“I like to say that I wear many hats — and of course it is a pun, because I’m a hat maker.”

It’s a fitting metaphor for Libby Munro, whose career has taken her from a cattle station west of Charleville to centre stage in Los Angeles, and now back home to Brisbane.

An award-winning actor, nutrition coach, and hat maker, Libby’s story is one of sliding door moments, taking risks and finding clarity in the chaos.

Before the pivots and side hustles, Libby spent over two decades building a career on stage and screen, starring in the Queensland Theatre Company’s Venus in Fur, which earned her a Matilda Award, and leading the acclaimed one-shot feature film Eight, which won Best Film at Snowdance Film Festival in Germany.

In this episode of Risky Business, Libby shares how she navigated identity loss, career pivots, and finding purpose across vastly different worlds: the stage, the workshop, and the health industry.

“What else do I want to do in this one short life?”

Libby had been acting professionally for over 20 years when COVID brought everything to a standstill.

“All the work went away. And I really got to have that moment of, well, what do I do if I’m not an actor? What else do I want to do in this one short life?”

Her answer was twofold. She started Bluegrass Hat Co., learning the slow, intentional craft of traditional hat making by hand. At the same time, she was studying nutrition — something she thought might work between acting gigs.

“Then COVID happened and all of a sudden they gave me a job and I became an online nutrition coach. And I was making hats. And then the world came back and I started acting again, and all of a sudden I had all of these different avenues.”

Finding Freedom in Choice

“Once I had started the two businesses, the hat making and nutrition, I sort of realise that I quite liked that diligence of working every day and working towards something and building something of my own that wasn’t up to somebody else to make happen.”

“The nutrition company is where 60 hours a week go to. The hats, I love. I have this deep love of the practice of it, the art… it’s profitable but it’s the pure pleasure that I get from it which keeps me on board. But then the nutrition — there’s a deep passion for it, and I’m good at it. And I’ve sort of found a way that I can make people’s lives better.”

Hat making also offered a kind of creative calm that her other work didn’t.

“I get this beautiful sort of balance… weekends or evenings I end up in flow. I’m not on the computer, I’m playing Chris Stapleton and working with my hands.”

A Turning Point — and a Betrayal

In 2022, Libby decided to strike out on her own with Libby Munro Nutrition — after realising she was being used by the company she was working with.

“A lot of trust was broken. I realised that they were using me and were incredibly profitable from me, and were not willing to give me that in return.”

For a full year, she developed a new product for them, without a signed contract.

“I was developing a product for them — 12 months I spent — with the idea that I would end up with part ownership.”

That never happened.

“We sat down and they went, ‘We think we’re paying you too much.’ And I was like… I rang my dad after that too, and I was like, I think this is bad. I think this is going pear-shaped.”

Looking back, it was a painful lesson, but also a catalyst.

“I really took a leap and went, I’m going to back myself in this. And it was the best decision I ever made.”

From Surviving to Scaling

In early 2023, Libby’s nutrition business was floundering. She was burnt out, undercharging, and struggling to keep clients supported.

“I was trying to get more clients but then trying to get rid of them because I didn’t have time… I was like, this is maddening.”

Then a business coach reached out on Instagram.

“I couldn’t afford him. So he came up with this deal, which I think is the most brilliant thing I’ve ever heard. He said, ‘I will only take 20% of growth. So you have to grow for me to make any money”, and I have to grow very seriously for him to make what he’s worth, what he’s valued at… so I signed up straight away”

That deal changed everything.

“My business grew 450% in about three months,” she laughs.

“And then he’s like, well, now you’re paying me too much. So let’s go back to the set rate now. But I was just beyond pleased with what happened. I just needed that – I needed that guidance. I needed to know where to put my energy and my time.”

“I was applying for other jobs because the nutrition business was not working, and oh my God, I’m so glad I didn’t get one of those jobs.”

Laurence: “And yeah, it’s a sliding door moment isn’t it?”

Libby: “Yeah. Because that’s the turning point for the company. That is the turning point of my life.”

Followers Don’t Matter

Libby used to stress about followers — until she realised they didn’t translate to real business (and if you’ve ever felt the pressure to pursue followers over authentic connection, this insight will really resonate with you):

“The difference between followers and engaged people who want to listen to your content and will buy from you is entirely different… I had a guy, an influencer from MAFS… 110,000 followers.

Booked a styling session, then he flaked; he said he had Covid. Booked another, missed it…

“You only need a small amount of people, a good, engaged audience who value your content… rather than a million people who sort through your reels.”

“I’ve done a couple [hats] for influencers. Has it ever led to a sale? Like literally never. Whereas somebody wearing your hat out in the world? That comes from an authentic place. They purchased it. They invested in it. Oh man, that makes such a big difference!”

The Habits Behind the Hustle

Running three very divergent businesses means routine isn’t optional — it’s foundational. For Libby, success comes down to structure, scheduling, and habits that actually stick.

“I’m pretty ADHD. I’ve only just realised in the last few years, and it’s really important for me to schedule time blocks… I’m one of those really annoying people now who have everything scheduled into their diary.”

She plans her workouts, meals, and breaks with intention, and makes sure to prioritise things that make her happy, each and every day.

“Walking my dogs. Every single time. Every time… That’s how I’ve established my life — around these things that bring me joy, health, balance.”

A big influence behind that structure? Atomic Habits by James Clear.

“I refer to Atomic Habits by James Clear all the time… I remember walking around LA listening to that on Audiobook, and I was so mesmerised by it because he was giving me solutions to problems with habit stacking. He has a weekly email — 3-2-1 — which is just really simple ideas and quotes…I actually use it in a lot of my protocols — how to create these good habits. Because I think that that leads to not only good work, but good life.”

On Local Inspiration

Libby also finds motivation in other South East Queensland creatives carving their own path.

“Can I go for Aje? She’s a Toowoomba girl…designer Edwina Forest, who I went to school with. This is what I’m wearing, these jeans.. Half my wardrobe is Aje.”

She shares a bit of their backstory, too.

“She’s incredibly globally successful and just so wonderful. We both worked managing clothes shops in Brisbane down on Ann Street in the Valley. She worked at Sass & Bide and I worked at Urban Grove, and we would have lunch together. And I wanted to be an actor, and she wanted to be a designer, and we’d both be like,

‘Go do it. You do it. You’ll be great!’

You know? And we were little hype girls for each other at 20. And I think that’s just glorious.”

Her other favourite? Nodo Donuts.

“They have a few cafes around Brisbane. Everything is gluten free and I’m gluten and dairy free now for about 17 years. And to find a place that just — it’s just not a problem. Just everything there. And it’s beautifully done.”

“I think they’re killing it. They found their niche. They found their thing. And they do it really well, you know? Find your niche, and do it well.”

Catch Risky Business, Episode 5 featuring Libby Munro below: