Netflix’s My Brilliant Career Launches Today: Everything You Need To Know

It’s not often an Australian period drama appears on British television – but that’s the beauty of Netflix. Based on one of the nation’s treasured texts (of the same name), published in 1901 by Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin (under the nom de plume, Miles Franklin), My Brilliant Career gives us a glimpse into late 19th century rural Australia and the aspirational whims of an imaginative, headstrong girl growing up there.

Streaming in full today, here’s everything you need to know before you tune in.

My Brilliant Career: Plot, Cast, Release Date & More

In the works since 2025, My Brilliant Career was developed by Liz Doran, who has worked on Aussie shows like Please Like Me (2013–16) and Barons (2022). She worked with Sarinah Masukor and Rachael Turk to adapt Franklin’s novel for the small screen, while Shari Sebbens is the associate producer.

What’s The Plot?

Often read as part of the Australian high school curriculum, the plot of My Brilliant Career is familiar to readers from down under. But for anyone unacquainted, it goes something like this: Sybylla Melvyn (Philippa Northeast) is a girl growing up in the Australian bush at the turn of the century, with big ambitions to become a writer.

When the family receives a letter from Sybylla’s wealthy grandmother, Winifred Bossier (Chancellor), inviting her to relocate to her sprawling estate, Sybylla is hesitant. The family sees it as an opportunity for Sybylla to marry a wealthy, cultured man – and she concedes, thinking it will at least give her good material for her first novel. But her plans are disrupted by handsome foreman Frank Hawden (Jake Dunn) and local society celebrity Harry (Christopher Chung), who bring with them romantic temptation.

‘During the adaptation, we never lost sight of Sybylla’s more pressing goal – to choose her own path against the wishes of society,’ says showrunner Doran. ‘Love versus career is the umbrella under which all our stories are told. Contemporary women don’t face the same marriage hurdles that Sybylla did, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still massive obstacles for young women trying to find their way in the world.’

Who Is In The Cast?

Australian actress Philippa Northeast leads as Sybylla. Having starred in Home and Away (2013–17), Paper Dolls (2023–24), Territory (2024) and The Family Next Door (2025), Doran says: ‘Right from the moment we saw Philippa’s audition tape, we knew we’d found our Sybylla. She has such an intelligent, brave, open, and collaborative way of approaching the role. There is absolutely no one else I can imagine filling Sybylla’s shoes.’

The romantic lead, meanwhile, is played by Christopher Chung – who you might recognise as Roddy Ho from Slow Horses.

The full cast is as follows:

• Philippa Northeast as Sybylla Melvyn
• Christopher Chung as Harry Beecham
• Anna Chancellor as Winnifred Bossier
• Genevieve O’Reilly as Helen Bossier
• Kate Mulvany as Augusta Beecham
• Jake Dunn as Frank Hawden
• Alexander England as Julius Bossier
• Sherry-Lee Watson as Nell Kirby
• Miah Madden as Betty Kirby
• Ella Oliphant as Gertie Melvyn

What Is It Based On?

My Brilliant Career is based on Miles Franklin’s 1901 novel of the same name – her debut. Franklin originally wrote it when she was a teenager as a romance to amuse her friends, though we are told the action is far less steamy than Netflix’s miniseries makes it out to be.

It’s a foundational text for many modern Australians, but Doran didn’t actually pick it up until 2019, when she says she was ‘immediately struck by how Sybylla’s struggle still resonates for all of us today’.

‘Having the opportunity to give a new generation this story that encourages them to pursue their dreams was one I definitely could not pass up,’ Doran adds.

Reimagining the book for a 21st century viewer led to some mild changes, including ‘a broader array of characters,’ Doran says. ‘The book has a very loose narrative structure that still feels fresh and alive, but it is inevitably old-fashioned, especially in the stories it doesn’t tell.’ As such, First Nations characters were added to the ensemble.

‘Franklin’s book is original, expansive, and completely modern for its time, so I hope we are honoring the spirit of the original material to open up the story from our contemporary perspective,’ Doran adds.

Where Was It Filmed?

My Brilliant Career was filmed entirely in the Australian province of South Australia – which, you guessed it, can be found in the southern central part of the nation. With a whopping 67 percent of the 1.9 million South Australians living in the state capital Adelaide, South Australia is very sparsely populated. The state is also home to some of the nation’s most arid regions.

My Brilliant Career was filmed here in June 2025 (mid-winter in Australia), with the $17 million AUD budget making it the most expensive TV show ever filmed there. The small town of Penola (population 1,376) was the main base, tucked away in the Coonawarra wine growing region, though some shots were also captured at Adelaide Studios.

Will There Be Season 2?

No news just yet on the possibility of a second season of My Brilliant Career – but since it is based on a standalone novel, we think this will be the last we see of Sybylla and Harry. But never say never.

How To Stream

All six episodes of My Brilliant Career are streaming now on Netflix.