Boy Swallows Universe author Trent Dalton talks the power of optimism with Paula Bennett
'It was extraordinary and it was so powerful because there was just so much to catch up on. I hadn't done a book event in New Zealand and I just can't wait to kind of do part two of that. I hope every person who went to that last one comes because it's like we get to continue the conversation. It was just beautiful.'
Dalton said that to be able to tell his 'little yarns from suburban Brisbane' was an incredible experience, and the audience response pushed him to go further.
'If I sense that the crowd's like, 'I'm still listening, I'm still listening', I'll go deeper and deeper, and I'll just keep digging and digging until I find something and then at the end, we're all just sort of sharing these amazing things.'
His 'little suburban yarns' have taken Dalton around the world, far beyond his Queensland hometown.
His debut novel, Boy Swallows Universe, was only released in 2018, but in less than a decade it has become one of the most beloved Australian novels of the 21st century.
Based on Dalton's own experiences growing up with an absent father and a drug-addicted mother, the story of Eli Bell and his brother August has sold more than 1 million copies in Australia alone.
It was adapted into a miniseries for Netflix in 2024.
Dalton said that while the book only came out seven years ago, he has been writing it since he was 12.
'I genuinely believe I was sort of secretly stepping into that world at 12, even when I was, at times, deep inside moments that happened in that book. I felt weirdly conscious of how special it was, even though it was dark.
'Like I'm saying you're going up to Bogo Rd Women's Prison to see your mum and you're aware of how special it is... how different that is. I, I just remember being very conscious that I was leading a life [from] when I was about 7 till about, well, 20, that was just different to so many other people.'
He said that it was almost like a secret power that he carried with him to view what he was going through as special.
For him and his three older brothers, it felt like they were on their own 'little adventure'.
'It's just that our adventure happened to feature heroin dealers and prison and big drinkers.
'Like I was really crafting that thing and just clocking things, even unconsciously.'
Advertise with NZME.
Despite his rough upbringing, Dalton considers himself an optimist, telling Bennett that he would put that down on his driver's licence or passport if he could.
That has led to some criticism from people about how optimistic he can be, which Dalton puts down to some people viewing it as naivety.
'I have to always remind people, please, please go easy on the optimists, because often their optimism has come from the darkest places, and holding on to the light is all they can do, otherwise, they'll never get up.
'I have this thing about always wrap your arms around the bubbly people, and don't take 'em for granted, because those bubbly people are often battling some cracks, and they've crawled out of some stuff and, and it's just like, please never mistake optimism for naivety.'
Ask Me Anything is an NZ Herald podcast hosted by former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett. New episodes are available every Sunday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
10 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Kiwi star Harry Jowsey spotted with Sia, fuelling romance rumours
Sia and Harry Jowsey were seen leaving Ca Del Sole Restaurant on July 19. Photo / GC Images Born in Queensland, Australia, before moving to New Zealand, Jowsey made his reality TV debut on Heartbreak Island NZ in 2018. He won the series with his then-girlfriend, Georgia Bryers, but the couple broke up soon after. Not long after Jowsey signed on to appear on Netflix's Too Hot to Handle, the show was released during the pandemic and drew a huge global audience, giving him a boost in international fame. After coupling up with his castmate, Francesca Farago, the couple left the show and broke up shortly after before reconciling and later breaking up for good in mid-2021. That year Jowsey joined OnlyFans in 2021 and in August 2021 he confirmed that he had already made more than $1 million on the platform. Capitalising on his popularity with fans, Jowsey has since amassed 4.4 million followers on Instagram and befriended many high-profile social media stars. In a 2022 podcast episode, Jowsey admitted to 'fuelling' dating rumours that surrounded him and Khloe Kardashian, confessing that they were 'all fake'. Jowsey competed in the US version of Dancing With the Stars in 2023, and was further embroiled in controversy after it was speculated he was having a relationship with his then 18-year-old dance partner, Rylee Arnold, but confessed to having a secret relationship with someone else while filming the series. Harry Jowsey has been involved in several high-profile relationships, most recently being linked to actress Lucy Hale. Photo / Instagram In March, Sia officially filed for divorce from her second husband, Daniel Bernad. The couple tied the knot on December 28, 2022. Court documents listed their date of separation as March 18, 2025, and cited 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for the split. The couple welcomed a son in 2024. The Cheap Thrills singer was previously married to Erik Anders Lang. She wed the filmmaker at her Palm Springs, California home in August 2014. They divorced in 2016. In 2019, Sia adopted two 18-year-old boys who were ageing out of the fostercare system. In 2020, she told Apple Music DJ Zane Lowe that she was a grandmother after one of her two 19-year-old sons had fathered twins.
NZ Herald
11 hours ago
- NZ Herald
AI influencer Mia Zelu stuns Wimbledon with lifelike Instagram posts
The model, who bills herself as a 'digital storyteller' and 'AI influencer', captioned one picture: 'Still not over the event … but the party's a whole other game.' She asked her thousands of followers, who often leave compliments and answers in her comment section: 'Which Wimbledon match was your fave?' Another post portrayed the tennis influencer watching a match on what appeared to be Centre Court, where A-listers rub shoulders with royalty every summer. The AI-generated model presents a hyper-realistic front, coupled with human-like feelings and thoughts expressed in her captions. Photo / AI-generated Influencers have been more prominent in SW19's star-studded crowd in recent years, with glamorous tennis 'WAG' Morgan Riddle taking centre-stage this month. The partner of Taylor Fritz, the American professional, Riddle championed Wimbledon's sporty chic aesthetic with viral posts across her social media platforms from the courtside. The former model was profiled in Netflix's Break Point series in 2023, in which she became known for her 'tennis-core' chic. The New York Times later dubbed her 'the most famous woman in men's tennis'. Morgan Riddle, partner of Taylor Fritz, the American tennis pro, is a real person. Photo / Getty Images It seems Zelu, whose creator remains unknown, may be aiming to capitalise on the same trend with her picture-perfect, elegant outfits and flowing blonde hair. Despite disclosing the use of AI in her bio, the model was inundated with admirers who took to the platform commenting 'will you marry me' and 'you look stunning'. She even has a brunette 'sister' named Ana, who has amassed 266,000 followers on her own page. In one post, appearing to be at the French Open, Zelu's pictures on court were captioned, arguably misleadingly: 'Pure sunshine and good vibes! Soaking up every bit of this energy … Which photo is your favourite?' Generative AI in the entertainment industry It comes after Netflix said it had used the controversial technology in one of its TV shows for the first time. Ted Sarandos, the streaming giant's co-chief executive, said visual effects were created by generative AI, which produces videos and images based on human-inputted prompts, in one of its original series. It was used to create a scene of a building collapsing in The Eternaut, the Argentine science fiction show. Sarandos said the technology had allowed the show's production to finish the scenes at a lower cost and 10 times faster than if they had used traditional special effects tools. Generative AI could be useful for productions with smaller budgets in the long term, but remains controversial in the entertainment world, however. Politicians and creatives are fighting to protect artists' copyright amid concerns that AI will create content using others' work without their consent. Some of Britain's most prominent artists and musicians have demanded more protections in the last year. They include Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, Billy Ocean, The Clash, Cat Stevens and Hans Zimmer. AI-generated content might prove more difficult to police within the sphere of social media. Meta has introduced an opt-in label for the content, but there have long been fears that AI image tools could be used to create highly convincing 'deepfakes' and images or videos that could help spread disinformation or influence elections. While Zelu might not present an electoral threat, the fake model's plausible captions and hyper-realistic images may have fooled even the most tech-savvy Wimbledon fans.
