Bruna Papandrea says the television show she executive produced, Big Little Lies, revealed a long-overlooked gap in television: compelling, women-led stories.
When television show Big Little Lies debuted in 2017 with its star-studded female cast (Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep), executive producer Bruna Papandrea says it quietly revealed a glaring void in television: women-centric storytelling.
At the Forbes Australia Business Summit, Papandrea described the revelation: “There just weren’t people putting women in front and telling their stories. I didn’t realise how big the problem was until we started doing it.”
Papandrea, who co-founded the production company Made Up Stories with Reese Witherspoon, says an ensemble of women like the cast in Big Little Lies hadn’t been seen on screen in a long time, and neither had that portrayal of female friendships, motherhood, and domestic relationships.
Big Little Lies‘ series two finale drew just under 2 million viewers (1.98 million to be precise) surpassing the season one finale (1.86 million) as the show’s most-watched hour for its initial airing. Including replays and streaming, the Sunday total reached 3.1 million, setting a new series high. But its impact was felt far beyond ratings: Papandrea recalls being approached by other producers and executives who said, “We want a show like Big Little Lies. That’s when I realised it had penetrated culture.”
For Papandrea, the influence was personal. She told the crowd how women would approach her to discuss issues in their own domestic lives, reflecting the series’ reach into everyday conversations. “I would meet women and they’d start talking about other women they knew in domestic relationships,” she said.
“It was making its way into the culture in a different way. People thought it was one thing on the surface, but underneath it was completely different. I think that surprise is why it hit the way it did.”
Papandrea says she sees the success of Big Little Lies as a reminder that authentic, character-driven stories are not just culturally significant, but also commercially viable.
She says her approach has influenced other projects at Made Up Stories, which continues to champion stories led by women (with the likes of Kidman-led Nine Perfect Strangers and The Undoing), as well as her new venture, Invisible Roadmap – a podcast that explored the lives and careers of stars.
“My vision is to ignite the imaginations of people by engaging in conversations with inspiring guests about their invisible roadmaps, the particular conventional and unconventional roads they took to achieve their goals and fulfill their passions,” Papandrea told Variety, announcing the launch of the podcast.
In her first episode, Papandrea interviewed fellow Australian Naomi Watts, and the future lineup confirmed episodes with actress Asher Keddie, music manager Ceci Kurzman, global head of Blackstone Private Wealth Joan Solotar and US trial lawyer, Marvin Putnam.
“The audience doesn’t always know what it wants until they see it.”
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