Robert Trathen
Sitting in her Auckland lounge, surrounded by a “disturbing collection” of Star Wars memorabilia, movie guru Kate Rodger surely deserves her own little gold statue for her contribution to film knowledge. More than 20 years ago, the 58-year-old stumbled into her dream job to boldly go (where some men had gone before) and become an entertainment reporter. Career highlights include co-hosting the live global broadcast of the premiere of The Hobbit in London’s Leicester Square, and being charmed on the red carpet by A-list actors like Robin Williams, Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie.
Tell us what you’ve been up to since Newshub closed last year?
Carol Hirschfeld [TVNZ’s GM of production operations] told me I’m not allowed to call myself a dirty freelancer, but rather that I have a “portfolio career”, which I kind of dig. And it’s given me some of my power back – with all respect to my 21 years at Newshub. My side hustle of hosting corporate conferences and emceeing panels or awards nights took off. The phone just seemed to start ringing. The NZ Film Commission asked me to host their new film podcast Lights, Camera, Kōrero, Radio New Zealand expanded my entertainment chats with Jesse Mulligan and TVNZ Breakfast asked me to be their regular film girl. The Breeze has also just welcomed me into their fold as a weekend host. I’d already made my mind up that I was going to say yes to everything. It’s paid off.
What have you learned about yourself since becoming redundant?
I’m braver than I thought. At 58, I found the courage to give a new way of working a go and I could still use all of that institutional knowledge as a foundation for that. I do feel the pressure of being the only breadwinner. For me, there’s no retirement in my future any time soon. There’s no way I can stop earning for another decade at least. The Newshub closure really was terrifying at the time, but I’m getting used to the freelance way of paying the bills.
Which movie had the biggest influence on you?
I’m looking around my home and there’s Han Solo over there, some Stormtrooper helmets and a Boba Fett doll… so yes, I’m a Star Wars geek! That was the one film that turned me into someone who wanted to watch every sci-fi movie that came out. What might shock people, though – I was the sporty kid at high school.
Who ignited “mainstream-movie-going Kate”?
My ex-husband Nick, who’s still a dear friend. I’m one of those women who’ll pluck something positive from every failed relationship I have and Nick gifted me my real love of movies. He was a cinematic omnivore who opened my mind to every kind of movie, so I became one as well. We’d do double bills at the Curzon cinema in London. We’d see Mission: Impossible, followed by Red, White & Blue. It didn’t occur to me then I could make a job out of it.
Share a memorable moment from the Oscars.
The Academy Awards were always fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, trying to hustle and find talent to interview, and places to film from without media accreditation. The best year was when Taika Waititi was nominated for Jojo Rabbit. Cameraman John Fleming and I had nowhere to do our live crosses from, but the Hotel Roosevelt is right by the red carpet. It’d been taken over by Access Hollywood for all of their coverage.
In the days leading up to the Oscars, John and I would cruise in there with a coffee to scope everything out. We did it so much that people stopped asking where we were going. We just looked familiar. On the day of the Oscars, we wandered in there again wearing full black tie – me in my gold sequins – and stood on a little overbridge by the Green Room, where all the stars gathered before their interviews. We stayed there for several hours, heard Taika had won, meaning it was a lead story on the 6pm news. So John and I decided to go live to New Zealand then and there.
The shot was in front of the pool, all lit up by Access Hollywood. The whole time during the live cross, I was waiting for someone to tap my shoulder and go, “What are you doing?” It was classic guerilla TV3 – winging it.
How deep is your love for actor Pedro Pascal?
Bring me more Pedro! One thing I learned from my interview with him for [TV show] The Mandalorian is to always have a good manicure. The only time I’ve ever trended on TikTok was Pedro admiring my nail polish colour. That interview was a delight. I wandered in there wearing a Tanya Carlson pinstripe jumpsuit and we had a relaxed conversation, driven by Pedro asking, “What do we call it? A romper or onesie?” Both Pedro and Keanu Reeves personify kindness and infectious love for everyone.
Describe your most awkward interview?
When I was covering the Cannes Film Festival, a British director, who I’ve since discovered is a chronic alcoholic, was absolutely not interested in being interviewed by me.
After each question, he’d say, “What do you think?” Or, “What sort of question is that?” It was awful. I’m not a confrontational person, so I said, “Shall we wrap? You’re not loving this and I’m not getting anything I can use.”
I also did a junket with The Fantastic Four stars Kate Mara, Miles Teller, Jamie Bell and Michael B. Jordan. It was an absolute dog of a film and I’ve never seen four people who wanted to be interviewed less in their lives. That’s in my top three worst interviews.
After becoming a first-time mum at 45, how did you find that unexpected role?
I was never the maternal type, so children were never in my top three life priorities. I had fallopian tube issues, so I thought the fertility door was shut. It was a shock. My obstetrician said at 45, it was a 0.01 percent chance of getting pregnant.
That first year when you’re just trying to keep a tiny human alive is so intense, but it doesn’t get any easier! Some days I think, “I suck at this,” but the next day, there’s some small win. I’m a solo mum to my son Max, who’s nearly 13, but I also have a beautiful stepdaughter, Jaeda, 17.
Their father and I split four years ago, and I’m so proud of the way they’ve embraced the changes that has meant to their lives, and the way we are as a unit. Whether Jaeda is with me, her dad or her mum up north, she feels safe, secure and loved. I couldn’t imagine my life without her or Max.
What have you recently binge-watched together?
We watched all of Stranger Things – twice! Then Cobra Kai and now we’re obsessed with Lost, which I never watched when it came out 20 years ago. It’s so good. Max and I watch an episode a night and snuggle in. Going to a cinema, though? That’ll always be my first love. Storytelling can be therapy in that you see yourself reflected back or have a window into a different world. I like getting all my emotions out in a dark cinema!
In 2020, after becoming an unintentional poster girl for menopause, your inbox blew up! Do you still get contacted?
At least once a month, I’ll have a woman come up to me and they’re no longer speaking in whispers. There’s a normalcy to talking openly about menopause, even in front of the men in our lives. That’s been a really nourishing outcome from sharing my really personal story. At the time, my friend and broadcaster Ryan Bridge had said, “I’m sick of you banging on about your hot flushes, so let’s talk about it on air.” I didn’t expect the reaction to it that I got. It kicked off so many conversations about menopause and helped women feel a sense of community.
Do you feel you’re coming out the other side of menopause?
I’m getting there. I’m still patched up, while also taking a low-dose antidepressant, which supports the menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). I am still experiencing all the emotions, but they’re not going to end up with me being arrested! I also do Pilates, walk and take a herbal adrenal support.
Share something readers might not know about you?
My brother and I were both born in Fiji, and lived there until I was five. My sister’s 10 years younger and was born in New Zealand. The three of us took Dad back there for his 85th birthday last year and it was fantastic. We’d never all been there together. It was emotional, too, because we had a lot of memories with Mum there. [Kate’s mother Pauline died of breast cancer aged 49 in 1991.]
Why haven’t you made your own film?
I’d be useless at it. It’s like that phrase: “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” Being a film critic/commentator/cheerleader is my lane. I sit in awe, wondering how filmmakers do it.
Follow Kate’s movie reviews at substack.com/@katerodger
