As an Australian who grew up around the arts scene, Paul Verhoeven – author, broadcaster, comedian – says being painted for the Archibald has always been a “secret, shameful ambition”. When he mentioned it in passing to his wife, the writer Tegan Higginbotham, Verhoeven says he expected her to laugh “but she really is wonderful like that, she’ll humour anything”.
He didn’t think much more of it.
