Speaker 1: It's in the news today, but it was actually on
Speaker 1: TV Reload, the podcast Past Deep Theirbine. Welcome back guys
Speaker 1: to TV Reload. As you may know, my name is
Speaker 1: Benjamin Norris and this is your podcast to get all
Speaker 1: the inside goss on the popular TV shows that you
Speaker 1: may be watching from around the world. Undeniably, our TV
Speaker 1: sets are still a major part of our home entertainment,
Speaker 1: and yet very little is known about some of these
Speaker 1: shows and how they get made. So each episode I've
Speaker 1: been finding guests that want to dive just that little
Speaker 1: bit deeper into the shows that they're currently making so
Speaker 1: that you can hear all their exclusive stories and gain
Speaker 1: access to some of the biggest names in Australian television.
Speaker 1: I want to thank you for downloading or subscribing to
Speaker 1: this podcast however you found me. I really do love
Speaker 1: hearing your feedback, so if you can leave a review
Speaker 1: or a comment on your chosen podcast platform. On today's podcast,
Speaker 1: I have Max McKenna, stage and screen actor, well known
Speaker 1: for playing Muriel in Muriel's Wedding, the stage show which
Speaker 1: toured Australia. Max went on to star alongside Natalie Bassingthway
Speaker 1: in Jagger Little pill, which I actually saw five times. Yes,
Speaker 1: I've got a problem. Max is also known for being
Speaker 1: the only child of Gena Riley, one of my favorite comedians.
Speaker 1: We are here to unpack their feature role in the
Speaker 1: film Jones Family Christmas, which is now available to watch
Speaker 1: on STAN Australia. The Christmas feature involves an eccentric grandmother,
Speaker 1: Heather Jones played by Heather Mitchell, who finally manages to
Speaker 1: get a whole family under the same roof for Christmas.
Speaker 1: But all is not as merry and as bright in
Speaker 1: this rural home. From heartbreak and depression to meddling mothers
Speaker 1: and forced frivolity, every member of Heather's extended clan is
Speaker 1: fighting an internal battle, which I think is something we
Speaker 1: can all relate to, especially at Christmas time. This film
Speaker 1: is like a warm hug from Mum, and I hope
Speaker 1: you all take the time to check out Max in
Speaker 1: this story, as they are sensational as the non binary
Speaker 1: youngest child in the Jones family. We will talk about
Speaker 1: Max's role in the film and if their own journey
Speaker 1: through gender and sexuality discovery helped the writers and producers
Speaker 1: tell the most authentic story. I will ask Max in
Speaker 1: this chat about play Muriel's wedding and if that role
Speaker 1: left as much of an impact on her as it
Speaker 1: did for Tony Khalet. Max will share some really fun
Speaker 1: stories about Gina Riley and which character was their favorite
Speaker 1: growing up. Plus, we're going to get some exclusives from
Speaker 1: behind the scenes of Jones Family Christmas, which, as I mentioned,
Speaker 1: is now out on Stan Australia, so you should go
Speaker 1: and check that out. Anyway, guys, let's bring Max into
Speaker 1: the podcasting. Guys, I hope you enjoyed this catch up
Speaker 1: with one of Australia's brightest stars. Hey Max, how are you?
Speaker 2: I'm great? How are you?
Speaker 1: I think I should probably tell you right up from
Speaker 1: the start that I'm probably your biggest fan.
Speaker 2: Oh my god, thank you. That's very nice.
Speaker 1: I have a really fun story that I want to
Speaker 1: start this podcast with. But I live in Tuac and
Speaker 1: the video store that I used to go to, you know,
Speaker 1: over last when the video stores existed, was the one
Speaker 1: in Armadale, And it actually was the same video store
Speaker 1: that you used to go to as a kid with
Speaker 1: your parents. And I was in there once paying late fees,
Speaker 1: and you were there and your mom's like, hurry, up
Speaker 1: and choose a DVD.
Speaker 3: Oh my god, that sounds about right, because I would
Speaker 3: spend hours in there and I was so indecisive. So
Speaker 3: she was always like, please just pick a film.
Speaker 1: Do you remember what movies? Used to go as a
Speaker 1: kid to the video store and rent all the time?
Speaker 2: I'm trying to think of movies.
Speaker 3: I mean, I was obsessed with TV shows, like I
Speaker 3: watched lane On and Woodley probably a hundred times. That
Speaker 3: was kind of my favorite. But movies, I mean, I
Speaker 3: was obsessed with Mean Girls, and I was way too
Speaker 3: young to be watching it, but I just was obsessed
Speaker 3: with it. Any any kind of comedy, anything fun and
Speaker 3: camp I loved.
Speaker 1: You know, I think with Mean Girls, that's the sort
Speaker 1: of film that as kids you want to watch, but
Speaker 1: you know, a lot of the jokes go over your
Speaker 1: head or as you know, maybe a little bit not
Speaker 1: suitable for your age demographic.
Speaker 3: I mean, I did grow up in a comedian's household,
Speaker 3: so I was probably exposed to jokes I shouldn't have
Speaker 3: been exposed to younger than other kids, but so I
Speaker 3: was just accustomed to it.
Speaker 1: I just think with this movie Joanes Family Christmas, that
Speaker 1: it's that sort of movie that as a kid, you
Speaker 1: go back and rent again and again. I grew up
Speaker 1: watching films like Bushfire Moon and Bush Christmas. Did you
Speaker 1: have a favorite Christmas movie that you guys, you know,
Speaker 1: you and your family used to watch again and again.
Speaker 2: I mean we still kind of watch Love actually every year.
Speaker 2: I know that's basic, but.
Speaker 3: It is just the film that my family love, and
Speaker 3: I mean, it's such a great film, and every time
Speaker 3: I watch it, I go, oh, it's just so well done,
Speaker 3: and it's got the spirit of Christmas there and it's
Speaker 3: quite beautiful.
Speaker 1: I think Love actually is one of those films that
Speaker 1: we all grew up watching. I actually saw that at
Speaker 1: the cinemas with my parents and my younger sister. She's
Speaker 1: probably a bit young for that at that age. But
Speaker 1: I think my favorite now looking back is The Family Stone.
Speaker 1: Have you seen that?
Speaker 2: No, I haven't seen that one. What's that involved?
Speaker 1: Well, it's got Diane Keaton in it, it's got Sarah
Speaker 1: Jessica Parker, and it's very similar to Jones' Family Christmas
Speaker 1: and you're getting all of the siblings back under the
Speaker 1: same house for Christmas, and you know, drama ensues love that,
Speaker 1: you know, I went into watching this film, and I
Speaker 1: didn't know what to expect, and I actually don't always
Speaker 1: love Christmas movies, especially they're too cheesy. But I kind
Speaker 1: of feel like this film is like a warm hug
Speaker 1: from mum. Yeah.
Speaker 3: Well, I saw it for the first time last night
Speaker 3: actually on a big screen, which was really cool, and
Speaker 3: I felt the same I think. I mean, I'm obsessed
Speaker 3: with Heather Mitchell, and I think she has that she
Speaker 3: has that energy if she's everyone's mum, and so I
Speaker 3: think she really holds this film together and is such
Speaker 3: the heart of it that you know, I cried at
Speaker 3: the end when she cries, and yeah, it's beautiful.
Speaker 1: I want to know how with a film like this,
Speaker 1: like how did it all happen? Like how did it
Speaker 1: come across your desk? How did you get involved?
Speaker 2: Yeah?
Speaker 3: I was traveling and I just I got an audition
Speaker 3: and with it came the script and I went, oh,
Speaker 3: this is so cool an Australian Christmas film with lesbian
Speaker 3: character in it. And I thought that was so so
Speaker 3: exciting and such a cool step for us with representation,
Speaker 3: and the character was so funny and I really connected
Speaker 3: to the story and so I just really wanted it
Speaker 3: and put down a tape and thankfully the stars aligned
Speaker 3: and I booked it.
Speaker 1: You know what drew you to this particular role?
Speaker 3: Though?
Speaker 1: I kind of feel like, you know, yes, they're right.
Speaker 1: You know, it is a lesbian character, and there is
Speaker 1: a bit of a marriage between who you are and
Speaker 1: where you are in your life and this particular character.
Speaker 1: But what made you want to take this role on?
Speaker 2: I think?
Speaker 3: I mean, I've been lucky enough now to pet to
Speaker 3: play a few queer characters, and since coming out is queer,
Speaker 3: it's been really really special for me because I spent
Speaker 3: so long grappling with my identity. So now getting to
Speaker 3: step into roles like this and be a love interest
Speaker 3: and have a romantic interest in a film whilst being
Speaker 3: an openly queer, non binary person, it's just really really
Speaker 3: heartwarming and exciting, and I just feel incredibly lucky that
Speaker 3: I live in this time.
Speaker 1: I mean, I think that the way in which your
Speaker 1: character struggles with gender and same sex attractive relationships feels
Speaker 1: very honest. Did you get a chance to work with
Speaker 1: the writers the directors, Like, did they ask you to
Speaker 1: add anything to this to the character?
Speaker 3: I mean, they'd done a real, really good job of
Speaker 3: the you know, writing and creating of it, and it
Speaker 3: felt pretty authentic to me. When I first read it,
Speaker 3: I didn't read it and go, oh, this doesn't feel true.
Speaker 3: I thought it actually felt quite honest about the experience of,
Speaker 3: you know, not being accepted by someone else's family, which
Speaker 3: is an issue for a lot of queer relationships. And yeah,
Speaker 3: I just came in and we had lots of conversations
Speaker 3: and they were so open and they I think they
Speaker 3: really wanted a queer person.
Speaker 2: To play this role, so it did feel true.
Speaker 3: And yeah, Talie, who plays my love interest, is also queer,
Speaker 3: so it was it was really nice to be able
Speaker 3: to talk from a place of authenticity whilst discussing this
Speaker 3: role and the story arc.
Speaker 1: You know, it's so funny to talk to you because
Speaker 1: I always think of you being so much younger, and
Speaker 1: now we're having these broad adult conversations. Has it been
Speaker 1: interesting to navigate your own journey of discovery, I guess,
Speaker 1: with finding yourself and having to live in the public eye.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, look, I'm kind of lucky enough that
Speaker 3: I've done a lot of theater and things, which isn't
Speaker 3: that kind of major paparazzi life of people following my
Speaker 3: every move. It's a much smaller community that kind of
Speaker 3: follows me, which I've been really grateful for because it
Speaker 3: has let me experience and find myself a bit more
Speaker 3: and you know, fall on my face and make mistakes
Speaker 3: and figure things out without a lot of public scrutiny.
Speaker 3: I think it would be really hard to be under
Speaker 3: a complete microscope. But I think I've just been so
Speaker 3: thrilled with how much community I've found from coming out
Speaker 3: that it for me, and this is not everyone's experience.
Speaker 3: I'm very privileged in this, but I've had a really
Speaker 3: really beautiful experience coming out and finding people like me.
Speaker 1: It's so cool to be able to talk to today
Speaker 1: about this film, Jones Family, Christmas, but also some of
Speaker 1: the other things that you've done in your life. I
Speaker 1: actually went back the other night and rewatched the documentary
Speaker 1: that they made, which was on SBS. I think about
Speaker 1: how you got the role of Muriel in the Murial's
Speaker 1: Wedding production. Have you ever gone back and tried to
Speaker 1: watch that again.
