My Brilliant Career: Netflix reimagines Miles Franklin’s classic with ‘bonkers’ modern twist
From a contemporary soundtrack to expanded storylines, the series aims to capture the rebellious spirit of its teenage author through a diverse, unapologetic lens.
Netflix has released a new six-episode adaptation of Miles Franklin’s seminal 1901 novel My Brilliant Career on 13 August. Created by an all-female team led by writer Liz Doran, the series reimagines the classic Australian story with modern elements, including a diverse cast and a contemporary soundtrack, aiming to appeal directly to female audiences.
The production stars Philippa Northeast as Sybylla Melvin and Christopher Chung as Harry Beecham. From the opening minutes, the series distinguishes itself from standard period dramas with smutty performance poetry and a Divinyls needle drop. By the end of the first episode, viewers witness Sybylla flashing her knickers at a drawing room full of toffs while dancing to a Rod Stewart cover, setting a tone that creator Doran describes as "unashamedly intended for women."
Northeast, who played the budding bush poet and aspiring author, researched her role at the State Library of New South Wales. She read Franklin’s diaries to understand the woman behind the story, which was substantially inspired by the author’s own life. Northeast described the experience of embodying the character’s messiness and awkwardness as a challenge, noting she was encouraged to rip into the "teenage spirit" rather than conform to societal expectations of politeness.
The adaptation expands the narrative to include First Nations characters and a gay subplot. The ambitious Aboriginal stockwoman Nell is played by Sherry-Lee Watson, while Harry Beecham is reimagined as Chinese-Australian. His heritage is revealed in the second episode through cultural details, such as removing shoes in his home to honour the house rules of his late Chinese mother. Christopher Chung, who returned to Australia for the role after living in the UK since 2012, described the casting as "forward-thinking" and not tokenism.
The series features a boisterous soundtrack of female folk pop, glam rock, and indie tracks from artists including Wet Leg, Ecca Vandal, Thelma Plum, Isabella Manfredi, Kate Miller-Heidke, and Beckah Amani. Doran explained that the diverse writers room approached new characters by asking who was living in Australia in 1900 but was not represented in the original book, aiming to give them story, agency, and a life.
Chung noted that the script included delicate touches, such as the shoe-removal scene, which nodded to heritage without othering the character. He stated that the show is an incredible example of how the Australian industry is shifting towards navigating inclusivity in a truthful way. The series is available on Netflix worldwide from 13 August.
