Exclusive: Gracie Otto on how her new documentary offers raw insight into father Barry Otto's heartbreaking dementia diagnosis

Today Stan released the latest documentary in its Revealed slate, Otto By Otto.Directed by Gracie Otto, the documentary celebrates the life and career of her father, beloved Australian actor and artist Barry Otto.Revealed: Otto by Otto is available to stream now, only on Stan"I think I'm excited for people to see dad's career," Gracie told 9Entertainment. "What's so special about dad is he really stayed in Australia and did his career there; in that way, he's an important figure to the cultural landscape."But while the documentary was originally intended to document her dad's work in the industry, during filming the actor was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The show soon became a way to capture her father's memories "before there weren't any left"."I was intending for it to be about dad doing a one-man show and following him from the beginning to the end," she explained.She added in a recent Today Extra interview: "Dad never had a mobile phone, he never really had a credit card. He just didn't exist in the real world like we all do. So, it's not so obvious with someone like him and someone so creative when it first was diagnosed."But also, when it's first diagnosed, it's not like an immediate change in someone. When you see that steep decline in the film it's quite heartbreaking because you go, 'six, seven years ago he was fine'."READ MORE: Gracie Otto reveals heartbreaking truth behind new Stan documentary about her father Barry Otto in candid TV interviewWhile Barry himself may not fully grasp the documentary due to his health condition, Gracie finds solace in having shared parts of it with him."I've shown him a clip, but [it's] like his brain doesn't have the attention span anymore to watch something. They can connect with you, but they're not connected."Watching the documentary back, Gracie found it to be a cathartic experience."It was kind of good to get all the tears out," she told us.READ MORE: A rare insight into the life of Australian acting legend Barry Otto exposed by daughter in new Stan Original DocumentaryThe premiere brought mixed emotions – especially seeing her mother, "who's so anti-red carpet and so anti-getting her photograph taken," embrace the event."I think watching it was... I was just so happy with how it went and it's also interesting when people laugh where I didn't think they would," she recalled.The documentary not only highlights Barry's professional achievements, but also offers a glimpse into the Otto family's artistic life at home."For theatre people or film buffs, they've got that part of it," she added. "I think just to see an artistic family's life at home and what it was like growing up is interesting as well."Gracie hopes audiences will come away with a renewed appreciation for the arts and the nurturing of creative souls.READ MORE: Huge news for Friends fans as the beloved series returns to Stan in JulyThe film reveals lesser-known aspects of Barry's career and personal life, including his and his wife's roles in championing female directors through the Women's Arts Festival."I had no idea that my mum produced the Women Art Festival and these productions and was actually championing female directors," Gracie added.Otto By Otto is not just a tribute to Barry Otto's illustrious career but also a heartfelt portrayal of a family's love and resilience in the face of adversity.Don't miss Otto By Otto streaming exclusively on Stan this weekend.Revealed: Otto by Otto is available to stream now, only on StanNine Entertainment Co (the publisher of this website) owns and operates the streaming service Stan.FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest news from your favourite shows via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.