January 22, 2025 • 11 mins
A Kiwi actress is making waves on international screens.
Luciane Buchanan began her rise to fame in her teens, but it was the last few years where her career really took off.
The 31 year old was cast in Netflix and Apple TV+ shows in 2022, but her lead role in Netflix’s ‘The Night Agent’ made her a household name.
‘The Night Agent’ was the most watched show on Netflix around the world in 2023, reaching number 1 in 87 countries.
Buchanan told Ryan Bridge that the sheer number of people watching the show kind of freaked her out, as totalled up, there’s been over 100,000 years worth of viewing for season one.
“It’s a little bit overwhelming, but it’s also exciting to be a part of something that a lot of people enjoyed, so I can’t complain.”
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Our next talented guest is somewhat of a breakout star.
Key We actress Lucy Ann Buchanan started her rise to
fame in New Zealand and her teens, but since twenty
twenty two, her career has really started taking off, especially
with her lead role in Netflix as the Night Agent.
If you haven't seen it, it's brilliant, go and watch it.
It was the most watched show on Netflix globally in
(00:22):
twenty twenty three, and now she's back starring alongside Jason
Mmara in the upcoming mini series Chief of War that's
on Apple TV Plus. Lucian Buchanan, Good.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Morning, what Anna, Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Rayan, Lucyanie. This show is massive. I was reading a
stat that says it's been watched all up one hundred
thousand years worth of viewing for season one alone. It's huge,
just a little bit.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I mean, hearing those numbers kind of freak me out
and it's a little bit overwhelming, but it's also exciting
to be a part of something that a lot of
people enjoyed, so I can't complain.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
I'm actually quite into this genre, into political thriller, particularly
from the nineties early two thousand, so this was right
up my alley. I loved watching it, but I have
to say I had no idea that you were a
Kiwi the whole time I watched it.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
It's quite nice hearing that from people, because if you
saw me off set, I was like with my script
in hand and my coaches and just stressing over like
the babsic words, like saying, my coast stars. Your character
named Peter Sutherland, I'm like Peter running around Peter.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
But you know, yeah, how hard is it to now,
because obviously it's quite crucial. I mean, no one wants
to be watching a show and be questioning the accent
the whole time.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Right, Oh my gosh. I think first season, I got
a dialect coach two days before we started, and they
were just going to give me two days to like
spend with him for the whole season. And I kind
of was like, this is not enough, Like this is
really intimidating to be putting on this accent around Americans.
And we were shooting in Canada at the time, so
(01:58):
I mean, when we were working at home, you kind
of feel like, Okay, no one's around, like Judge, but
in this setting, it was a lot of pressure and
also like a lot of pressure coming back this season
because a lot of people, including Americans, were like, I
didn't know you weren't American, and I'm like, oh gosh,
don't stuff it up this time. So a lot of
preparation goes into it. It's not something I can do
(02:19):
so easily.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
When did you find out that there would be another season?
Season two?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
It was crazy, Ryan, Like, Netflix never do this. But
it was six days after the launch of season one,
and normally did they take about a month or like
just over a month to find out, but because the
numbers were so high, they were like, yep, season two.
And I was back home and Altie at all, and
I was like, Okay, I guess we're going again. This
(02:46):
is crazy.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
There's actually another key we in this series, right, Your
Auntie is from New Zealand. Did you have some part
in getting the job or was this just a magic coincidence?
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I wish they did ask me. They were like, do
you know any like tongue and actresses player aunt but
she has to know how to do an American accent
and be comfortable with stunts. And I was like, oh
my god, I'm trying to think and you know, there's
very few tongue and actresses, including myself, like I'm one
of like five maybe, and trying to find someone age
(03:16):
appropriate as well, and I was like, I'm so sorry,
Like maybe she could just be white. I don't know.
I was like trying to think of people. And then
it was like my first read through. We did a
zoom read through cause of COVID, and I saw her
in the little box and I was like, oh, oh
my gosh, Simone cares, so of course I know who
(03:36):
she is. And then it wasn't until we had a fitting.
