Secret City (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | June 5, 2016 |
| Founder | Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis (authors of the novels) |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television show |
| Parent | Matchbox Pictures, Foxtel |
Secret City is an Australian political thriller television show adapted from the bestselling novels The Marmalade Files, The Mandarin Code, and The Shadow Game, authored by Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis. It debuted on Foxtel's Showcase on 5 June 2016 and was released internationally via Netflix on 26 June 2018. The production was handled by Matchbox Pictures in collaboration with Foxtel.
A follow-up series, Secret City: Under the Eagle received approval in February 2018 and premiered in Australia on 4 March 2019, with a global launch on Netflix occurring on 6 March 2019. Unlike the original, this continuation departs from the source novels, with Uhlmann and Lewis contributing as story advisors. The continuation of the franchise beyond its second season has not been officially announced.
Secret City
Set against the backdrop of rising China-US geopolitical tensions, investigative journalist Harriet Dunkley (Anna Torv) uncovers complex conspiracies beneath Canberra’s placid exterior, putting her professional standing, personal safety, and the nation’s liberty at risk.
Secret City: Under the Eagle
Harriet finds herself involved in a military and political cover-up connected to Catriona Bailey (Jacki Weaver). While working for an Independent Member of Parliament, she uncovers a secret military initiative that remains hidden even from the Prime Minister.
Recurring cast
- Anna Torv portrays Harriet Dunkley, a former investigative journalist at The Daily Nation who now serves as Senior Media Advisor to Karen Koutoufides
- Jacki Weaver plays Catriona Bailey, initially Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, later appointed Minister for Home Affairs
- Marcus Graham appears as Andrew "Griff" Griffiths, Chief of Staff to the Home Affairs Minister and former Senior Political Correspondent for The Daily Nation
- Sacha Horler acts as Ludie Sypek, host of SKY's political panel and ex-Chief of Staff to former Prime Minister Martin Toohey
- Justin Smith is William Vaughn, Director-General of the Australian Signals Directorate
- Aleks Mikic features as Thomas Maher, a junior analyst at the Australian Signals Directorate
Secret City
- Daniel Wyllie as Malcolm Paxton, serving as Minister for Defence
- Alex Dimitriades in the role of Charles Dancer, an ASIO operative
- Damon Herriman as Kim Gordon, senior analyst at the Australian Signals Directorate and Harriet’s ex-spouse following gender transition
- Alan Dale portrays Martin Toohey, the Prime Minister
- Mekhi Phifer as Brent Moreton, United States Ambassador to Australia
- Eugenia Yuan as Weng Meigui, spouse of the Chinese Ambassador
- Matt Zeremes plays Sean Brimmer, Senior Constable with the Australian Federal Police
- Huw Higginson as Gus Reardon, Editor of The Daily Nation
- Miranda Tapsell as Sasha Rose, a cadet journalist working at The Daily Nation
- Brenna Harding portrays Cassie, a student at Australian National University
- Benedict Samuel as Felix Crawford, lecturer at Australian National University
- Sean Taylor plays Paul Wheeler, Director-General of ASIO
- Kate Mulvany as Veronica "Ronnie" Bordoni, Chief of Staff to the Defence Minister
- David Roberts in the role of General Ross McAuliffe, Chief of Defence Force
- Anni Finsterer as Vice Admiral Joanna Hartzig, Vice Chief of Defence Force
- Max Brown portrays Kevin Dang, Cassie’s boyfriend and fellow ANU student
- Charles Wu appears as Qiu, a student at ANU
- Kimie Tsukakoshi plays Ivy Chen
Secret City: Under the Eagle
- Danielle Cormack portrays Karen Koutoufides, an Independent Member of Parliament representing Wakefield, South Australia
- Laura Gordon plays Caroline "Cal" Treloar, a Drone Pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force
- Rob Collins (actor) appears as Lieutenant Joseph Sullivan
- Don Hany takes on the role of Ewan Garrity, the Prime Minister of Australia
- Andrew McFarlane (Australian actor) features as Air Chief Marshal Wes Lockwood, serving as the Chief of the Defence Force
- Joel Tobeck acts as Jim Hellier, initially Minister for Defence and later Acting Minister for Home Affairs
- Louisa Mignone is Mina Al Masi, a close friend and former cellmate of Harriet Dunkley
- Robert Rabiah plays Sami Al Masi, a businessman based in Canberra and Mina’s husband
- Tom Wren portrays Alex Berezin, a lobbyist representing Vanguard Energy
- Renee Lim appears as Major Helen Wu of the Australian Army, married to William Vaughn
- Benedict Hardie is Declan Boyd, assistant to Karen Koutoufides
- Michael Denkha acts as Michael Lavelle, CEO overseeing Trebuchet’s South East Asia operations
- Di Adams plays Gaelene Curtis, the Liberal Party Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament from Victoria
- Christopher Kirby portrays Kip Buchanan, the United States Ambassador to Australia
- Frederick Du Rietz appears as Robbie Lambert, the sole survivor of the Davoren Park explosion
- Dalip Sondhi takes on the role of Yasir Younis, the Pakistani Ambassador to Australia
- Rhondda Findleton plays Madeline Stenders, Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
- Rob MacPherson (actor) is Richard Gascoigne, serving as the United States Secretary of Defense
- Greg Eccleston appears as Floor Manager 1, part of the crew on the Sky News Australia program "Inside World"
- Fiona Press portrays Sylvie Dunkley, mother to Harriet Dunkley
- Rahel Romahn plays Nakeesh
Secret City (2016)
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Secret City: Under the Eagle (2019)
The entire season was made available on Foxtel’s streaming service on 4 March 2019.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | AACTA Awards | Best Male New Talent | Frederick Du Rietz | Template:Nominated |
| 2017 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | Anna Torv | Template:Won |
| Most Outstanding Supporting Actor | Damon Herriman | Template:Won | ||
| 2017 | Australian Directors Guild Awards | Best Direction in a Television Drama Series | Emma Freeman | Template:Won |
| 2016 | AACTA Awards | Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama | Damon Herriman | Template:Won |
| 2016 | Screen Music Awards, Australia | Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie | David Bridie | Template:Nom |