In 'Madam,' Rachel Griffiths owns an 'ethical, feminist' brothel
Australian actress Rachel Griffiths is no stranger to daring roles. In 1997, she portrayed a sex worker in comedy-drama My Son the Fanatic, and in 1998, a musician who allows her sister to sleep with her husband in the biopic Hilary and Jackie. Despite her brief but bubbly role in My Best Friend's Wedding, Rachel would eventually star in darker shows, including the critically acclaimed drama series Six Feet Under, and even venture into political ones, including Total Control.
This time, Rachel is bringing back the charm and humor—without totally forgoing a serious subject matter—in the new comedy-drama Madam.
"My agent told me that it's a dramedy and I was like, 'Really?' I thought it was so spot on," she told PhilSTAR L!fe in a virtual interview.
In Madam, a new 10-episode series streaming on Lionsgate Play, Griffiths plays Mackenzie Leigh, an American family woman living in a quiet New Zealand town.
Her marriage to Rob has lost its spark, leading him to seek intimacy elsewhere, after all, prostitution is legal in the country.
But when Mackenzie discovers his infidelity, she's not just angry—she's inspired. Seeing a business opportunity and a way out of debt, she becomes "Madam," running her own brothel while still juggling the demands of being a mother of two boys, one of whom is disabled.
A new look at sex in film
Madam takes inspiration from an unpublished memoir by Antonia Murphy, a San Francisco-born author who opened an ethical escort agency in New Zealand in a bid to protect women's rights and financial independence. She told L!fe that it is somehow reminiscent of My Son the Fanatic but with a twist.
Though the 1997 film has "so much humanism" through the unexpected genuine friendship of her character and the protagonist Pakistani taxi driver, Rachel lamented the depiction of sex workers before the turn of the century.
She cited as examples the 1978 historical drama Pretty Baby starring Brooke Shields and the 1976 neo-noir psychological drama Taxi Driver starring Jodie Foster. Both actresses portrayed 12-year-old prostitutes.
"We look at them now, and they're kind of really pervy," Rachel said. "There's something really off in their DNA because they don't have the female perspective."
But with Madam, Rachel said it's a response to such "grimy and skanky" depiction of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking before, especially since the ones in charge—directors, co-showrunner/writer, producer, and consulting producer—are women.
"Creating a workplace with good juju that really counters that," she said of the on-screen brothel.
Rachel also commended Madam's humorous tone, believing it would help tackle an important issue with enough grace.
"The aspect of comedy is the truest to the female experience of sex when it's not about making babies or falling in love," she said. "It allowed this playfulness to talk about sex and letting the light into it. It is not this dark, exploitative story with drugs and pimps."
Playing the role
In preparation for her role, Rachel said she read the memoir, talked to local sex workers, and held "fun" workshops "to make it all feel real."
Rachel's "special role" in Hilary and Jackie, which was also based on a memoir, also helped, saying it allowed her to "always know what decision to make" when it comes to portraying real-life events.
"I was very lucky (to do it again) with Madam," she said.
Still, the veteran actress Rachel couldn't help but feel an impostor's syndrome while working with younger actors.
"I don't know if I'm funny but everyone around me is a straight-up comic genius," she said.
All she knew during production was that it was her job to make Mackenzie's "character true, relatable, authentic, and accessible."
Another challenge for Rachel was portraying the mother of a child with a disability. Though she has worked with persons with disability before—and though she's a mother of three—she said it's one of the areas she allotted the most preparation.
"It's really an eye-opener. I learned a lot about that," she said.
Rachel also wishes to do sex workers justice in the series so that they won't roll their eyes upon seeing it.
"We have to make it right," she said.
Asked what she and Mackenzie have in common, it's that they would do anything for their families.
Rachel said that every time she has a potential project, she asks important questions like, "How good is it, how long is it, how far away is it, how much will I be paid," with her family's welfare in mind.
When she and her husband were watching television, a woman made a strange appearance in an ad, making him question why.
Rachel recalled explaining to him that it's because the woman has mouths to feed, earning a lot for a two-day shoot compared to a "traditional" work worth six months.
"That's one thing I found in common with a lot of women I talked to. They're making that choice," she said. "Most mothers I know would do anything to provide for their family."
Through Madam, Rachel is hoping for more countries to decriminalize sex work, noting that it would actually keep women safer.
According to Human Rights Watch, research across various countries has suggested that (illegal) sex workers are more vulnerable to violence—including rape, assault, and murder—especially since they're stigmatized and unlikely to receive help from the police. They're also forced to work in unsafe locations while also lacking access to healthcare and testing.
Moreover, government regulation would allow sex workers to contribute to the economy through taxes and licensing.
"We respect women who make these choices. They're not leeching off of society. They do it to keep their ship afloat and keep their people safe," Rachel said.
"Respect, babe. Respect!"
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Madam is now streaming on Lionsgate Play.