Speaker 3: I actually I haven't watched it back in full. I've
Speaker 3: seen little clips here and there. I think I probably
Speaker 3: want to give it a bit more time before I go.
Speaker 2: And watch it, but it's funny.
Speaker 3: My partner's brother said they had to watch it for
Speaker 3: a media class in year eleven and they had to
Speaker 3: study it, which I mean, is so weird for me,
Speaker 3: But I do think it's so special and who gets
Speaker 3: to have their first job filmed and like the process
Speaker 3: of it filmed.
Speaker 1: I remember Tony Klept forever felt connected to that character,
Speaker 1: and I remember her talking about, you know that time
Speaker 1: where you were taking on that role and what Muriel
Speaker 1: had meant to her. Did you taking on that role
Speaker 1: of Muriel's wedding have that same effect, like did that
Speaker 1: change your life in some way? Oh?
Speaker 2: Totally.
Speaker 3: I think that it's one of those jobs that will
Speaker 3: always be the most special, even no matter what I do.
Speaker 3: I think that felt like a dream. The entire experience
Speaker 3: was a dream.
Speaker 2: It was so hard. It's also one of the hardest
Speaker 2: things I've ever done. But it just was.
Speaker 3: Entirely mind blowing to be this young person creating a
Speaker 3: new show with these incredible people, and having PJ. Hogan,
Speaker 3: who wrote Muriel's Weddings it's his life like to be
Speaker 3: in the room and giving his blessing, and Tony Kleet
Speaker 3: coming to see the show and giving her blessing. Yeah,
Speaker 3: I hope I have another experience like it, But if
Speaker 3: I don't, I'm okay. I'm happy to die with having
Speaker 3: that experience.
Speaker 1: You know, Max, this is the beginning. It's the beginning.
Speaker 1: I feel like we're going to talk about so many
Speaker 1: amazing roles and so many different jobs that you're going
Speaker 1: to take on. I'm excited for you. I remember I
Speaker 1: remember watching your mum's face for the opening night of
Speaker 1: Jag at Little Pill. I know Natalie bassin Twad and
Speaker 1: Nat Bass in the real world, and so I went
Speaker 1: along to the opening night to watch her in that.
Speaker 1: I remember seeing your mum and dad's face while watching
Speaker 1: you in that role, obviously watching you in that role
Speaker 1: for the first time, and it was so amazing to
Speaker 1: see parents watching their child, you know, do so well
Speaker 1: in such a such a powerful role.
Speaker 2: You know.
Speaker 3: Yeah, my mom and dad are so supportive, and you know,
Speaker 3: they've always been like, you need to work hard, and
Speaker 3: we're always going to be honest with you.
Speaker 2: We're not going to bullshit you. Essentially if like we
Speaker 2: don't think something's.
Speaker 3: Good, or like you need to work hard, or you know,
Speaker 3: they've always had that attitude, so when they are proud,
Speaker 3: it feels like such an achievement because I'm like, oh,
Speaker 3: I did good.
Speaker 2: I did good.
Speaker 1: I mean, that would be so amazing, you know, to
Speaker 1: get that reaction from your family like that. The thing
Speaker 1: with jagg a Little Pill, which I just loved, was
Speaker 1: that moment where you sung the Elanis Morrissett song You
Speaker 1: Want to Know, And it was such a big moment
Speaker 1: of the song that was singing and dancing and then
Speaker 1: you kind of finish at the end and there's a
Speaker 1: there's a standing ovation that seemed to happen every time
Speaker 1: you performed it. What was it like at that point
Speaker 1: when the song would finish and you'd have to try
Speaker 1: and catch your breath.
Speaker 3: I mean, to be honest, I was so out of
Speaker 3: breath that I was like just trying to breathe and
Speaker 3: not pass out, and then to feel the audience kind
Speaker 3: of lift my energy back up was always so thrilling. Yeah,
Speaker 3: but that was That's the hardest workout I've ever done ever.