1News
3 days ago
- 1News
Menopause, sex and the joy of being 60: Robyn Malcolm doesn't hold back
As her long career climbs to new exciting peaks, one of New Zealand's favourite actors remains politically fierce, sexually outspoken and determined not to be overlooked by her famously sexist industry. By Gill Higgins It might be a strange comparison, but I think of Robyn Malcolm like a tornado. Wherever she lands, she kicks up what's in her path and somehow leaves you feeling more alive than before. And so it was that on a mini break from filming in Perth, she swept me into a whirlwind 24 hours: a dash to Tauranga to speak at a women's business event, then straight to Wellington for dinner with old friends, then on to see her son Pete's band, American Muscle, that same night. ADVERTISEMENT And while she's at it, she's across her social media. She's the face of a new anti-ageing cream for the vagina (yes, really), she's promoting her latest Netflix series, pushing the relaunch of Outrageous Fortune for its 20th anniversary, and gearing up for the October release of the long-awaited Pike River film. Somewhere in there, the dogs get walked too. And she's just turned 60. Robyn Malcom, then and now. (Source: Supplied) For those of us racing toward that milestone, Malcolm's not just weathering it – she's changing the forecast. 'The ticking over into 60 that I was nervous of because of what it represents – I am so in love with. I love it!' So naturally, I wanted to know how she's so positive about a period of life that many dread. Once back in Auckland, exhausted, we head to the home she's had for over a decade. It's an old villa, painted a striking pink to brighten up her street. It's loud, it's a statement, it says 'I'm proud of who I am', just like its owner. Malcolm's sense of purpose has always been clear. From a young age, acting was everything. At 15, after a clash with a senior staff member at school (she told them to f*** off), she turned to her father, Pete – who happened to be the school principal. His response? It was time to leave and chase her dreams. ADVERTISEMENT A young robyn Malcolm and her dad, Pete. (Source: Supplied) It was her dad who told me that story and I could tell he was quietly proud of his stubborn, determined daughter. She moved to Wellington to live with her grandmother and never looked back. A Kiwi star was born. Malcolm in her first show (that's Michael Hurst). (Source: Supplied) That determination has never left her. Malcolm has never been afraid to stand up – for herself and for others. She recently marched against the government's Fast-track Approvals Bill. She's protested the atrocities in Palestine. And in 2010, she famously took on the Warner Bros, during the filming of The Hobbit, speaking out for better pay and conditions for local actors. 'I went through hell with that, it was awful. I had death threats and loss of work.' Young Malcolm was equally outspoken. (Source: Supplied) So always feisty, but she'd say never more so than now. ADVERTISEMENT 'Since menopause my feminism – which has always had a really healthy spring in its step – is so f***ing rabid now!' Much of her ire is directed at her own industry. The ageism, the sexism – she says it's relentless and she's felt it especially keenly since going through menopause. 'When I first went through it, I was just sobbing my heart out going, I don't know what's happening.' Her doctor prescribed HRT and antidepressants. But as she looks back now, she wonders 'how much of my feeling shit was about my place in the world and the messages I was being given'? Malcolm says menopause was a hard time. (Source: Supplied) She shares the stories with humour, but the undertow is serious. Like the time in her late 40s that she was asked to sign a nudity clause – something she was happy to do - only to be told they'd prefer her to keep her clothes on. Or the roles she lost to women 10 to 15 years younger, despite the fact she was the one who was the same age as the character. She quotes Amy Schumer 'when you're no longer f***able, suddenly there's less tolerance'. 'It wasn't crushing,' she says, 'but it made me furious.' ADVERTISEMENT An industry's obsession with youth She's also frustrated by the effect the industry's obsession with youth has on women. She knows many actors who've spent thousands of dollars chasing it. 'To me, it's almost like an illness, this dissatisfaction with how we look, how we try to be something we're not.' She feels women waste far too much time and money betraying the very things we should be grateful for. 'Why are we so critical, so mean, so judgemental, so downright vile to our bodies'? She's been there. But she's done with it. Malcolm, in the Shortland St era. (Source: Supplied) These days, she's found a new appreciation for her body, likening it to a car – a solid one, that's carried her for 60 years and is still going strong. 