I kind of grabbed her and was like hi, and
she was like, where are you from? And I was
like from Auckland and she was like, okay, I'm taking
you under my way and we're getting dinner and I'm
going to share everything I know about working over here.
And she was just like a big sister to me
the whole time.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Is there a demand, like a specific demand for key
WE actors in the United States or is it just
that we've had some that have We've had lots of
great success and we know about them.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
I think, you know, we we're definitely unique. And I
don't know if they're like specifically looking for Kiwis. But
I think we just put our best foot forward and
like hope for the best, and we're in the ring
with everyone else. I mean, there's a bunch of Aussies,
there's a bunch of British people in there as well,
so I think we kind of trick them almost. You know,
we go into the audition with these accents and it's
not till we get the part we're like, oh, by
(04:24):
the way, like this, listen, listen, I'll need a visa
to do.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
For those who haven't seen Night Agent, give us an
idea of what the show's about.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Oh gosh, I'm terrible at this, but I'll do my best.
It takes place here in the United States in Washington, DC,
and we follow a low level FBI agent who man's
a phone in a windowless spacement and he one night
gets a call from my character distressed, and they kind
(04:57):
of go on this big conspiracy that revolve around the
White House. And yeah, it gets really intense really quick.
And let's just say, if you plan on watching one episode,
you'll probably make it to the end because it's kind
of design that way, So watch it at your own pre.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
It's like one of those page turn of books. Right, Yeah,
I wanted to ask about Season one, episode one. It's
just an example because this is obviously a thriller. When
you're doing that type of acting. I think you're in
an a wardrobe, there's a batty outside, you're stressed. I'm
sitting on the couch full of anxiety, and I'm imagining
(05:34):
you would have to do that scene over and over
and over again. Do you have to get into a
high anxious state every time you do it or do
you just stay in one for the whole day or
however long it takes you to film.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Oh gosh, it's a great question because we shot that
like three years ago, so I'm trying to remember exactly.
We did the whole house hiding in the house over
a night, I remember that, and we did a bunch
of different sizes, so like a wide shot, a close up,
and you know when it's the close up, you've got
to be like all distress. But it's funny. Thank goodness.
(06:07):
My coaster, Gabriel Besso, who plays Peter, he actually came
in that night and read the offlines because we're on
the phone to each other. So that was really helpful
because sometimes it's hard to picture who you're talking to
when they're not there. Normally it's like a crew member
reading the lines really like flatly and with a monotone accent.
(06:29):
So that was really helpful. But I remember giving the
phone back to the prop department every take because I
had to wipe all the snot off the phone because
so much not coming out and more than tears. I
was like, I'm sorry, like, and they're like, it's part
of the job. So that's what I do. Remember the
snotty phone.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
You got the gig during lockdown here in New Zealand,
so we were in quite a hard lockdown in New
Zealand and you did that. I'm assuming over Zoom were
over the internet. How did that go?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Oh gosh, it was the craziest thing. Like, didn't think
I was going to get it or whatever it was.
You know. I was flatting in Mount Ross School with
two of my high school best friends. I called a
friend over. We broke the rules, sorry Jacinda at the time,
and snuck him into my place because he's such a
good person to read my auditions with and I needed
(07:23):
a guy to read against. And we sent it away
and just was like, okay, whatever, and then my manager
came back and was like, they really like you. I'm like, oh,
I've heard that before, you know, I really like you.
And then it was callback auditions and I was like, oh, okay,
so now we're doing chemistry reads and I actually didn't
read with Gabriel. The first round of chemistry reads. I
(07:46):
read with a bunch of other actors and then I
got the part, so I was one of the first
people cast. And then they did another round of peters,
so I had to come back and read these scenes
and then they settled on Gabriel and the next minute
I'm in Canada shooting the show. So it all happened
really quickly, and I kind of didn't want to celebrate
(08:09):
till I was in Canada because I was like, this
is not mine until it's till i'm there. So yeah,
it was crazy.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Well I'm glad you broke the lockdown rules. Now you're
probably one of the most viewed key we actresses have
ever lived.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Sometimes you've got to risk at all, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Ah, rules are made to be broken. Obviously, Season two
is coming, in fact, it's going to be here in
New Zealand today and everyone is very excited to watch this.
