Macy Seelochan On Riot Women: ‘I Basically Gained A Dozen New Mums’

Meet Macy Seelochan: the stage star who has swapped the boards for BBC One in the new series du jour, Riot Women. In 2023, Macy took on the role of Celia in As You Like It at Shakespeare’s Globe, making her the first ever trans woman to lead a show at the historic venue. And now she is one of the very first trans stars cast as a series regular by the BBC thanks to her role as Miranda, daughter of band-member Jess (Lorraine Ashbourne) in the British broadcaster’s punk rock drama, penned by Sally Wainwright. We sat down with Macy to get the inside scoop on the series, plus find out what’s next for the breakout star.

Q&A: Macy Seelochan On Riot Women

Hi Macy, how’s life going at the moment? 

Hey, life is great! Just on my way to do a show at the Lyric Hammersmith. Wondering if this is the first interviewee you guys have had calling in from the Piccadilly line.

You can currently be seen in BBC’s Riot Women – can you give us an elevator pitch for the show? 

Riot Women follows a group of women in West Yorkshire who decide to form a rock band whilst facing some of life’s most challenging problems. Nasty exes, challenging workplace dynamics, the menopause, you name it. It’s about reaching breaking point, and trying to find your way back down.

You play Miranda – how would you describe her? 

Miranda is the daughter of Jess Burchill (Lorraine Ashbourne) and works at Jess’ pub. She’s neurotic, but also led by a desire to help others. She’s kind of like if a fire extinguisher was a person.

‘Even in the tougher, grittier bits of the script, this cast was able to stay joyful.’ (© BBC/Drama Republic Ltd.)

What was it like playing her? 

I loved it. I’m quite confident as a person (Capricorn) but I tend to overthink when I’m left alone. So being given permission to bring that side out of me for this character, and use it as the main driving force in most of Miranda’s scenes, was very freeing. And to be a part of such a complex story for my first series regular role was really, really special.

Did you do anything special to prepare for the role? 

For the accent, I found this YouTube video from the early 2000s of a young woman running for local council in West Yorkshire. So any complaints about mispronunciations, send them her way.

Any standout moments from rehearsals or filming? 

John Elkington, who plays the Pantomime Dame in mine and Rosalie Craig’s hometown, joined us to film the talent show in Episode 4. Me and Rosie were completely starstruck. John was shocked to be recognised. Ten out of ten, no notes. Although it would’ve been 11 out of ten if he’d said ‘she’s behind you’ at some point.

What was the cast dynamic on set? Who was your favourite person to work with? 

Look at that lineup – they were all my favourite person to work with! Even in the tougher, grittier bits of the script (which Sally Wainwright writes like no other, by the way) this cast was able to stay joyful. No matter who I got in a car with, or who I was shooting with that day, I felt safe. I basically gained a dozen new mums.

It’s all about music and punk rock. Who is your favourite band, or is there anyone you were channelling during filming? 

Some friends from my hometown have a band called Divorce and they’re incredible. They just opened for Mumford & Sons on tour. Although none of them have been through a divorce themselves (the charlatans), their music reminds me of my Nottingham roots and helps me to reconnect to those feelings of growing up as an outsider in a place that isn’t a capital city.

‘To be a part of such a complex story for my first series regular role was really, really special.’ (Macy Seelochan in Riot Women © BBC/Drama Republic/Helen Williams)

What has been your favourite project to date? 

I loved working at Shakespeare’s Globe. I was there in 2023, and I played Celia in a production of As You Like It. To have all those people hang on your every word, even though you’re speaking ye old slam poetry for three hours, is incredible. It’s also fun because you can see the audience really clearly, so when my boyfriend snuck in a pizza to watch the show I could signal to him to save me a slice.

Any roles in the pipeline that you’re excited about? (If you’re allowed to tell us!) 

I filmed some sci-fi at the start of the year for Apple! I’m not sure what I’m allowed to say, except I got to have long acrylic nails and a swishy coat. I’ve never felt more empowered.

