For audiences captivated by the raw, unapologetic humor of the Australian comedy series Why Are You Like This, the character Mia, portrayed by Olivia Junkeer, often stands out. But who is Olivia Junkeer, and what makes her embodiment of Mia so compelling, even when viewers are left asking, “Olivia Junkeer, why are you like this?” This article delves into the origins of Why Are You Like This, exploring how Junkeer was cast and how her portrayal of Mia became a central, and intentionally complex, part of the show’s dynamic.
The genesis of Why Are You Like This is rooted in the friendship of creators Humyara Mahbub and Naomi Higgins. Mahbub recounts how their collaboration began somewhat unexpectedly after becoming friends and applying for Screen Australia and ABC’s Fresh Blood initiative. This program, designed to nurture new comedic voices, became the unlikely incubator for a show that would later resonate with audiences on Netflix. Directors Jessie Oldfield and Adam Murfet joined the team, adding their creative vision to the web series pilot. Producer Sarah Freeman and script producer Niki Aken later came on board as the project expanded into a full series.
A crucial element in bringing Why Are You Like This to life was casting the character inspired by Humyara Mahbub, Mia. Mahbub emphasizes the challenge of finding the right actress, stating, “We needed to find a cool brown girl.” Despite Olivia Junkeer’s evident talent and work on other successful Australian productions, the search proved difficult. However, upon seeing Junkeer’s audition tape, the creators knew they had found their Mia. Freeman recalls, “there was just something about your attitude and personality Liv, that was so fun and perfect for Mia.”
Junkeer’s audition experience itself hinted at the show’s unconventional and comfortable atmosphere. She recounts feeling immediately at ease with Sarah Freeman and bonding with director Jessie Oldfield over a shared teacher. Even an initial concern about the height difference with co-star Naomi Higgins (Penny) was quickly dismissed. The defining moment, however, came with the creators’ candid question: “Are you okay with gross stuff? Like what? Like cum?” Junkeer’s humorous and slightly bewildered response, “in what sense, what do you mean, what cum??, but I just said ‘Yeah, I am!'” perfectly encapsulates the show’s willingness to push boundaries and explore uncomfortable, yet relatable, topics.
When asked about the inspiration behind Why Are You Like This, Humyara Mahbub points to the core of their creative process: “The inspiration is our friendships. And I guess it’s just our lives.” Sarah Freeman expands on this, noting that the show reflects “the world you see around you and how ridiculous it is.” Niki Aken highlights the show’s exploration of “maladaptive coping strategies that we have in the fucked up world we live in,” citing examples like excessive spending on skincare as a relatable, if unsustainable, response to stress. The humor, often described as both funny and potentially offensive, arises from these raw truths and relatable human behaviors.
Olivia Junkeer found an unexpected entry point into Mia’s character through costume. She explains, “the way I really felt I got into Mia was through costume. My outfits were so specific.” While Mia’s bold and expressive style differed greatly from Junkeer’s personal wardrobe, it became a crucial tool for embodying the character. “It was always something like little shorts and a shirt, always loud, and has something to say, which is exactly what Mia is.” This deliberate styling, crafted by the directors and wardrobe department, contributed to the show’s distinctive and fully realized world.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of Mia’s character is her deliberate departure from typical representation tropes. The interviewer raises the concept of “representation sweats,” where characters of color are often burdened with being paragons of virtue. Why Are You Like This actively rejects this notion. When questioned about Mia’s sometimes “unlikeable” nature, Olivia Junkeer offers an insightful perspective: “Mia is like… What is Beyonce’s like uh… Sasha Fierce? Her alter ego! I feel like Mia is a lot of people’s alter ego. I wish I would say as much as I mean, like Mia does.”
This idea of Mia as an “alter ego” resonates with the creators. Niki Aken dismisses the “likeable/unlikeable binary” as a patriarchal construct. She argues that Mia’s complexity and willingness to “speak her truth even if it offends” are precisely what make her a compelling character. While Mia may not always strive to be agreeable, her fierce loyalty and protectiveness towards her friends reveal a deeper, more nuanced personality. Humyara Mahbub embraces the “unlikeable” label, stating, “bitch representation matters, I think she’s a great character in that she’s terrible, and that’s fine. She’s allowed to be terrible.”
Olivia Junkeer points out the double standard often applied to female characters, particularly women of color. She draws a parallel to popular “bad boy” characters in shows like Vampire Diaries, who are often romanticized and adored despite their flaws. Mia, in contrast, faces scrutiny for exhibiting similar traits. Junkeer concludes, “when we see the men doing it it’s meant to be so hot, and all of a sudden there’s a woman of colour and it’s like ‘she can’t say that.'”
Ultimately, the question “Olivia Junkeer, why are you like this?” when directed at her character Mia, becomes less of a criticism and more of an invitation to understand the complexities of female characters on screen. Why Are You Like This and Olivia Junkeer’s portrayal of Mia challenge viewers to embrace flawed, authentic representation, finding humor and relatability in the messy realities of modern life.