In the States at the moment, there's a lot going
on with politics. Donald Trump has been elected. Is this
something you avoid talking about? Big issue for actors and
musicians in the States at the moment. Do you talk
about your politics? Do you risk blowback? What's your policy look?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
To be honest, I'm figuring it out as I go, Like,
I think it's kind of impossible to talk about every
single issue, and I think it's also silly to think
that politics doesn't involve yourself, because it's in everything that
we do. But if something really really speaks to me
and I know that I can use my platform to
just share a donation link or you know, and it's
(09:12):
totally up to people to look into it if they
want to or not. But I'd say, for instance, everything
that's happening with tatility or white tongue that really spoke
to me from being so far away from home. So
I was like, Okay, I'll share the petition on my
page and if I can help get more signatures out there,
(09:35):
I would love to. But in terms of the stuff
in the US, I think it's a bit more tricky
because I'm not a citizen and I feel like that's
something that I can't really speak to, but of course
I keep up to date, and.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
It's pretty wild. It's very different to the way we
do politics in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
You feel so awful, just like watching from far because
you know, you feel kind of removed. But I don't know, well,
I as much as it's disconcerning, I am, I'm kind
of hopeful. At the same time. There's always good things
that come out of bad things, for sure, so I'm
choosing to be hopeful.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Speaking of good things, You're in a new Apple Plus series.
I think you'll already film some of it, at least
Chief of War. It's got tim word of Morrison, Jason Mama,
can you tell us about it?
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Oh my gosh. I can't really speak too much about
it because it's still in the works, but oh my gosh,
it's an epic, epic project to be a part of.
And you know, I think I didn't actually know I
was going to be a lead on that show as well.
I was very much kept in the quiet of what
my character was and it was a very surreal moment
(10:44):
walking into the office the production office for the first
time and seeing Jason's face then my face and then
Cliff's face, and then Tim Morrison says, and I was like,
I'm not ready for this, but I'll do my best.
So I'm excited for the world to be introduced to
that story because it was a part of history that
(11:04):
I hadn't known about. But yeah, it's going to be
epic and I can't say too much.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Lucy, Annie, thank you for telling us what you did
and for letting us know about the new season, season
two of The Night Agent out on Netflix today. That's
Lucy Arnie Buchanan. She's a key reactress. She's doing very
well for herself over in the United States. Not that
you will hear her say that. For more from the
Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news Talks it'd be
from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Our next talented guest is somewhat of a breakout star.
Key We actress Lucy Ann Buchanan started her rise to
fame in New Zealand and her teens, but since twenty
twenty two, her career has really started taking off, especially
with her lead role in Netflix as the Night Agent.
If you haven't seen it, it's brilliant, go and watch it.
It was the most watched show on Netflix globally in
(00:22):
twenty twenty three, and now she's back starring alongside Jason
Mmara in the upcoming mini series Chief of War that's
on Apple TV Plus. Lucian Buchanan, Good.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Morning, what Anna, Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Rayan, Lucyanie. This show is massive. I was reading a
stat that says it's been watched all up one hundred
thousand years worth of viewing for season one alone. It's huge,
just a little bit.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I mean, hearing those numbers kind of freak me out
and it's a little bit overwhelming, but it's also exciting
to be a part of something that a lot of
people enjoyed, so I can't complain.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
I'm actually quite into this genre, into political thriller, particularly
from the nineties early two thousand, so this was right
up my alley. I loved watching it, but I have
to say I had no idea that you were a
Kiwi the whole time I watched it.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
It's quite nice hearing that from people, because if you
saw me off set, I was like with my script
in hand and my coaches and just stressing over like
the babsic words, like saying, my coast stars. Your character
named Peter Sutherland, I'm like Peter running around Peter.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
But you know, yeah, how hard is it to now,
because obviously it's quite crucial. I mean, no one wants
to be watching a show and be questioning the accent
the whole time.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Right, Oh my gosh. I think first season, I got
a dialect coach two days before we started, and they
were just going to give me two days to like
spend with him for the whole season. And I kind
of was like, this is not enough, Like this is
really intimidating to be putting on this accent around Americans.