Who has been your favourite actor to work with in the past? 

Kimberly Tatum is an older American trans woman who I worked with in 2022. We shared a dressing room and let me tell you, that was where the real show was. She’d turn up to the theatre with dresses and shoes she no longer wanted, and pass them onto me. I remember once she gave me an old dress that no longer fit her and when I put it on she took one look at me and said ‘you bitch’.

Which co-star did you learn the most from? 

Possibly Lorraine (Ashbourne). She’s a right laugh. We’d get into chats about everything, not just acting. Diet, exercise, politics, sex, you name it. But she also knew when to switch it on. Definitely taken some of that energy into more recent jobs.

What’s your dream role? 

I don’t think I have one? Every role can be a dream if it’s with the right team (I should trademark that).

What’s a genre you’d like to do more of? 

Comedy. I promise, behind these striking looks and this winning personality, there’s just a girl who wants to make people laugh. (She laughs.)

Who is an actor, writer or director you’d love to work with? 

I love my community and so the answer is basically anyone transgender. The Wachowski Sisters, Trace Lysette, Joey Soloway, Travis Alabanza. It would be cool to build a story based on a shared experience.

Do you live in the town or the country? Which do you prefer? 

I’m in South East London, which by London standards is basically the country. Every time I have friends over they complain about the trek, so I think if I moved to the actual country I’d never hear from them again.

Do you get to spend much time at home? 

It depends on the job. Right now, while working in theatre, I’m at home a lot during the day. With Riot Women, we were running around the hills of West Yorkshire for three months, so my home in South London was a distant memory.

What do you like to do when you’re there? 

I lounge about in the midday sun a lot. I’m like a cat. I’ve also been getting into at-home dance workout videos. I’m not brave enough to go to an actual class yet, but in my living room I’m a dance sensation.

What’s your interior design style?

Is ‘cozy sleek’ a thing? My partner is half Danish and half Italian, so we don’t have much on the surfaces but what we do have out is very carefully chosen. Also, our hallway is currently covered in pictures of our friends in wigs, from our ‘wear a wig’ party. I’m not sure what aesthetic you’d call that – unhinged, maybe?

How do you find balance in your personal and work lives? 

I try to follow my gut as often as I can. If I need to work on something while I’m at home, I will. But if I’m working for the sake of it, I try and put the pen down and call a friend.

How can we all live a little bit better? 

Stop running for the train. What will a few extra minutes do? I’m saying this to myself too, currently sweating after running for the train.

Anything fun in the pipeline – professionally or personally? 

I’ve started writing music again. I studied Music Technology at Sixth Form, and I’ve always wanted to come back to it. Maybe being a part of the Riot Women has reignited the musician in me…

Photographer: Niamh Sutton
MUA: Charlie Fitz John
Stylist: Ruta Irbīte
Hair: Mae Munuo
Movement Direction: Sula Castle

What Macy Seelochan Is Loving Right Now

I’m currently watching… Riot Women, over and over again. By the end of the year, I’ll be able to lip sync the whole show.

What I’m reading… Reviews of Lady Gaga’s new tour. I need to know when the best time is to get a drink.

The last thing I watched (and loved) was… Planet Earth. Give those animals a BAFTA.

What I’m most looking forward to seeing… Episode 4 of Riot Women.

Favourite film of all time… The Emperor’s New Groove (2000). That opening song by Tom Jones is a certified banger.

Favourite song of all time… ‘Indecisive’ by Snoh Aalegra. I don’t know how but she makes me want to cry and throw it back at the same time.

Band/singer I always have on repeat… Lady Gaga. ‘LoveGame’ has been on repeat since Catholic School (sorry, Sister Eileen).

My ultimate cultural recommendation… The book Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor (2017). You’ll be changed forever.

Cultural guilty pleasure… Skipping TV shows and watching recaps of them on YouTube instead. Sue me.

All six episodes of Riot Women are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.

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