DR SIOUXSIE WILES 'MY STRUGGLE TO BECOME A MUM'

The award-winning scientist and documentary star talks death threats, diet and the diagnosis she thought would stop her having a family

- Nicky Pellegrino

Dr Siouxsie Wiles has a question: What is the world’s problem with strong women? The outspoken, pink-haired, rock-star scientist asks this at the beginning of the new documentary Ms Information, which follows the microbiologist through a two-year period during the COVID pandemic.

One of the experts Kiwis heard the most from during lockdown, she was praised with helping save the lives of thousands, but she also attracted a lot of haters, with her size, her hair colour and her science all becoming targets for abuse. She’s even had death threats, which have forced her family to take extra security measures.

“It’s still going on,” Siouxsie, 48, tells Woman’s Day. “In fact, it’s worse now than it’s ever been. So how am I surviving? Well, I’ve got an amazing family – they’re what keeps me going.”

Her husband, mathematics professor Steven Galbraith, and 17-year-old daughter Eve both appear in the documentary, although Siouxsie admits they might prefer less attention.

“Even though this makes them uncomfortable, they’re behind me 100%. Th ey’d rather none of this had happened, but they think it’s an important story and so they’re willing to be involved.”