Kate McGill
A theatre-maker and actress, Kate McGill has had guest roles on various television shows including The Brokenwood Mysteries and Girl Vs Boy. She was also the director of a highly successful verbatim work (a documentary-style of theatre) based on the Christchurch Earthquake called Munted – which played in several cities throughout New Zealand and overseas. She has worked with prestigious New York Company Tectonic Theatre Project in the United States, which motivated the development and productions of several verbatim works within New Zealand, including Munted, The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, and Job. In 2015, McGill was the artistic director intern for Red Leap Theatre, as well as acting in the acclaimed theatre show The Black. She’s starring in The Better Best Possible Album Party That Anybody Has Ever Been Two from December 13-17, at Bats Theatre, Wellington. Trotting off the set of a hilarious yet topical television show I created into a dinner party with all my best ones, with experimental menus and a bottle of good pinot. As the former hasn’t happened (yet) I am very happy spending time with good mates.
Which living person do you most admire?
I am a rather huge fan of Helen Clark. She is an admirable woman; strong, proud, driven and nothing but herself.
What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Anyone who knows me well will know there’s a basket full of these. A good one was New York City in 2009. I’d been walking around the city all day in snow boots a size too small; romanticising about life and art. When evening hit, I decided to go and see the incredible Jane Fonda on Broadway. I got a front row seat for $25 and at the end of the exquisite three-hour play, I rose to my feet, weeping to give Fonda a well-deserved standing ovation ... ‘cept my feet gave way and I toppled onto the stage knocking out a microphone, in front of about 1000 people.
Also, I was overseas recently and took myself off to a Korean Day Spa with a bunch of mates; these types of day spas you can’t have any body shame, because you are nude in a room with maybe 30 other women. That was fine, but during my treatment (a rather intense body scrub) I fell off the bed completely naked, onto the tile floor, which, when you’re covered in exfoliant and water, makes a very unique sound.
Ever stolen anything?
I would classify myself as an upstanding citizen, but I was a dreadful, dreadful teen. A couple of times I pinched my mother’s eftpos card and wagged school, in her car, taking a gaggle of my friends to the A stress/witch whisker that protrudes from my chin. It always, always comes out at the worst times: first dates, filming, birthdays, Christmas, et cetera, et cetera.
Which living person do you most despise and why?
There’s a potato with a rather unrealistic weave that’s inciting hate and violence I’m not overly fond of ...
What life lesson would you pass on to your children?
Be brave, stand up for others, laugh lots, and remember there are infinite possibilities.
What job would you do other than your own and why?
Aside from running a successful allfemale trucking company, aptly titled the Mutha Truckas, I’d like to be a therapeutic masseuse. I’ve always thought the power of touch is extremely healing, and I love the ritualistic aspect of a good massage. – Mike Alexander