They’re Australia’s answer to the Oscars, but the red carpet of the TV Week Logie Awards in Melbourne last weekend was awash with stunning Kiwi stars.
Former Wentworth actress Danielle Cormack, dressed head to toe in Louis Vuitton, told Woman’s Day she misses the prison series after her character Bea Smith was violently killed off.
“I was part of that world for four years, so it’s left a bit of a gap there,” she confesses. “I miss all of the wonderful guys and gals, but I’m always working. I can’t say what I’m doing now as I’ve signed a confidentiality form, but I can tell you it’s an international show.”
Her former castmate Robbie Magasiva misses Danielle too, as well as his ex-colleagues Frankie Adams and Aaron Jeffries. “Another Kiwi bites the dust!” he quips. “There were three of us on set at one stage, but now I’m the lone one flying the flag.”
Working the Logies red carpet as a family were 800 Words stars Erik Thomson, Michelle Langstone, Rick Donald and Benson Jack Anthony.
The cast of Wentworth on the red carpet at the Logies.
On teaching their Aussie castmates about life in New Zealand, Michelle quips, “It was mostly just showing them Pineapple Lumps and other Kiwi candy they were confused by.” Best Actor nominee Erik adds, “And just to relax a bit more and chill out.”
His Sydney-based onscreen son Benson adds, “He’s acting very cool, but Erik is a master of New Zealand’s native flora and fauna. He’s a big geek and taught me a lot about that.
Meanwhile, Most Outstanding Supporting Actor nominee Rick muses, “I was surprised at how much New Zealand’s a lot like North Queensland – very green and tropical. I thought it would just be really cold, but it wasn’t it all. It’s beautiful.”
A Place to Call Home was named the night’s Most Outstanding Drama Series, much to the delight of the show’s real-life Kiwi lovebirds Sara Wiseman and Craig Hall.
Of living and working together, Craig tells Woman’s Day, “It’s great for learning lines! Most of our time together, we’ve been in different jobs, in different cities, so this is great. We’re making up for all the time spent apart.”
Though they’re based in Sydney, they also have a house in Pauanui and Sara insists New Zealand is definitely the place they call home. She says, “We miss working there as we love telling Kiwi stories.”
Aussie actress Jessica Marais shared her fond memories of growing up in Wellington, adding, “I love New Zealand.” The star of Wrong Girl, Love Child and Packed to the Rafters won the Best Actress trophy for the second year running, but she insists she’s not in a hurry to try her luck in Hollywood.
Jessica Marais gets all glammed up for the Logies!
The single mother, who shares daughter Scout, four, with her former Rafters co-star James Stewart, admits, “Obviously, I have a family situation and a daughter to think about, so she’s going to dictate a lot of decisions from now on.”
Orange is the New Black star Yael Stone was hospitalised with pneumonia the day before the Logies but faked being well enough to get permission to walk the red carpet. She told Woman’s Day, “I had to do my very best acting to get out of there!”
She’s been filming a remake of the classic Aussie film Picnic at Hanging Rock with Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer and jokes, “I can’t say too much, but I can tell you that corsets are very restrictive and uncomfortable. I’d like to burn every one there is.”
The X Factor Australia star James Blunt refused to sing for us on the red carpet, joking, “I only ever mime. I’m totally tuneless!” He added that he can’t wait to get back to New Zealand, saying, “Kiwis have a really weird sense of humour and I totally dig that.”
Natalie Bassingthwaighte looked radiant on the red carpet.
A friend of Princes William and Harry, the former British soldier is also besties with Ed Sheeran, with whom he’s about to go on tour with for three months. He quips, “I’ll probably be dead from the hangovers by the end.” Will they write music together? “No, I think he’s a terrible songwriter,” James deadpans.
Former X Factor NZ judge Natalie Bassingthwaighte also raved about her time in Aotearoa, saying, “I can’t wait to go back. It’s one of my favourite places I’ve ever been. Obviously, the scenery is phenomenal, but it was the people who made me feel at home.”
Meanwhile, Real Housewives of Melbourne stars Gina Liano and Jackie Gillies have been watching the Auckland version of the show and are now desperate to party with their Kiwi counterparts.
“I’d like to meet the girls – I think they’d be a lot of fun,” says Gina. “I actually enjoyed the show. It was fun to watch. The girls weren’t as aggressive as the Sydney ones – that’s stating the obvious.”
Jackie adds, “The Auckland girls crack me up. I love them. Gilda [Kirkpatrick] is so funny, but my favourite is Anne [Batley-Burton] the cat lady. I’d love to come to new Zealand to party with the girls – I just need an invite!”
