One of Aotearoa’s most steadily working acting talents, Michelle Ang has had an expansive career in NZ, Australia and the US. From Neighbours to Top of the Lake, Fear the Walking Dead, Star Wars: The Bad Batch and My Wedding And Other Secrets, she’s accrued Emmy and Logie nominations along with the adoration of many.
Recently, Ang has been spending time behind the camera, and this month TVNZ+ is streaming AMAH, her directorial contribution to a scripted motherhood anthology.
Described as a ‘tense, riveting journey into the dark side of motherhood’, AMAH is set in the near future and follows Leila, a brilliant scientist and loving mother, struggling to balance the demands of work and family. ‘AMAH’ stands for Artificially Maternal Android Helper, a ‘nanny’ who is introduced to the household to ease Leila’s workload and maternal guilt. What could possibly go wrong?
As the psychological thriller becomes available on TVNZ+, Ang tells us about the last time she danced, cried, laughed and got real mad.
When was the last time you cried?
Weirdly listening to 3AM by Matchbox 20 at around 3am, while I was brushing my teeth in a Sydney hotel bathroom. I put it down to teenage nostalgia, recently learning it's about the singer's sick mum and over-tiredness.
When was the last time you danced, and what were you dancing to?
Cake by the Ocean with my son. We were both breaking it down in the kitchen while cleaning up dinner dishes. He's a natural breakdancer.
What was the last thing you bought and loved?
A really good drill and skill saw. I'm finally getting some DIY knowledge and I love the feeling of being able to use power tools and fix stuff myself.
When was the last time you got really angry?
At a private after hours clinic; the receptionist was racially profiling all the sick people coming in, and changing her demeanour and patience based on their race. It was so obnoxiously in your face and rude.
What’s the last piece of clothing you bought?
A floppy olive coloured linen sunhat from MUJI - the Japanese basics store. Can't resist an end of season sale.
What’s the last beauty product you finished?
COOLA mineral face sunblock. That tube lasted forever.
What was the last really delicious thing you ate?
I lushed out and had a full 5 course dessert degustation at a restaurant called 2am by Janice Wong, it's inside the W Hotel in Darling Harbour, Sydney.
The standout course was a dish called "moss" with bergamot liqueur and eucalyptus jelly on vanilla ice cream with finger lines and these weird rosemary-esque plant needles that are native to New South Wales called Geraldton Wax. It was a total flavour explosion.
The last song you listened to on Spotify?
Future Starts Slow by The Kills.
The last book you finished?
Bluets by Maggie Nelson. It's a prose/poetry book about the author's obsession with the colour blue and two huge emotional moments in her life. It's raw and insightful and feminist.
The last DM/text you sent? Who was it to?
Over Instagram, clarifying that it was really gonna cost over $200 to get a particular nail design done. I never do fancy manicures, but I was considering it for an acting job. Think I'll just hit up the regular mall offering...
What’s the last drug you took?
An old joint I had tucked behind my tarot cards. It was a sweet Christmas gift from a darling friend that I'd stashed away safely and forgotten about.
