May 10, 2025 • 13 mins
The 2025 Bafta Awards ceremony is set to take place, and one Kiwi star is feeling hopeful following her recent nomination.
Robyn Malcolm's After the Party has been nominated for Best International Series - and she's feeling pretty thrilled about it.
This follows the show picking up a record haul of nine awards at the New Zealand Television Awards last year.
Robyn Malcolm says she's 'blown away' by the impact of the series, and she's feeling excited no matter what happens.
"We've got a chance, but it's not a big chance - so if, weirdly, we ended up getting up on stage, that would be mind-blowing. But if not, it's completely brilliant being here and being part of it."
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks edb Wow.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
We are under twenty four hours away from this year's Bafters.
The British Academy of Film and Television Awards take place
six a a m. New Zealand time tomorrow, and they
have a particular significance for Kiwis this year our very
own homegrown drama After the Party is up for Best
International TV Series. This follows the show picking up a
record haul of nine awards at the New Zealand Television
(00:33):
Awards last year. Head to the Bafters, lead actress and
co creator Robin Malcolm joins me from the streets of London.
Good morning, Robin. YOA lovely to hear your point, so
good to talk to you. Tomorrow is the big day.
How are you feeling?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
How well?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Kind of great?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I mean, it's all it's you know, the fun that's
for Cinderellibert, which is the get the frock, get the shoes,
get the juice. What's really beautiful is the makeup artist
from After the Party is actually here in London at
the moment working on a show. So she's coming to
the hotel tomorrow morning to do here and make up
(01:16):
for everyone. So you know, all that's brilliant, and we're
kind of we're in the best position possible really because
we're an outside horse. You know, we've we've got a chance,
but it's not a big, a big chance. So if weirdly,
you know, we ended up getting up on stage, then
that would be mind blowing. But if not, it's completely
(01:40):
brilliant being here and being part of it. And you know,
I mean, I'm still blown away by how much of
an impact the show's had here. It's somebody said to
me today, they said, I don't know that you realize
how beloved it is now, which is given given the
subject matter, it's a strange word to use, but I think, yeah,
(02:02):
they really really really dug it. So you know, the
whole thing's wonderful.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Why do you think this show has resonated with people?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
I think in one way, you know, it's it's the story.
It's definitely the story that did he do it? Didn't
he do it? And the kind of ping pong between
those characters. Then on top of that, it's the character
driven drama, and people are really really responded to all
the characters in particular, I think, you know Penny, because
(02:34):
this is a new kind of character. I don't think
we've seen this, you know. And that was the point
was to write a middle aged woman that wasn't getting
a chance to be part of a story on screen.
And so I think people are really really responded to that.
And in terms of over here, I've been reflecting on it,
and I there's something very different, Like a lot of
(02:56):
people have been saying, you know, this is the best
thing that we've seen in our country in a long, long,
long time. I feel like it's got something to do
with the tone of it, Like it's a we have
a warmth in New Zealand that's quite different to over here,
and I think that translates and I think that's kind
of having an impact. Does that make sense? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Absolute? Yeah, you know, the show was very much done
on your terms. It is against the norm of what's
being made. Does that make the show success all the
more satisfying for you?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yeah? Absolutely. It's a real vindication. And we've talked about
that a lot. Is that Die didn't come up through
the usual writer's pathway, you know, she wrote independent film.
We went into it not really knowing the rules of television.
I mean I knew them from the perspective of, you know,
being an actor and working with scripts, but in terms
(03:53):
of the rules that you're meant to follow, we really
didn't take much notice of any of that. And there
was a bit of naysaying early on. It's like, oh,
you know, you can't do it like that, you can't
do it like that. All she's got to be more like, well,
it's got to be this, it's got to be that. No,
that's not the way television has made and we tended
to sort of ignore most of that and and I
(04:15):
think that's made the difference. And you know, you can
there's so much content on streamers now, and what's wonderful
is that television industry is cracked wide open and people
are breaking rules left front and center, and that's what
makes the great story, I think. So, yeah, yeah, it's been.
