Australian actress Philippa Northeast plays spirited aspiring writer Sybylla in Netflix’s new six-part period drama, My Brilliant Career, arriving in August
As a huge Bridgerton fan still feeling the post-season-four blues, I’ve been on the look-out for my next period drama obsession – and I’m happy to report that the search is finally over.
The beloved coming-of-age classic My Brilliant Career is getting a new lease on life as a six-part Netflixseries – and it’s arriving on our screens in a matter of weeks!
© Ian Routledge/NetflixBased on Miles Franklin’s 1901 novel, the show transports us to the early 20th century, where Philippa Northeast stars as the sharp-witted aspiring writer Sybylla. While her family is determined to see her married off, headstrong Sybylla refuses to conform to the expectations of her rural Australian town, determined to write her own future.
© Ian Routledge/NetflixThe series comes almost 50 years after the 1979 film adaptation by Australian director Gillian Armstrong, starring Judy Davis and Sam Neill.
Keep reading to find out all you need to know about the upcoming show.
What is My Brilliant Career about?
Set in 1900 Australia, the story centres on Sybylla, whose dreams of independence and creative freedom clash with societal expectations.
The synopsis reads: “Sybylla is a shockingly modern young woman with one searing ambition – to be a writer, while her family is determined to marry her off. With an irrepressible taste for fun, Sybylla breaks every convention of 1900 Australia as she searches for a story that will allow her to write her way to independence.
© Netflix“For her, the choice between adventure or marriage seems easy, until she falls in love. Will Sybylla marry, or will she risk it all for a creative life?”
Who stars in My Brilliant Career?
Australian actress Philippa Northeast, known for her roles in Home and Away, Paper Dolls and The Newsreader, stars as Sybylla.
She’s joined by Slow Horses actor Christopher Chung as Harry, Anna Chancellor (Spooks, The Crown) as Mrs Bossier, Genevieve O’Reilly (Andor) as Helen and Jake Dunn (Renegade Nell) as Frank.
© Ian Routledge/NetflixOther cast members include Kate Mulvany (Hunters, Elvis), Alexander England (Black Snow, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) as Julius, Sherry-Lee Watson (Thou Shalt Not Steal, Heartbreak High) as Nell and Miah Madden (Paper Dolls, The Clearing) as Betty.
How to watch My Brilliant Career
The six-part series, which was filmed in South Australia in June 2025, arrives on Netflix on 13 August.
