Miriam Margolyes appeared in the ABC documentary, "Almost Australian". This time, she's hitting the road on a New Zealand trip. Photo / ABC
Miriam Margolyes appeared in the ABC documentary, "Almost Australian". This time, she's hitting the road on a New Zealand trip. Photo / ABC
Legendary British actress and comedian Miriam Margolyes has admitted it was “unforgivable” that she didn’t know much about New Zealand before exploring the country for her latest travel show.
Margolyes, well known for her acclaimed theatre performances and for playing Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film series, can be seen travelling Aotearoa in a campervan during the trailer for her new series Miriam Margolyes In New Zealand.
Snippets show the 83-year-old stage and screen superstar chatting with farmers while eating pavlova, witnessing a school haka, and even being taught how to do a pūkana (to stare wildly).
Produced by ABC Australia in association with Screen New South Wales, the series follows Margolyes as she flies from her adopted home of Australia to New Zealand to “figure out” the country ahead of her new role in the upcoming Kiwi film Holy Days.
The film, which is based on beloved Kiwi author Dame Joy Cowley’s novel of the same name, follows three quirky older nuns as they experience their own special New Zealand road trip.
Margolyes will star alongside Australian screen stalwarts Jackie Weaver and Judy Davis.
“In a first for me, the film will be set in New Zealand,” she revealed in the Miriam Margolyes In New Zealand trailer.
“I’m very excited about it. But even though it’s three hours away from my home in Sydney, I don’t know anything about New Zealand. It seems unforgivable to be so ignorant about a country that’s always been New Zealand’s closest friend and ally”.
After revealing she would tour both the North and South Island, Margolyes explained she wanted to find out “how being a New Zealander is different than being an Ozzie.
“What sets our two countries apart?”
The series will likely be filled with shades of Margolyes' trademark droll humour, mixed with heartfelt moments where Margolyes chats to everyday Kiwis about what it means to be a New Zealander.
“I need to learn, what is the identity of New Zealand, and what are the challenges New Zealanders face”.
Another scene in the trailer shows Margolyes receiving a hongi at a Hurricanes rugby game.
It is unknown when Margolyes filmed scenes for her new series, but the stage stalwart was in New Zealand twice this year, once for her live tour and again last month for the Isaac Theatre Royal Variety Gala show in Christchurch.
Miriam Margolyes in the Newstalk ZB studio. Photo / NZME
On her most recent visit, she even made time to chat with Newstalk ZB’s John MacDonald in Christchurch to talk about the importance of reading books, and how much it meant to be back in the garden city.
Margolyes is also no stranger to travel shows, having previously appeared in the ABC documentary, Almost Australian.
Miriam Margolyes In New Zealand will stream from Sunday, January 12 at 7.30pm (AU time) on ABC iview and ABC TV in Australia.