(04:36):
It's been very certifying that side of things.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Does it also give power for more shows like this,
more roles like this, in a move away from casting
much younger women and roles that should go to middle
aged women.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I really really hope. So there's a there's part of
me that thinks, yes, in some in some areas of
the industry, but no, because you know, old habits die hard,
and because television is such a commercial world and money
(05:12):
is so key for people. In the minute you know
money and art combine, you're in trouble. You know, it
becomes reductive very quickly. And the people with the money
don't tend to be the artist, do you know what
I mean? And that's where the rules come from. I
(05:33):
believe so, I do hope so, and but I think
it will happen slowly.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Robin, you came into chat before the show was released
last year and you said to me that you were
sick with thea about how after the party was going
to be received. You actually said to me, this could
go down like a cup of cold sick. How long
did it take for you to go? You know what,
We've made a really good show and it's all going
(06:03):
to be okay.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Well, i'll tell you what. On the when we screened
it in Wellington, we played the first three episodes at
the Roxy Cinema in Wellington too a sort of an
audience of about four hundred people, and I was sick,
were fear, and I gripped Gye's hand through the whole thing,
to the point where she said to me, you have
(06:25):
to let go of my hand because you're breaking it.
And afterwards that got this wonderful response and people were
clapping and and I still wasn't sure. And then I
turned around and stood up, and coming towards me was
Kim Hill, and I thought, oh no, no, no, no no, no,
dear God, no no no not and she just charged
(06:47):
at me going I was brilliant. I thought, okay, great,
if Kim loves it, I'm good.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
I love it. You're up against Australian comedy Colin from Accounts,
the Irish drama Say Nothing, American true detective Like Country,
and Japan's Showgun. Have you seen any of these shows?
How are you feeling about the competition? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yeah, yeah, Well Showgun is the obvious one because it's
won awards around the world and it's a great show.
I loved Showgun, I really did. It's epic and it's huge,
and it's beautifully acted, beautifully written, beautifully shot. Colin from
Accounts is genius. I just finished watching Say Nothing, and
(07:34):
I think that's an astounding show. We're in an amazing category,
I have to say. And just to be in that
category is an honor in itself. I suspect shogun or
take it, but you never.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Know, You're never know, and you absolutely deserve to be there, Robin.
This week we heard your Pike River film Well premiere
in Sydney next month, and obviously we can't say too
much about the film just yet, But what was it
like to film.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Extraordinary? To be in Graymouth, in the place that where
it happened, to be surrounded by people who were directly
affected by it, And we were with Sonya and Anna
almost every day. You know, they came to step every day,
and they were deeply connected to the making of it.
(08:33):
Really wanted to do right by them as much as anything,
and to kind of relive it with them kind of
profound and heartbreaking. And of course, you know, I just
around the time that it happened. It was not long
after the Hobbit dispute, and I've made good friends with
(08:55):
Helen Kelly by then, and so I was seeing her
a lot when she was on the West Coast supporting
these women, and I was hearing so much of it
through her, so I thort of I felt really connected
back to her as well, you know, I mean she
passed a number of years ago now, and so the
(09:16):
whole it felt it was a real honor to be
part of it.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
And your place on your rock house who, as you say,
was such a close you know, was so closely associated
with it. Have you ever played a real person who
is so associated with a with a thing?
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, so far North, you know
I did this Yeah yeah yeah, So those two characters,
I mean we used their house and it's it's an
interesting experience because you're not thinking about your performance. You're
not thinking am I being a good actor or a
(09:56):
bad actor? All you're thinking about is doing right by
the real person. You're sort of driven by quite different
things in a strange kind of way. And I felt
that with fun North and definitely with Pike. Here.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Robin, what has the significance of this nomination been for you?
I mean, I know that you were in the UK
when you got the news You've got UK management? Is
that new? And what's kind of personally career wise kind
of happened for you since you know, after the party.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
It's been pretty extraordinary. I have to say, I've met everybody,
you know, everybody is wanting me to work with them,
I've met other writers. My agent is like after parties
open doors that could not have opened otherwise, you know,
which is kind of great just after you've turned sixty.
