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EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Griffiths reveals what drew her to bold new series MADAM

“I thought it was a really interesting long overdue take on sex work.”

As I’m waiting for Rachel Griffiths to arrive at The Weekly’s office, the publicist for the show she’s here to talk about — Nine’s new series MADAM — promises the veteran star is “really down to earth.” 

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And I learn that she’s right the moment Rachel’s car pulls up. She instantly waves off her driver, not allowing them to open her door, doing it herself. 

Then she goes in for a hug instead of the traditional handshake. It feels like we’ve been friends for years rather than strangers meeting for the first time. 

Aside from her friendly demeanour, another thing about Rachel is immediately clear: she’s very proud of MADAM and is keen to know what audiences think. 

As soon as I’ve taken her beyond the lobby and exchanged a few niceties, she swiftly asks, “Have you seen any of it yet?” 

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When I confirm I have, yes, watched a few episodes, Rachel passionately exclaims, “Oh excellent!” 

Her eyes particularly light up when I tell her I love the show’s black humour.

This leads Rachel to pay her co-stars Ariāna Osborne, Carmel McGlone, Johanna Cosgrave, Moana Johnson, Gemma Jayde Naidoo, and Florence Hartigan a huge, but genuine compliment. 

In the span of 30 seconds, she calls these women — who play ‘The Sweethearts’ in MADAM — “comedy geniuses” at least four or five times. 

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As Rachel continues to gush about her Sweethearts, she further cements her down-to-earth status. I can’t help but think that it’s rare for a veteran actor to talk more about their co-stars than themselves. 

rachel griffiths in madam

So I’ll do it for her. 

The Australian-born actor got her start here. She mainly worked in theatre, before bursting onto the international scene in 1994 with the now iconic film Muriel’s Wedding

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Following the runaway success of the movie — which also launched Toni Collette worldwide — Rachel moved to the US. She then starred in numerous successful projects, including Six Feet Under and Brothers & Sisters

Along the way, she received an Academy Award nomination and collected an AACTA Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

In 2012, Rachel moved back home and started working on projects here. Most notably, she directed the highly acclaimed Australian film Ride Like a Girl. She also starred opposite Deborah Mailman in the political drama series Total Control.

To put it simply, Rachel’s had an illustrious career. 

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And while she’s taken on several diverse, and sometimes controversial, roles, MADAM is unlike anything she’s done before. 

In the show, Rachel plays Mack — a housewife and mother who decides to open a “feminist, ethical brothel” upon discovering her husband has been seeing a sex worker. Although a perhaps outlandish premise, MADAM is actually inspired by a fascinating true story.

The show is set in New Zealand, where sex work is legal. It tackles several bold themes: sex positivity, female pleasure, and older women embracing their eroticism. In addition to exploring the challenges that come with disability and caregiving. 

a promotional shot for madam
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While these themes may lead you to think the series is an intense drama, the series is a comedy. 

“I thought it was a really interesting long overdue take,” Rachel says. “But while it’s humorous, it doesn’t trivialise anything. It’s just really authentic.”  

And that’s not the only thing that drew her to the series… 

The Weekly: What drew you to the role of Mack?

Rachel: I’ve been offered so many ‘madam’ roles in my life, and honestly, every single one was just so male gaze. I’d never seen a story about female sex done from a female perspective. 

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You know, I grew up in the age of Taxi Driver and Pretty Baby. And sex work was often depicted [in films] in a titillating or gritty, dark exploitative way. 

So, when I heard the pitch of MADAM, and they said, ‘Oh, and it’s a comedy,’ it just really rang true to me. Because I think when women talk about sex, we usually laugh. 

I guess there’s a little bit of that in Sex and the City. But MADAM, I think it’s closer to the way women think and talk about sex. 

What are your thoughts on the importance of older women embracing their sexuality?

Well, I don’t know if women ever stopped, really. Women don’t just stop having sex when they get older.

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rachel griffiths in madam

I think the media and Hollywood have made older sexually active women invisible. And when it has been depicted before, it’s the anomaly story rather than the normalised story.

It is certainly great to see [in recent years] older girls who are still super-hot not just holding grandbabies and delegated to invisibility — go Demi [Moore], go Nicole [Kidman]

Although, there’s a great scene later in MADAM where I get a love interest and he’s really hot. Like ridiculously hot. 

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And originally there was going to be a scene where we’re having sex. But, I had a moment of, ‘I don’t know if people want to watch me having sex.’ 

Maybe that’s me self-editing. 

But we played around with the scene, and we ended up having a foreplay scene instead. And that was just so much sexier… And I just thought it was more tender, and from that female gaze.

What do you think the series says about the importance of female agency and redefining societal norms around sex positivity?

I think sex positivity is amazing. As long as we’re not actually gaslighting young women into thinking they’ve got to do and enjoy acts that they may not.

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You know, these conversations can’t just be about sex positivity. Women should not be made to think, ‘If I don’t want to be choked, am I really uptight? Will I not get a second date?’ 

Ultimately, the great thing is we’re having these conversations. And while MADAM explores sex positivity, the other thing about this show, and the big revelation for me, is “We don’t sell sex, we treat loneliness.” That line [from the show] really struck a chord with me.

a promotional shot for madam
Did you meet with anyone working in the sex industry before filming?

While preparing for MADAM, I met with a few women who were or are working in the sex industry.  

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And one woman said most of her clients, her top clients, were widowers. Widowers in their late 60s and 70s, who didn’t think they were ever going to date again. And they just missed being held and touched. 

How do you hope audiences — particularly women — will respond to Mack’s journey and the MADAM series as a whole?

 I hope women laugh their asses off. And then I hope their husbands or boyfriends who are watching it with them say, ‘Do you really think and talk about sex like that when we’re not around?’

I think it’s a really heartwarming comedy. It’s really human. It’s really relatable. And the humour gets pushed so far. 

And can you share whether there will be a second season? 

Well, I  hope Australian audiences love it so much, they’ll be a repeat customer, and the show gets a season two.  Fingers crossed, right?

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MADAM premieres on February 4 and then airs Tuesdays 9pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

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