Paramount+ Australia has announced that filming is well underway in New South Wales’ Hawkesbury River region for the Paramount+ Original drama series, Playing Gracie Darling, a six-hour scripted mystery drama produced by Curio Pictures. Sony Pictures Television is distributing the series internationally.
Created and written by Miranda Nation (Undertow) and directed by Jonathan Brough (Rosehaven, The End), Playing Gracie Darling stars Morgana O’Reilly (The White Lotus Season Three, Friends Like Her) as Joni and features an ensemble cast, including:
- Dame Harriet Walter (Succession, Ted Lasso) as Pattie
- Rudi Dharmalingam (Wakefield, The Lazarus Project) as Jay
- Celia Pacquola (Rosehaven, Love Me) as Ruth
- Annie Maynard (Upper Middle Bogan, Colin From Accounts) as Anita
- Dan Spielman (The Code, New Gold Mountain) as Peter
- Anne Tenney (The Castle, A Country Practice) as Moira
- Chloe Brink (Thou Shalt Not Steal, Raising Thunder) as Mina
Set in a place where everyone knows each other, secrets are buried deep, and where being different is impossible to hide, Playing Gracie Darling tells the story of Joni, a child psychologist haunted by the disappearance of her best friend, Gracie Darling, during a séance when they were 14. Twenty-seven years later, Joni is forced to confront her past when another Darling girl disappears during a séance.
Behind the Scenes
The series is executive produced by Curio’s Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner, Sophia Mogford for Paramount+, and Miranda Nation. Laura Nagy serves as associate producer, with additional scripts by Anya Beyersdorf (Fake).
Miranda Nation, series creator and writer, said: “Playing Gracie Darling is an ode to the power of friendship and society’s fear of the unknown.”
Actress Morgana O’Reilly said: “This is a cast of incredible actors. I’ve found myself in the middle of a scene hoping I’m living up to what they’re putting down. This show is gritty, real, and perfectly spooky. I can’t wait to see it all come together.”
Actress Dame Harriet Walter said: “Playing Gracie Darling is a brilliantly constructed ‘keeps-you-guessing’ script, and the part of Pattie is quite unlike anything I have played before. She is well-meaning, if a bit misguided, dabbling in the mystic world which sometimes causes her to miss what’s under her nose. But I also like that she pursues her own earthly pleasures. That is rarely portrayed or even suggested in older female characters.”
Production Details
Playing Gracie Darling is a Curio Pictures production for Paramount+. The project received major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Paramount Australia. It was financed with support from Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund. Local distribution is handled by Paramount Australia, with international sales by Sony Pictures Television. Post-production, digital, and visual effects are supported by Screen NSW.
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