(10:49):
Not bad, not bad, not bad, not bad. And the
same for Die. You know, Die has been over here
for about ten days and we've been doing some work
together and some new projects. But also Die has been
going and meeting pretty much every production how it's going
over here, and they all they kind of all want
what we've got, which is really nice because we've got
(11:12):
quite a lot now because we're both old birds, we've
got a lot going on and our and it'll cross
the old heads and so and they're really into it,
which is wonderful.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
I'm so excited for you, Robin. So what's the plan
for tomorrow? Is the whole team over there for the awards?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Yep, yep, yep. We've got is Diane, me, Peter has
come down from Glasgow, Peter Salmon the director, Helen Bowden
the producer, and list of fur as the producer. We're
all here. So the thing kicks off the Red Carpets
at two thirty, so it starts early and then I
think the ceremony is at four, and then that finishes
(11:51):
round about eight, and then there's a dinner and there's
a big fat party.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
My godness, that's a long day. Robin. Are you a
young day and you dress to the nines. I presume
you try and take a comfort your approach to things.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
I do.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
I do absolutely well. I did say that I was
going to wear trainers, but I've gone completely other way
and I've got monster heels and Zambezi have made me
a frock which is amazing. And Zoe and Morgan and
(12:24):
another jeweler she's a new Zealander, but she's been in
London for thirty years, Jessica McCormack. They've they've allowed us
to adorn ourselves in their jewelry. So it's all very
it's wonderful dress up.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
You just need to sneak a pair of jandles in
for a little bit later, Robin.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
You know, yeah, we know. What you do is you
go to Primark and for ten quid you buy a
roll these roll up ballet flat and you put them
either in your purse or in your pocket and then
you just bust them out later. I love it, Okay,
so much advice, it's great. You know this is how
you do it.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I also heard that you swore you'd never wear shape
where again after you last attended the bath. Is he
sticking to that?
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Oh? Yes, absolutely no, Shape were absolutely not. Because there's
a dinner you've got to be able to eat.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Love it, you know, Robin Malcolm. I couldn't wish the
success on anyone more deserving. I hope you have an
absolute ball tomorrow and best of luck.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Thank you, thank you so much. Lovely to hear and
it's really great to talk.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
To you and the BAFT to start six am New
Zealand time tomorrow. You can catch the awards on Sky
Arts if you haven't seen After the party, it's on
tv n Z plus.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to News Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks edb Wow.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
We are under twenty four hours away from this year's Bafters.
The British Academy of Film and Television Awards take place
six a a m. New Zealand time tomorrow, and they
have a particular significance for Kiwis this year our very
own homegrown drama After the Party is up for Best
International TV Series. This follows the show picking up a
record haul of nine awards at the New Zealand Television
(00:33):
Awards last year. Head to the Bafters, lead actress and
co creator Robin Malcolm joins me from the streets of London.
Good morning, Robin. YOA lovely to hear your point, so
good to talk to you. Tomorrow is the big day.
How are you feeling?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
How well?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Kind of great?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I mean, it's all it's you know, the fun that's
for Cinderellibert, which is the get the frock, get the shoes,
get the juice. What's really beautiful is the makeup artist
from After the Party is actually here in London at
the moment working on a show. So she's coming to
the hotel tomorrow morning to do here and make up
(01:16):
for everyone. So you know, all that's brilliant, and we're
kind of we're in the best position possible really because
we're an outside horse. You know, we've we've got a chance,
but it's not a big, a big chance. So if weirdly,
you know, we ended up getting up on stage, then
that would be mind blowing. But if not, it's completely
(01:40):
brilliant being here and being part of it. And you know,
I mean, I'm still blown away by how much of
an impact the show's had here. It's somebody said to
me today, they said, I don't know that you realize
how beloved it is now, which is given given the
subject matter, it's a strange word to use, but I think, yeah,
(02:02):
they really really really dug it. So you know, the
whole thing's wonderful.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Why do you think this show has resonated with people?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
I think in one way, you know, it's it's the story.
