Antonia Murphy and Rachel Griffiths on the set of MADAM Photo: Kirsty Griffin
In 2016 Antonia Murphy started a feminist escort agency in New Zealand called The Bach. It wasn't the career she planned, but after immigrating to New Zealand from America and raising a family her life changed when her marriage ended in divorce and she needed income quickly.
After writing about her experience running an 'ethical brothel' for HuffPost in 2016, which was republished in 2021, Murphy received a call from a television producer wanting to make a show based on The Bach.
Madam is a fictionalised TV series starring Rachel Griffiths and based on Murphy's life experiences, and is screening now on Three and ThreeNow. Her non-fiction memoir by the same name comes out in October.
