Madam, the comedic drama starring Rachel Griffiths and Danielle Cormack premieres Tuesday, February 4, at 9.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Inspired by real events, this bold, 10-part series follows the turbulent life of Mackenzie “Mack” Leigh (Rachel Griffiths, Muriel’s Wedding, Six Feet Under), an American woman living in small-town New Zealand with her husband and their two sons.
What began as a visit to New Zealand turns into a permanent and rewarding stay for the family – until Mack uncovers a shocking secret: her husband Rob (Martin Henderson, Virgin River) has been seeing a prostitute. Despite the shock, Mack feels inspired by this revelation and decides to open a legal “feminist, ethical brothel” where women can revolutionise sex-for-sale by taking control of their lives, their work and their sexuality.
Over Rob’s objections, Mack goes ahead and recruits a colourful team of sex workers including Tui(Ariaña Osborne, Millie Lies Low), the woman Rob has been seeing. In the face of community outrage, Mack sets out to navigate the unique challenges and complexities of making a profit from operating a brothel that empowers the working girls, not their male clients, in a safe and new-style environment.
But the task grows increasingly difficult. And can Mack, the responsible new-age madam, solve the tensions between her family life and her controversial business?
The series also stars Quinn Ashton and Angus Stevens as Mack’s sons Toby and Noam, Rima Te Wiata (Sons and Daughters) and Robbie Magasiva (Wentworth).
Madam is based on the memoir by Antonia Murphy, scripted by Harry McNaughton and Shoshana McCallum, and directed by Kacie Anning and Madeleine Sami. It is a co-production between Tavake and XYZ Films in association with Fifth Season, commissioned by Warner Bros. Discovery and TV3 (New Zealand).