It's definitely the story that did he do it? Didn't
he do it? And the kind of ping pong between
those characters. Then on top of that, it's the character
driven drama, and people are really really responded to all
the characters in particular, I think, you know Penny, because
(02:34):
this is a new kind of character. I don't think
we've seen this, you know. And that was the point
was to write a middle aged woman that wasn't getting
a chance to be part of a story on screen.
And so I think people are really really responded to that.
And in terms of over here, I've been reflecting on it,
and I there's something very different, Like a lot of
(02:56):
people have been saying, you know, this is the best
thing that we've seen in our country in a long, long,
long time. I feel like it's got something to do
with the tone of it, Like it's a we have
a warmth in New Zealand that's quite different to over here,
and I think that translates and I think that's kind
of having an impact. Does that make sense? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Absolute? Yeah, you know, the show was very much done
on your terms. It is against the norm of what's
being made. Does that make the show success all the
more satisfying for you?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yeah? Absolutely. It's a real vindication. And we've talked about
that a lot. Is that Die didn't come up through
the usual writer's pathway, you know, she wrote independent film.
We went into it not really knowing the rules of television.
I mean I knew them from the perspective of, you know,
being an actor and working with scripts, but in terms
(03:53):
of the rules that you're meant to follow, we really
didn't take much notice of any of that. And there
was a bit of naysaying early on. It's like, oh,
you know, you can't do it like that, you can't
do it like that. All she's got to be more like, well,
it's got to be this, it's got to be that. No,
that's not the way television has made and we tended
to sort of ignore most of that and and I
(04:15):
think that's made the difference. And you know, you can
there's so much content on streamers now, and what's wonderful
is that television industry is cracked wide open and people
are breaking rules left front and center, and that's what
makes the great story, I think. So, yeah, yeah, it's been.
(04:36):
It's been very certifying that side of things.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Does it also give power for more shows like this,
more roles like this, in a move away from casting
much younger women and roles that should go to middle
aged women.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I really really hope. So there's a there's part of
me that thinks, yes, in some in some areas of
the industry, but no, because you know, old habits die hard,
and because television is such a commercial world and money
(05:12):
is so key for people. In the minute you know
money and art combine, you're in trouble. You know, it
becomes reductive very quickly. And the people with the money
don't tend to be the artist, do you know what
I mean? And that's where the rules come from. I
(05:33):
believe so, I do hope so, and but I think
it will happen slowly.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Robin, you came into chat before the show was released
last year and you said to me that you were
sick with thea about how after the party was going
to be received. You actually said to me, this could
go down like a cup of cold sick. How long
did it take for you to go? You know what,
We've made a really good show and it's all going
(06:03):
to be okay.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Well, i'll tell you what. On the when we screened
it in Wellington, we played the first three episodes at
the Roxy Cinema in Wellington too a sort of an
audience of about four hundred people, and I was sick,
were fear, and I gripped Gye's hand through the whole thing,
to the point where she said to me, you have
(06:25):
to let go of my hand because you're breaking it.
And afterwards that got this wonderful response and people were
clapping and and I still wasn't sure. And then I
turned around and stood up, and coming towards me was
Kim Hill, and I thought, oh no, no, no, no no, no,
dear God, no no no not and she just charged
(06:47):
at me going I was brilliant. I thought, okay, great,
if Kim loves it, I'm good.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
I love it. You're up against Australian comedy Colin from Accounts,
the Irish drama Say Nothing, American true detective Like Country,
and Japan's Showgun. Have you seen any of these shows?
How are you feeling about the competition? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yeah, yeah, Well Showgun is the obvious one because it's
won awards around the world and it's a great show.
I loved Showgun, I really did. It's epic and it's huge,
and it's beautifully acted, beautifully written, beautifully shot. Colin from
Accounts is genius. I just finished watching Say Nothing, and
(07:34):
I think that's an astounding show. We're in an amazing category,
I have to say. And just to be in that
category is an honor in itself. I suspect shogun or
take it, but you never.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Know, You're never know, and you absolutely deserve to be there, Robin.