'I'm learning how to handle a slightly older vehicle now. I love that metaphor. Like I've got to go in for a Warrant of Fitness a bit more than I used to.' ADVERTISEMENT She 'buggered her knee' while filming the 2024 TV series After the Party and her back plays up. 'Because I'll still bend from the hips and lift 30 kg bags of compost out in the garden, you know?' But she celebrates that her vehicle is still on the road. Still doing its job. It's OK to be a woman and angry And it's not just an appreciation of her physical self, but her emotional self too'. 'It's fine to be an older, angry, belligerent, passionate, furious woman. It's really fine'. It was all of this, all these experiences, that inspired her and co-creator (and head writer) Dianne Taylor to create After the Party. They knew it was a risk. A drama with a lead who was flawed rather than having flawless skin. Who wore trackie bottoms rather than flowing dresses. Who created a mess in the kitchen rather than a perfect pavlova. 'We really dug our heels in; there was a bit of pushback – 'she's not a nice character. People might not like her'.' ADVERTISEMENT With her partner, Scottish actor Peter Mullan, in After the Party. (Source: Supplied) Some didn't. Funding was hard to find. It took three years. But the payoff was worth it. Rave reviews, rewards and nominations rolled in – from France, New Zealand, Scotland and even at the Baftas which are like the British Oscars. It was up against well-funded giants like Shogun and Jodie Foster's True Detective. Shogun won, but it was a wild ride, a little Kiwi show creating quite a storm. And now? Robyn Malcom and Peter Mullan at the Baftas. 'We're getting serious offers from overseas, we're making something new with people in the UK.' That's all she'd reveal, but she couldn't hide her excitement. If filming moves to the UK, that would be a bonus – because it's home to Malcolm's long-distance partner, Scottish actor Peter Mullan. They've been together, albeit frequently oceans apart, for 15 years. 'You go, well, I love you, so we'll make it work. It doesn't have to be conventional, and we make sure we put the kids first.' (Malcolm has two, Mullan has four, all of them aged in their late teens and older.) 'I remember my mum saying, 'I like this man he puts his kids ahead of you. And that's what he should do'.' ADVERTISEMENT Mullan has also been her acting partner, twice. First in Top of the Lake, then in After the Party, where she accuses him of paedophilia on screen. Off-screen, she's far more generous. 'He's a great human being, a phenomenal father. Fierce and politically connected. And one of the greatest actors in the world.' We can't say enough about sex So, for Malcolm, unconventional works. Which means it makes perfect sense that while many actors push creams to smooth wrinkles on the face, Malcolm promotes products to revitalise the vagina. She's not shy about it, in fact, quite the opposite. 'Nobody wants to talk about sex, I've never understood why, it's like we just don't want to talk about sex. I figure we can't say enough.' She dives straight in. Explaining that 84% of women experience vaginal atrophy as they age. It's due to cellular death and it can lead to painful sex, burning sensations and infections. Malcolm says Myregyna cream and pills can revitalise cells – and she swears they work. Maybe the New Zealand-made product contributes to Malcolm feeling more comfortable in her own skin than ever before. She has a partner she loves, two sons she's proud of, and a career catching its second wind. And she believes there's more to come. ADVERTISEMENT She calls this stage the final act of her play. One she wants to make the best yet. She's named it: Oh my God, I am mortal. 'I haven't quite worked out how to articulate it but I think as your body gets older, the catch up that your mind has to do… it's to have a really visceral relationship with mortality.' Standing up for what matters At her sons' age (19 and 17), she says death was barely a concept. Now, it's a constant consideration. 'Like, maybe be grateful for every day more than you were. Maybe take a few more risks. I'm always thinking, how would I feel on my deathbed?' Malcolm, protesting for Palestine. (Source: Supplied) It's vital to her to stand up for what she believes in. One of the issues weighing heavily on her mind is the war in Gaza – she calls it 'one of the great moral catastrophes of the 21st century' –she says she'd be on the very first boat if an international group of artists were heading there to help. 'And I really mean that.' Because more than anything, she wants her life to count. 'To be able to say I did and said all the right things, that I showed up and that I was honest. And maybe that's what the last stage of life is about – finding your own way to your own sense of the authentic.'