And we were shooting in Canada at the time, so
(01:58):
I mean, when we were working at home, you kind
of feel like, Okay, no one's around, like Judge, but
in this setting, it was a lot of pressure and
also like a lot of pressure coming back this season
because a lot of people, including Americans, were like, I
didn't know you weren't American, and I'm like, oh gosh,
don't stuff it up this time. So a lot of
preparation goes into it. It's not something I can do
(02:19):
so easily.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
When did you find out that there would be another season?
Season two?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
It was crazy, Ryan, Like, Netflix never do this. But
it was six days after the launch of season one,
and normally did they take about a month or like
just over a month to find out, but because the
numbers were so high, they were like, yep, season two.
And I was back home and Altie at all, and
I was like, Okay, I guess we're going again. This
(02:46):
is crazy.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
There's actually another key we in this series, right, Your
Auntie is from New Zealand. Did you have some part
in getting the job or was this just a magic coincidence?
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I wish they did ask me. They were like, do
you know any like tongue and actresses player aunt but
she has to know how to do an American accent
and be comfortable with stunts. And I was like, oh
my god, I'm trying to think and you know, there's
very few tongue and actresses, including myself, like I'm one
of like five maybe, and trying to find someone age
(03:16):
appropriate as well, and I was like, I'm so sorry,
Like maybe she could just be white. I don't know.
I was like trying to think of people. And then
it was like my first read through. We did a
zoom read through cause of COVID, and I saw her
in the little box and I was like, oh, oh
my gosh, Simone cares, so of course I know who
(03:36):
she is. And then it wasn't until we had a fitting.
I kind of grabbed her and was like hi, and
she was like, where are you from? And I was
like from Auckland and she was like, okay, I'm taking
you under my way and we're getting dinner and I'm
going to share everything I know about working over here.
And she was just like a big sister to me
the whole time.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Is there a demand, like a specific demand for key
WE actors in the United States or is it just
that we've had some that have We've had lots of
great success and we know about them.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
I think, you know, we we're definitely unique. And I
don't know if they're like specifically looking for Kiwis. But
I think we just put our best foot forward and
like hope for the best, and we're in the ring
with everyone else. I mean, there's a bunch of Aussies,
there's a bunch of British people in there as well,
so I think we kind of trick them almost. You know,
we go into the audition with these accents and it's
not till we get the part we're like, oh, by
(04:24):
the way, like this, listen, listen, I'll need a visa
to do.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
For those who haven't seen Night Agent, give us an
idea of what the show's about.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Oh gosh, I'm terrible at this, but I'll do my best.
It takes place here in the United States in Washington, DC,
and we follow a low level FBI agent who man's
a phone in a windowless spacement and he one night
gets a call from my character distressed, and they kind
(04:57):
of go on this big conspiracy that revolve around the
White House. And yeah, it gets really intense really quick.
And let's just say, if you plan on watching one episode,
you'll probably make it to the end because it's kind
of design that way, So watch it at your own pre.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
It's like one of those page turn of books. Right, Yeah,
I wanted to ask about Season one, episode one. It's
just an example because this is obviously a thriller. When
you're doing that type of acting. I think you're in
an a wardrobe, there's a batty outside, you're stressed. I'm
sitting on the couch full of anxiety, and I'm imagining
(05:34):
you would have to do that scene over and over
and over again. Do you have to get into a
high anxious state every time you do it or do
you just stay in one for the whole day or
however long it takes you to film.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Oh gosh, it's a great question because we shot that
like three years ago, so I'm trying to remember exactly.
We did the whole house hiding in the house over
a night, I remember that, and we did a bunch
of different sizes, so like a wide shot, a close up,
and you know when it's the close up, you've got
to be like all distress. But it's funny. Thank goodness.
(06:07):
My coaster, Gabriel Besso, who plays Peter, he actually came
in that night and read the offlines because we're on
the phone to each other. So that was really helpful
because sometimes it's hard to picture who you're talking to
when they're not there. Normally it's like a crew member
reading the lines really like flatly and with a monotone accent.
