Netflix launches My Brilliant Career series set in Australia

The Netflix series ‘My Brilliant Career’, an adaptation of Miles Franklin’s 1901 novel, has launched globally. Set in rural Australia around 1900, the six-part period drama follows Sybylla Melvyn (Philippa Northeast), a headstrong young woman striving for literary independence while navigating societal pressures to marry.

The production marks a significant milestone for the South Australian film industry. Supported by the South Australian Film Corporation, it is the largest single season of television ever produced in the state, injecting an estimated $19 million into the local economy. The project employed 600 South Australians and engaged 410 local businesses, with filming taking place in locations such as Adelaide, the Southern Barossa region, and Penola.

Developed by Liz Doran, the series has been noted for its modern, energetic approach to the historical setting. In conjunction with the release, Netflix ANZ has launched ‘The Next Brilliant Career’, an initiative to support emerging female and non-binary Australian writers by providing opportunities to pitch original concepts to industry executives.