Season two of Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries debuts on AcornTV today and to celebrate its arrival, we were lucky enough to sit down with the show’s star, Geraldine Hakewill, to discuss the art of acting and how Geraldine brings the titular character of Peregrine Fisher to life.

John Betancourt: What is it that got you into acting in the first place?

Geraldine Hakewill: Oh, that's a really good question. I think I've always loved stories; I've always been a voracious reader. And I think actually, the real reason I wanted to be an actor was because I wanted to be in the stories that I was reading. I always wanted to kind of get inside them. So, this seemed like the obvious career choice.

John Betancourt: Since you want to dive deeper into stories and the people that populate them, what is it then that attracted you to the role of Peregrine Fisher?

Geraldine Hakewill: I always loved the original Miss Fisher books that this is a spin-off of, and I’d always loved murder mysteries. I've always been a big Agatha Christie fan and I love that sort of entertaining, kind of light murder. There's a lot of character stuff around the actual murder itself. It's also about the relationships of the main characters. And the murders often speak to something that the main character's going through. I've always thought that Agatha Christie in particular is ingenious at crafting these really surprising endings. And so, I was really attracted to the murder mystery element. But also, I've always loved period drama and the 60s is such a fun period. So, yeah, the combination of those two things made me very excited. And it's a female lead and she's complex and flawed and funny and she gets to wear amazing clothes and drive cool cars. There was nothing that made me think; ‘maybe I shouldn't do this.’

John Betancourt: So, you stepped into a playground, then?

Geraldine Hakewill: Yeah, exactly. 

John Betancourt: So, in staying in with the craft, what do you do to get into the mindset of the character and adjust to the era as well, since you’re jumping into the 1960s here?

Geraldine Hakewill: Well, we did a bit of research and we were given quite a lot of stuff to read and watch before we started the first season. Documentaries about Melbourne in particular in the 1960s, how people spoke, what people wore, what life was like back then, what the skyline looks like. It was great to see all of that and try to immerse ourselves into that. But at the same time, we're not making a documentary. We're making a kind of a heightened world and Peregrine is sort of a woman of her time, but out of her time. And so, she's much more fashion forward than most people were in Australia in the early 60s. And yeah, there are elements that are definitely heightened and almost fantastical. But we wanted to really ground it in the energy of that era. And so, there were lots of films that I watched, like a lot of Audrey Hepburn movies, The Avengers, Get Smart, Pink Panther, like those great screwball comedy shows and films that were really playful and lent into the aesthetic of the era. I loved how people use their bodies in those films and how much fun can be had from the physicality. And Joel and I both really tried to find a lot of that and play with a lot of that, and recreate the banter as well between a lot of the male and female leads in those films. That was a big reference for Joel and I in terms of our characters and their relationship. So, there was lots of stuff to draw on. And then I think as soon as you put the costumes on, and I have an hour and a half of makeup and hair every morning, so, you know, after that process and listening to 60s music and rocking it up on set and you're either on location in this amazing period, 60s house or a regional building or you're on set at the police station or Peregrine’s house and the detail of the fabrics of all the furniture and all the props, the telephone, the fridge, it just sort of transports you there. So, we're very lucky that we have a great art department, and you can kind of immerse yourself in the world. But it's also fun to research, because the films from that era are really fun. So, I had a great time and it's totally up my alley in terms of the humor and particularly the physical comedy and all the stunts and stuff. I just love throwing myself into that. So, it was just a joy.

John Betancourt: So, it sounds like there’s a big connection for you there. Which brings me to my next question. In that, how much of yourself would you say you’ve injected into Peregrine?

Geraldine Hakewill: Well, yeah, there’s always an element of yourself, I think, in every character. You can only portray things that come from you, I mean, you obviously use your imagination and research, but at the end of the day, this is your tool. So, even if I'm not trying to, there are things about her that come from me. She's definitely braver than I am and probably more spontaneous. I'm afraid of heights, for example. But Peregrine isn’t. A lot of the stunts and stuff, I sort of had to really get over myself. But it is amazing what happens when somebody says ‘action’. It does show you that a lot of those fears are in your mind because you suddenly find yourself doing things that you wouldn't normally do and would never put yourself in that situation. So, that's such an interesting psychological exercise, really. And yeah, so she's braver than me, but I, I suppose I have her silliness. I like to think I have her optimism about people and perhaps her curiosity and openness to being able to speak to lots of different people. And I really was drawn to that in her as a character. So, I don't know whether I don't think I brought that necessarily. I think that was within her already on the page. But I think that's something that we share.