(06:29):
So that was really helpful. But I remember giving the
phone back to the prop department every take because I
had to wipe all the snot off the phone because
so much not coming out and more than tears. I
was like, I'm sorry, like, and they're like, it's part
of the job. So that's what I do. Remember the
snotty phone.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
You got the gig during lockdown here in New Zealand,
so we were in quite a hard lockdown in New
Zealand and you did that. I'm assuming over Zoom were
over the internet. How did that go?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Oh gosh, it was the craziest thing. Like, didn't think
I was going to get it or whatever it was.
You know. I was flatting in Mount Ross School with
two of my high school best friends. I called a
friend over. We broke the rules, sorry Jacinda at the time,
and snuck him into my place because he's such a
good person to read my auditions with and I needed
(07:23):
a guy to read against. And we sent it away
and just was like, okay, whatever, and then my manager
came back and was like, they really like you. I'm like, oh,
I've heard that before, you know, I really like you.
And then it was callback auditions and I was like, oh, okay,
so now we're doing chemistry reads and I actually didn't
read with Gabriel. The first round of chemistry reads. I
(07:46):
read with a bunch of other actors and then I
got the part, so I was one of the first
people cast. And then they did another round of peters,
so I had to come back and read these scenes
and then they settled on Gabriel and the next minute
I'm in Canada shooting the show. So it all happened
really quickly, and I kind of didn't want to celebrate
(08:09):
till I was in Canada because I was like, this
is not mine until it's till i'm there. So yeah,
it was crazy.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Well I'm glad you broke the lockdown rules. Now you're
probably one of the most viewed key we actresses have
ever lived.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Sometimes you've got to risk at all, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Ah, rules are made to be broken. Obviously, Season two
is coming, in fact, it's going to be here in
New Zealand today and everyone is very excited to watch this.
In the States at the moment, there's a lot going
on with politics. Donald Trump has been elected. Is this
something you avoid talking about? Big issue for actors and
musicians in the States at the moment. Do you talk
about your politics? Do you risk blowback? What's your policy look?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
To be honest, I'm figuring it out as I go, Like,
I think it's kind of impossible to talk about every
single issue, and I think it's also silly to think
that politics doesn't involve yourself, because it's in everything that
we do. But if something really really speaks to me
and I know that I can use my platform to
just share a donation link or you know, and it's
(09:12):
totally up to people to look into it if they
want to or not. But I'd say, for instance, everything
that's happening with tatility or white tongue that really spoke
to me from being so far away from home. So
I was like, Okay, I'll share the petition on my
page and if I can help get more signatures out there,
(09:35):
I would love to. But in terms of the stuff
in the US, I think it's a bit more tricky
because I'm not a citizen and I feel like that's
something that I can't really speak to, but of course
I keep up to date, and.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
It's pretty wild. It's very different to the way we
do politics in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
You feel so awful, just like watching from far because
you know, you feel kind of removed. But I don't know, well,
I as much as it's disconcerning, I am, I'm kind
of hopeful. At the same time. There's always good things
that come out of bad things, for sure, so I'm
choosing to be hopeful.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Speaking of good things, You're in a new Apple Plus series.
I think you'll already film some of it, at least
Chief of War. It's got tim word of Morrison, Jason Mama,
can you tell us about it?
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Oh my gosh. I can't really speak too much about
it because it's still in the works, but oh my gosh,
it's an epic, epic project to be a part of.
And you know, I think I didn't actually know I
was going to be a lead on that show as well.
I was very much kept in the quiet of what
my character was and it was a very surreal moment
(10:44):
walking into the office the production office for the first
time and seeing Jason's face then my face and then
Cliff's face, and then Tim Morrison says, and I was like,
I'm not ready for this, but I'll do my best.
So I'm excited for the world to be introduced to
that story because it was a part of history that
(11:04):
I hadn't known about. But yeah, it's going to be
epic and I can't say too much.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Lucy, Annie, thank you for telling us what you did
and for letting us know about the new season, season
two of The Night Agent out on Netflix today. That's
Lucy Arnie Buchanan. She's a key reactress. She's doing very
well for herself over in the United States. Not that
you will hear her say that. For more from the
Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news Talks it'd be
from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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