This week we heard your Pike River film Well premiere
in Sydney next month, and obviously we can't say too
much about the film just yet, But what was it
like to film.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Extraordinary? To be in Graymouth, in the place that where
it happened, to be surrounded by people who were directly
affected by it, And we were with Sonya and Anna
almost every day. You know, they came to step every day,
and they were deeply connected to the making of it.
(08:33):
Really wanted to do right by them as much as anything,
and to kind of relive it with them kind of
profound and heartbreaking. And of course, you know, I just
around the time that it happened. It was not long
after the Hobbit dispute, and I've made good friends with
(08:55):
Helen Kelly by then, and so I was seeing her
a lot when she was on the West Coast supporting
these women, and I was hearing so much of it
through her, so I thort of I felt really connected
back to her as well, you know, I mean she
passed a number of years ago now, and so the
(09:16):
whole it felt it was a real honor to be
part of it.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
And your place on your rock house who, as you say,
was such a close you know, was so closely associated
with it. Have you ever played a real person who
is so associated with a with a thing?
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, so far North, you know
I did this Yeah yeah yeah, So those two characters,
I mean we used their house and it's it's an
interesting experience because you're not thinking about your performance. You're
not thinking am I being a good actor or a
(09:56):
bad actor? All you're thinking about is doing right by
the real person. You're sort of driven by quite different
things in a strange kind of way. And I felt
that with fun North and definitely with Pike. Here.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Robin, what has the significance of this nomination been for you?
I mean, I know that you were in the UK
when you got the news You've got UK management? Is
that new? And what's kind of personally career wise kind
of happened for you since you know, after the party.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
It's been pretty extraordinary. I have to say, I've met everybody,
you know, everybody is wanting me to work with them,
I've met other writers. My agent is like after parties
open doors that could not have opened otherwise, you know,
which is kind of great just after you've turned sixty.
(10:49):
Not bad, not bad, not bad, not bad. And the
same for Die. You know, Die has been over here
for about ten days and we've been doing some work
together and some new projects. But also Die has been
going and meeting pretty much every production how it's going
over here, and they all they kind of all want
what we've got, which is really nice because we've got
(11:12):
quite a lot now because we're both old birds, we've
got a lot going on and our and it'll cross
the old heads and so and they're really into it,
which is wonderful.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
I'm so excited for you, Robin. So what's the plan
for tomorrow? Is the whole team over there for the awards?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Yep, yep, yep. We've got is Diane, me, Peter has
come down from Glasgow, Peter Salmon the director, Helen Bowden
the producer, and list of fur as the producer. We're
all here. So the thing kicks off the Red Carpets
at two thirty, so it starts early and then I
think the ceremony is at four, and then that finishes
(11:51):
round about eight, and then there's a dinner and there's
a big fat party.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
My godness, that's a long day. Robin. Are you a
young day and you dress to the nines. I presume
you try and take a comfort your approach to things.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
I do.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
I do absolutely well. I did say that I was
going to wear trainers, but I've gone completely other way
and I've got monster heels and Zambezi have made me
a frock which is amazing. And Zoe and Morgan and
(12:24):
another jeweler she's a new Zealander, but she's been in
London for thirty years, Jessica McCormack. They've they've allowed us
to adorn ourselves in their jewelry. So it's all very
it's wonderful dress up.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
You just need to sneak a pair of jandles in
for a little bit later, Robin.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
You know, yeah, we know. What you do is you
go to Primark and for ten quid you buy a
roll these roll up ballet flat and you put them
either in your purse or in your pocket and then
you just bust them out later. I love it, Okay,
so much advice, it's great. You know this is how
you do it.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I also heard that you swore you'd never wear shape
where again after you last attended the bath. Is he
sticking to that?
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Oh? Yes, absolutely no, Shape were absolutely not. Because there's
a dinner you've got to be able to eat.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Love it, you know, Robin Malcolm. I couldn't wish the
success on anyone more deserving. I hope you have an
absolute ball tomorrow and best of luck.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Thank you, thank you so much. Lovely to hear and
it's really great to talk.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
To you and the BAFT to start six am New
Zealand time tomorrow. You can catch the awards on Sky
Arts if you haven't seen After the party, it's on
tv n Z plus.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to News Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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