film. I know it’s hard over here and competitive, so I feel very blessed to have my first break be on something so enormous and loved by the public, with such a talented cast and loving crew too. 

MTV Style: What can you tell us about your character, Stella? 

Ruby: Not much! I don’t want to be a Sally Spoiler - I don’t think that’s actually a thing, but let’s go with it. Stella is a charming, androgynous, Australian inmate, who finds herself in a situation where she may or may not have some romance and may or may not cause some drama. I’m not sure… I’m just going off what I read on the internet. If you look at the Stella artwork with the candle there is a Koala in it also, so you know, maybe my crime involves a gang of Koalas?

MTV Style: In a dream prison scenario, who would you rather spend 24 hours of not-so-solitary confinement with: Margot Robbie or Rebel Wilson? 

Ruby: Well, I love both of them; they are both babes and both very talented. If I had to choose though it would have to be Rebel, even though I lost out to her on a part in a film a few years back, I am sort of obsessed with her and I think time would go very fast in her presence. I’m imagining 'Prison, The Musical'.

MTV Style: Having already made your mark in pop culture after finding success as a model, DJ, MTV VJ and TV show host, did acting seem like the next logical step for you?

Ruby: I actually started out pursuing acting. I was going to film school and about halfway through my first year, when I got MTV, I ended up having to leave my studies to move to Sydney to start my new life. It was always something I dreamt about doing, but I also really enjoyed the things I was working on back then, and I was learning so much every day so I would not change a thing. Life is funny and you are always exactly where you are supposed to be.

MTV Style: Aside from your stint in OITNB, how else do you plan to make your mark this year, Ruby?

Ruby: I plan on acting more and working on a film. My ambassador role with World Vision will probably have me visiting Africa or Nepal, and I have a charitable clothing line in the works also. Oh, and I am touring a little bit in my spare time, mostly in the States, but with a few European dates.

The new series of Orange Is The New Black hits Netflix on June 12th.