The star of Good Bones shares her hot takes on the state of the world in 2026.
Actor, writer and director Aidee Walker has been a mainstay on our screens since she made her acting debut in local horror film The Locals in 2003. Since then, she’s popped up in everything from 2000s television classics like Outrageous Fortune, Mercy Peak, Nothing Trivial and Step Dave, more recently playing a slew of characters getting tied up in murderous smalltown mayhem in The Brokenwood Mysteries, One Lane Bridge and Blue Murder Motel.
Now, the mysteries continue in Good Bones, a dark local comedy which sees a millennial couple panic-buy a deceased estate harbouring about as many secrets as it has rat kings. Walker plays Meghan – a modern day Nancy Drew if Nancy Drew was 40 years and in her third trimester of pregnancy – who quickly becomes obsessed with the suspicious disappearance of the previous owner Linda Peach, an Olympic hopeful who vanished into thin air.
While her husband Sal (Josh Thomson) sweats over renovating the dilapidated villa before the baby arrives, Meghan takes the investigation into her own hands. Will Sal manage to clean up the kitchen before she cracks the case? Or will the chilling remains under the house threaten to disrupt the very foundations of their future? While we await answers to all these pressing questions, we asked Walker to share her hot takes on the mystifying state of the real world.
What bothers you most about the world right now?
Humanitarian crises. Climate crises. Refugee crises. I do struggle that the world is filled with such inequality, war, famine, genocide; catastrophic floods and earthquakes yet the powerful are obsessed with building AI data centres. It’s flabbergasting how their priorities are so delusional.
What sort of people do you avoid?
I don’t really think I avoid anyone. Not on purpose. But I am reaching perimenopause so ngl, my general tolerance is getting dicey.
What makes you want to get up in the morning?
My sheer anxiety of how much I have to do each day! I am usually up first at my house but I love it when my daughter wakes and comes straight to me for a cuddle. I am aware she will grow out of this soon so I am trying to savour every moment.
How do you hold onto hope in these crazy times?
It can be very hard to hold onto hope sometimes. Even if the world feels like there are lots of power hungry leaders making terrible decisions, I can also see how many amazing people there are fighting for justice and human rights and dignity and that really does fill me with hope. There are so many people doing wonderful things every day, and that is really encouraging.
What is the single best quality a human can have?
Empathy.
What’s overrated?
Being a billionaire. When you’re a kid you might grow up thinking it would be pretty cool to be a billionaire and then you realise that to become a billionaire – an actual billionaire – you have to be the most avaricious, navel-gazing individual who has most likely got to that position through the pain and suffering of others. There is something so deeply insane about that level of wealth and what is worrying is there are more billionaires than ever. To be a “super billionaire” in my humble opinion is actually something to be ashamed of (and also something they can do something about, so don’t feel too sorry for them).
What’s under-rated?
Honesty. I honestly (lol) think making shitty mistakes and stuffing up can be forgiven if you really look at yourself, are honest about yourself and your faults and honest with everyone around you. It’s really brave and attractive to be honest.
If you could have a do-over, what would you change?
I wish I could rewire my brain to enjoy cooking. I often think about getting hypnosis. I sometimes think about how many meals I have left to cook (before I can finally be shoved into some kind of rest home) and I feel depressed. I am genuinely jealous of people who love cooking and are good at it. I can fool my kid into thinking I can cook but she is eight years old now and soon she will realise that her mum is just heating or frying various food groups and throwing them on a plate. Not only do I want to love cooking and be confident enough to go off-recipe like my smug mates, imagine being able to cook for large groups? Please, do me over!
What brings you joy?
My human daughter and my dog daughter. My dog daughter is the biggest sweetheart who just loves everyone. I really believe owning a dog makes you a better person. My human daughter is so funny and creative and thoughtful. They really make me happier just existing.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
“Get a dog! But adopt, don’t shop!”
What advice do you wish you’d never followed?
“Get a dog!” (Our dog is more expensive than our kid.)
Tell us about a controversial opinion you hold…
I do think bribing your kid to eat vegetables is a great idea and making them try new foods they don’t like the look of, like a parent in the 80s. Actually overall I think bribing works a treat, you just have to be prepared for them to bribe you back.
When you’re feeling low, what helps?
I practice Buddhism – I have my whole adult life – and our community and my practice and the guidance we read can really bring my life state up a notch and see things from a different perspective.
In what ways is public-facing Aidee different to private Aidee?
I think they are kind of the same? I talk too much with strangers and at home but I do like to just hang with close friends and my family more than anything. I second-guess myself and have to overcome doubt a lot in private. I’m really hard on myself. It’s very boring.
Give us some life advice.
Get a dog but adopt, don’t shop (of course)! Enrol to vote! Vote for your kids and their kids’ future! Take the climate crisis seriously even if you haven’t been personally affected by it (yet)! And bribe your kids so they eat veges!! I would say get off your phone as much as possible and be with the people in the room but I need to crack that one myself before I give that advice to anyone else.
Good Bones begins Thursday on Three and ThreeNow.