Speaker 1: The choreography, though, was so intense. I mean it was
Speaker 1: the most amount of choreography I think your character has
Speaker 1: in that just for that particular moment, but it was
Speaker 1: so there was so much going on in your mind.
Speaker 1: There must have been so much going on in your mind.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, and there's no set corry there, at
Speaker 3: least for my role. So it was very much like
Speaker 3: let the music take you and throw your body around,
Speaker 3: and so that's that's what would happen every night, and
Speaker 3: it was it was cool because I felt like no
Speaker 3: night was the same in terms of how I felt.
Speaker 1: It would be remiss of me not to ask you
Speaker 1: this question because I am a big fan of your mum's.
Speaker 1: Did you have a favorite character or a skit that
Speaker 1: she was a part of while you were g up? Like,
Speaker 1: what was something that you maybe not Kim because everyone
Speaker 1: would know that role, but one of the other smaller
Speaker 1: roles that she had on, maybe Big Girl's blouse or
Speaker 1: one of those shows I'm trying to.
Speaker 2: I mean, there's so many.
Speaker 3: I think what I grew up with my mum doing
Speaker 3: voices throughout the house all the time. So I mean,
Speaker 3: my favorite character of hers is called crabby because that's
Speaker 3: what she would do as a when I was a kid,
Speaker 3: was like this crab voice and that was no one's
Speaker 3: ever seen that character, but that was my favorite character.
Speaker 3: But yeah, she I mean, there's just there's so many
Speaker 3: things she's done on stage as well that you know,
Speaker 3: I saw her in Chicago about twenty times and was
Speaker 3: obsessed with her.
Speaker 2: You know, she's she's such an icon, such a legend.
Speaker 1: Is she watching your career and watching how amazing these
Speaker 1: roles that you've just recently been taking on and feeling
Speaker 1: more inspired to come back and do more acting work.
Speaker 1: She kind of handed over the baton to you.
Speaker 3: I think she's having like vicariously living through my stress
Speaker 3: and going, I don't need any more stress in my life.
Speaker 2: I've had enough stress and so it's my turn to
Speaker 2: take on that. Yeah. No, but she's she's just great.
Speaker 3: Like she helps me a lot, and I'm writing and
Speaker 3: creating my own stuff and she's such a good soundboard.
Speaker 3: So yeah, she'll always be part of my career.
Speaker 1: That's so it's so lovely to hear about that relationship
Speaker 1: between you and your mum. You know, I'm so happy
Speaker 1: that we've been able to have this chat. I can't
Speaker 1: wait for people to watch this film. But something everything.
Speaker 1: Something I ask everyone who joins this podcast is what
Speaker 1: is something from behind the scenes, something that we did
Speaker 1: not see that we won't see, kind of like a
Speaker 1: behind the scenes secret of making Jones Family Christmas.
Speaker 3: It was such a stunning experience, and I think I
Speaker 3: hope people see on screen the family dynamic, because we
Speaker 3: really had that on set. We were such a family
Speaker 3: and I know everyone says that and as.
Speaker 2: Cliche, but we were.
Speaker 3: And I love everyone who made this film, and I
Speaker 3: hope people come and see it and just feel that
Speaker 3: Christmas joy and that family connection and yeah, just have
Speaker 3: a little hope and spirit for the future.
Speaker 1: Max. This is so cool. I can't believe that I
Speaker 1: had the chance to talk to you today, and I'm
Speaker 1: so happy and so grateful for your generosity. It's been
Speaker 1: a real buckep this thing for me to do. Hopefully
Speaker 1: I've managed to keep my call and not sounded too
Speaker 1: much of it too much like a crazy fan.
Speaker 2: You kept a very call and I've had a great time.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Good luck with everything in the future, and
Speaker 1: I can't wait to see what you do next.
Speaker 2: Thank you. Okay, so here