Natasha Liu Bordizzo has the unmistakable energy of an artist in full stride. Fresh from the set of He Had It Coming, her sharp, genre-bending new series, she speaks with the clarity of someone who understands both the weight and the thrill of storytelling.
The project – an audacious blend of campus politics, dark humour, and the intricate bonds of female friendship – marks a bold new chapter for Bordizzo, who not only leads the cast but also steps behind the camera as an executive producer. It’s a role she tells me she's embraced with palpable excitement, drawn to the material’s capacity to provoke reflection while keeping audiences laughing.
In discussing the series, she reveals her instinct for nuanced, culturally attuned work – content that unsettles, entertains, and ultimately expands the conversation around young womanhood today.
What drew you to the original material for He Had It Coming?
Immediately it existed in a very interesting tonal space – dealing with heavier issues of sexual assault and gender politics on university campuses, but exploring the issue through the comedy of these two very unlikely friends. Barbara and Elise are the heart of the story for me, and their friendship, as well as their experiences as young women discovering where they are on the (sometimes intimidating) feminism spectrum was a big draw. I think content that is spicy and wickedly fun, but also plants a seed and makes you think about something about our culture, interests me most.
You also executive-produced the series – what made you want to take on that role as well as starring?
Since we didn't have long to shoot the show, the whole series relied on everyone's collaboration and creativity in the moment. Bringing the script to life everyday required a lot of gusto and problem solving, which I really enjoyed. Some of the projects I shoot overseas are heavily planned, with not much opportunity to change things on the day, so I was excited to take part in this fast-paced creative journey.
What do you hope audiences connect with when they watch the series?
Well firstly, I hope they have a big laugh. Then, from the laughter, emerges something more grim! Comedy, like life - is about tension and then release. As the writers (Craig Anderson and Gretel Vella) were reminded of in their development phase of writing the show, survivors of trauma often heal through humour and camaraderie. I hope this show takes the audience on a journey in the in-between space of hard times and recovery... which often involves humour!
Is there a standout memory from set with your co-stars?
There was a colony of bats that lived by the lake on the grounds we shot, and at sunset they would all fly in like a dark magical cloud, along with a cacophony from the birds as well. It was a beautiful sensory experience every evening, grounding us to the land.
You also just finished filming Ahsoka Season 2 – how did it feel stepping back into Sabine Wren’s boots?
I really can't say much, but what I will say is that I truly believe the story we told is even bigger and better than the first season. I could not be more excited for it's release.
Sabine has become a fan favourite. What’s been your favourite part of connecting with the Star Wars community?
Becoming part of the Star Wars community is like being welcomed into a huge, wonderful, creative family. I go to conventions (like comic con etc.) whenever my schedule allows, and meet thousands of people who each tell me what our show, or Star Wars in general, has meant to them. There's a really lovely thread of it being something they share with family and friends – like a lady who told me it's how she and her sister connect, or a man who told me he watched our show every week with his Father before he passed. And that's the generational aspect: Fathers, Mothers, kids, Grandparents, friends – everyone enjoying the franchise together and bonding over the world it's built, both on screen and off.
The community is also incredibly creative, and I've been so inspired by the art that people have brought to show me; everything you could imagine from a custom Lothcat that somebody in the U.K. made me, to incredible fan art of the show, to a hand-painted pot that someone gave me because they know I love gardening.
You’ve played a huge range of roles across comedy, action, and drama. Do you find that you’re more calculated or intuitive when choosing your next projects?
Well, honestly, for the first half of my career, I just did whatever jobs I booked. That was the reality of an actor trying to build a career – but now, I'm grateful I am able to be more intentional with the roles that come my way. I, of course, gravitate towards great writing, content that excites or scares me, roles that are different to those I've done. Stories that I feel are important to tell and might shift the culture; move the needle in the right direction.
As someone of mixed-Asian heritage, I also find it exciting to see which spaces I can fit into, that previously couldn't imagine me in them. The start of my career was dominated by more martial arts and action-based roles, because those were most of the opportunities Asian actors had at the time. I loved those roles but I've been so thrilled to play a role like Barbara, because I didn't have many examples of people who looked like me playing multi-faceted Australian characters when I was growing up. I want to be part of the tapestry of the diverse creative community in Australia that shapes who are are as a culture.
What’s something you’re excited about creatively as you look ahead to the next few years?
This industry always keeps you on your toes and I've learned not to plan too much. Although aside from on-screen kinds of creativity, my partner studies Permaculture (if you know you know, if you don't you're missing out!) and we're going to spend the summer redesigning my parents property in Sydney to be a food-producing, wildlife-loving, little forest oasis. That honestly excites me more than I can say.
He Had Had It Coming, starring Natasha Liu Bordizzo, premieres on 20 November, only on Stan.