John Betancourt: Oh, so it sounds like you do your own stunts, then?

Geraldine Hakewill: Yeah, I try and do all I can. There are some that are too dangerous for me to do and sometimes some of the driving - they have to have a second unit doing it. But I think this season, Joel and I both did all of our own driving. So, yeah, we pretty much do everything.

John Betancourt: Well, that sounds like blast! And speaking of doing amazing things on this show, what is it you would say you’re most proud of when it comes to this series in general?

Geraldine Hakewill: Oh, that's a great question. I think I'm proud of… I'm really proud of the relationship that we've all formed as a cast. I think we have a lot of sincere friendship off set, and I think that really translates on to screen. We have a lot of fun together and really care about each other. And I think that's particularly important when you're portraying a group of people who are meant to be family, and since Birdie and Samuel and Violetta become Peregrine's family and James becomes her family, I think it's so lovely that we don't have to pretend that, that we that we have all become so close and also that everybody who works on this show is so kind. It's a really lovely set to be on. And we really have a lot of fun with the crew as well. I'm really proud of the working environment that we've tried to establish and having a really good time. But I'm also proud of her as a character. I think, you know, female leads are still rare enough that people call them female leads. And I still get asked, what's it like playing a ‘strong, complex woman?’ And I sort of think, ‘aren't we all that?’ Everybody's complex and contradictory and flawed, and some people are good at some things and some people aren't good at other things, I think she's complicated. She's really good at a lot of things. But she also stuffs up and I love that she's not self-conscious either. I think I really tried to make sure that even though she's wearing these amazing clothes, it never holds her back from doing the things that she needs to do, and she'll physically put herself in situations and doesn't think about what she looks like. She just wants to get the job done. And I think especially for a woman that's really important, you can dress in really great clothes, but it doesn't mean that you have to be aware of your appearance all the time. I hope that that's a positive thing that she can give to the world.

John Betancourt: Well, that is definitely something to be proud of and everything you just said is one-hundred percent true. Now, without spoilers of course, what are you most excited for fans to see this season?

Geraldine Hakewill: I think… well, I'm really excited about the evolution of Peregrine and James' relationship. I think I'm hoping that fans will really enjoy that. And I think it's nice that it's different to Phryne and Jack from the original series. Their relationship evolves in a different way. It's been really fun to play and really speaks to the time period as well. Expectations of relationships in women. So, I think that's really fun. But I'm also so happy that we have more episodes and there's just all these really great worlds to play in. I think I can give this away, but there's a dog show, so we have a kind of Best in Show scenario, and I love that film so much that that was just such a joy. And I also love dogs and that was really fun. There's also a pigeon racing episode. So, we got to handle a whole bunch of pigeons and act with some pigeons. So, there's lots of really fun universes that we explore in each episode. And I think people will really get a kick out of that.

John Betancourt: Pigeons? Now that sounds different and intriguing.

Geraldine Hakwill: Pigeons are so intelligent. I had no idea. We have so many pigeons that are just kind of rogue in all our cities here in Australia. I'm sure it's the same in the US and they're like... just like rats in the sky, you know, some people joke about that. But they’re incredibly intelligent and so loyal. They mate for life. Yeah. Gave me a whole new respect for the common pigeon.

John Betancourt: That’s amazing. Well, I guess we need a documentary on pigeons, then, that’s what it comes down to.

Geraldine Hakewill: Yes!

John Betancourt: So, before we let you go, is there anything else you want to tell your fans about season two?

Geraldine Hakewill: Oh, just that I really hope they love it. I think it's going to be such a great bit of escapism after such a tumultuous 18 months and it's sexy and funny and intriguing. And I hope that they really enjoy the ride because we really loved making it.

The first two episodes of season two of ‘Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries’ are available to stream right now on Acorn TV and check out our recap of the season two premiere right here.

