Fighting talk:

They are best friends but writers Rose Matafeo (above) and Alice Snedden (right) are prepared to fight for what they believe in when it comes to the critically acclaimed series Starstruck. Melenie Parkes reports.

Starstruck writers battle for winning script.

It is rare for local comedians to find success outside of New Zealand, which makes the acclaim Starstruck has received feel all the more worth celebrating.

Written by Rose Matafeo and Alice Snedden, Starstruck follows Jessie (Matafeo), a young New Zealand woman living in London who has a one-night stand with a guy who turns out to be a famous actor. From there the relationship develops, but despite the show’s title, Jessie isn’t some starry-eyed fan.

“Jessie is so independent and kind of reticent to be in any kind of relationship,” says Snedden.

So what inspired the two friends to write a romantic comedy?

“Well, it was really Rose’s idea. She wrote the pilot without me and I’ll never forgive her,” deadpans Snedden while the publicists on the Zoom call from London stifle snorts at her mock outrage.

“And from there, the two of us just wrote it. So all credit for the premise goes to Rose and I’ll take credit for everything else after that.”

Snedden and Matafeo share the kind of friendship where there’s a freedom to be utterly and brutally honest.

“We argue a lot. Maybe like 70 per cent of our communication is arguing,” muses Snedden, who has written for Golden Boy, 7 Days and Jono And Ben.

“We fight until we reach like a happy medium. I would say it’s extremely collaborative because we’re constantly writing and rewriting each other’s work.”

The critical success of Starstruck suggests there will be more opportunities further afield for Snedden in the future. But for now, she is keen to return to New Zealand to work on an entirely different kind of project.

“I’ve signed up for a woodworking course when I get back to New Zealand,” she laughs. “I just want to do some sort of practical thing where I can learn something.”