This interview was lightly edited for clarity.

Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty debuts on BBC America tomorrow at 8pm EST/7pm CST and we here at Nerds That Geek were lucky enough to sit down with Producer Hayley Smith from Oxford Scientific Films, the company that co-produces the Meerkat Manor franchise and here is what she had to say about the saga and the upcoming fifth season of this wildly popular series.

John Betancourt: So, what was it that led to the creation of Meerkat Manor?

Hayley Smith: Well Meerkat Manor was created back in 2004 by the executive producer on this current series, Caroline Hawkins, and it came about because we wanted to create something – we wanted to take natural history to a different place, where we wanted to kind of really play with the dramas that unfold within sociable animals’ families, if you like. We knew there was lots of potential for all the drama. A lot of them are very family orientated dramas and there's people being kicked out, and there’s births happening and rivalries and all sorts of little dramas within the family. And it felt like it was probably the right time to see it on a bigger scale and to see kind of what happens, when you've got quite the territorial families, as well. So, you've not just got one family and all the little dramas that go on within that family, but you've got their neighbors and then their neighbors, and there's always room for squabbles and fights between them. So, yeah, it felt it felt right to do it then and then obviously, we just had a 12-year gap with it. We ran four seasons. And then because it is still so popular globally, we were asked, ‘is it time to do it again?’ We were like: ‘Sure if you think! We'd love to do so.’ Yeah. So, that's how we came to Rise of the Dynasty.

John Betancourt: What was it that motivated the team to spotlight Meerkats, specifically?

Hayley Smith: Yeah, well, I think it was something that we’d come across when we were doing some research for other projects. And I think, again, like I said, it's because they're quite characterful, although they all they all look the same. And they spend most of their time doing that meerkat pose. And they spend a lot of their time just foraging. But actually, there are complexities that you can create from a sociable group, and of course, when we first started filming with them, some of the groups can number up to 50. So, you've got a lot of a lot of characters within these groups – and, I mean, that's an extreme number. They were probably averaging around about the 25 mark at the time when we first began. And what's happened since is that the groups have now become much smaller over the last sort of 20 years. Gradually the scientists have seen them sort of diminish in size. And I think it's partly sort of climate change and how they're adapting to their new worlds. So, I think people seem to love meerkats because of that kind of sitting up and looking around business. So, they're immediately appealing. And, of course, their pups are adorable. So, you know, there's not very much to dislike about them and they don't do anything horrible. I mean, there's some meanness that goes on in terms of the powerplays, but it's not all blood and guts, you know. And so, I just think they're very characterful.

John Betancourt: Well, that image of them sitting up is about as iconic and cute as it gets. Did any of you have any idea though, that this was going to become such a cultural phenomenon? One beloved by so many?

Hayley Smith: Oh, no, absolutely no idea at all. I mean, we were absolutely astounded that people took them to their heart so completely and have watched their antics and followed the dramas and really get involved in the characters and we had absolutely no idea. And then they were running headlines in The New York Times when our matriarch, Flower, died and you suddenly felt, ‘good god, I had absolutely no idea that this happens’. You know, you sit in your office in London, and you send your teams out to the Kalahari and you're all very focused. And then suddenly something like this takes off and no, you can never really anticipate it.

John Betancourt: Now, what kind of challenges have you and the team run into when getting all of the amazing footage and everything else that you all put together for this particular series?

Hayley Smith: Well, last year has been particularly challenging for all sorts of reasons, but mostly, obviously, the Covid pandemic. So, we actually began filming the series back in January of 2020 before we all really knew what was about to happen. So, we had a team out on the ground in South Africa. We'd taken a UK crew out. We'd done about eight weeks’ worth of filming. And then the UK entered lockdown mid-March and we had to pull our team out and we were like, ‘okay now we've absolutely no idea when we might go back.’ So, you end up doing all sorts of plan A, Plan B, plan C thinking, you wonder how far down the alphabet you're going to get. But fortunately for us, we were in a position that come September, we actually took a different approach, and we hired a team of South African cinematographers who had also been working together quite recently, so we gave them the opportunity to go to the Kalahari and keep filming. So that was sort of a challenge in terms of the practicals. Of course, the challenge with the meerkats is their lives moved on. So, we have the characters that we started the season, the series with, we then obviously had sort of a six-month break in proceedings. And without spoiling what happens, I think ultimately it probably played to our advantage because we were able to jump a period of time in their lives, which is traditionally quieter. Seasonally, there’s less action that happens in the South African winter. They don't get as much rain. There's not as much movement between the groups and suchlike. So actually, by picking them back up in September we hit sort of the end of the South African winter, and everybody was desperately waiting for the rains to come, which sort of really gets the breeding season going again. So, those were the kind of challenges we ran into and then I guess we had to just put the edit on hold for a long time. We were supposed to be filming and then editing and these things go out. So obviously the challenge has been getting it still to BBC America's transmission deadline. But even with all of this madness going on… we're there.

John Betancourt: Now that you have a body of work that includes five seasons worth of footage, what are you most proud of when it comes to this entire series?

Hayley Smith: Oh, well, I think. I think the way in which we've kind of really started to understand even more so the characters at play, I mean, we always know, that the dominant female is always in charge. And, you know, she has a dominant male by her side who doesn't do as much, or so you think. Because sometimes they don't do very much at all and sometimes they're more proactive than others. So, I suppose that the fascination – which is not quite pride, but I’ll come back to that – is the growing of the characters and seeing that although they've got a standard set of behaviors, it's like, how do you keep them interesting? And I think I suppose that’s where the pride comes in. Because I think we've managed to keep them interesting, even though it's the same sort of behaviors that they do all the time. There's a limited number, but with a wealth of new characters and everybody has a slightly different take on whether it's aerial predators or how to look after pups and who you leave in charge of them and who's the character that's going to give the power play to the dominant female this time, so I think probably the pride comes from reimagining the same thing, but taking it on differently, depending on who's involved and what their personalities have brought to each of the families. Though, I’m not sure if that entirely answers the question.

John Betancourt: I think it does. Because it’s all about the passion and obviously you and your team are very passionate about this. So, I think that’s perfect. Now, of course… without spoiling anything, what are you looking forward to people experiencing the most when the new season kicks off on Saturday?

Hayley Smith: Well, I think I they'll go on the ‘drama journeys’ with the meerkats. There'll be some surprises along the way to some of our lead characters, even. But I also think that there’s some good humor from them. So, we always like to try and to walk a line between having very dramatic storylines, but also very humorous ones and relatable stories. So, I would say, yeah, watch out along the way, since there’s kind of this drama one minute and then there's tragedy one minute and then there's joy and surprise. So, hopefully we take you through a range of emotions on this new season.

John Betancourt: Oh, I imagine so. If this new season is anything like prior ones it should be enthralling for sure. Now, something that isn’t discussed enough in regard to Meerkat Manor or nature shows in general is what the folks behind the scenes are hoping audiences will take away from their series from a learning standpoint. So, what then are you hoping audiences will take away from this saga, including this new season?

Hayley Smith: Yes, well, we worked very keenly with the scientists that are obviously monitoring these animals all year round. And we very much follow the storylines as we find them and talk to the scientists constantly about always saying the right thing about these animals. Is this legitimate? This is what we saw. What is your take on that and how can we make that part of our storytelling? So, I think I think there is a lot of ‘take out’ information for the new audience. There's obviously, the science. There's been more papers since we began with the four seasons. There's also still been a lot of scientific discoveries over the last 12 years that we've been able to kind of imbue a little bit more in this new season. So, hopefully there's plenty there to take out.

John Betancourt: What’s next for Meerkat Manor after this?

Hayley Smith: Well, we don't know. I mean, we're always hopeful that that they'll take us on for more. But we actually don't know at the moment. But we are halfway through the full season. So, we've got 13 episodes and BBC America will be running the first six in one go. And then they'll take the next seven later this year. So, we are still putting the full season together here. So, we're very focused on that right now.

John Betancourt: Last, before we go, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about Rise of the Dynasty?

Hayley Smith: I don't think so. I think hopefully people would just watch and enjoy it again and enjoy that we nod back to Flower, our great matriarch from the previous series. And obviously, this is moving forward with her great and great, great granddaughters. So, I hope everyone really enjoys it.