Netflix is bringing one of Australia’s most iconic novels back to the screen with My Brilliant Career, a six part period drama based on My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin.
Set to premiere in 2026, with an exact date still to be announced, the adaptation reintroduces Sybylla Melvyn to a global audience in a sweeping rural drama centered on ambition, independence, and defiance in 1890s Australia.
TL;DR
Netflix’s My Brilliant Career premieres in 2026. The six part series follows Sybylla Melvyn, a fiercely independent young woman in 1890s rural Australia who dreams of becoming a writer.
A Story of Ambition in 19th Century Australia
Set in rural Australia during the 1890s, the series follows Sybylla Melvyn, a sharp witted and fiercely independent young woman who dreams of becoming a writer.
While her family pressures her toward marriage as the only respectable future for a woman of her time, Sybylla resists societal expectations. Determined to forge her own path, she challenges the rigid conventions of turn of the century life and refuses to sacrifice her creative ambitions.
At its heart, My Brilliant Career is a coming of age story about autonomy, artistic longing, and the cost of choosing freedom over security.
Cast
Philippa Northeast as Sybylla
Philippa Northeast, known for Territory and The Newsreader, leads the series as Sybylla Melvyn.
Christopher Chung as Harry
Christopher Chung, recognized for Slow Horses and Blitz, portrays Harry, a central figure in Sybylla’s emotional journey.
Anna Chancellor as Mrs. Bossier
Anna Chancellor appears as Mrs. Bossier.
Genevieve O’Reilly as Helen
Genevieve O’Reilly, known for Andor and The Dry, joins the ensemble.
Additional Cast
- Kate Mulvany
- Jake Dunn
- Alexander England
- Sherry-Lee Watson
- Miah Madden
- Erik Thomson
The ensemble blends Australian and international performers to bring the period drama to life.
Creative Team and Production
The series is helmed by showrunner and writer Liz Doran, known for Barons and Please Like Me.
Directing duties are handled by Alyssa McClelland and Anne Renton.
The series is produced by Jungle Entertainment and filmed at Adelaide Studios and across South Australia. Production wrapped in June 2025.
A Legacy Story Returns
The novel was previously adapted into a 1979 feature film starring Judy Davis and Sam Neill, which remains a landmark in Australian cinema.
Netflix’s six part adaptation aims to revisit the source material with a modern lens while preserving its feminist themes and historical authenticity.
End Note
My Brilliant Career remains one of Australia’s most important literary works. Its exploration of female independence and creative ambition continues to resonate more than a century after its publication.
With Netflix backing the project for a global audience, the series has the potential to introduce Sybylla Melvyn’s story to a new generation while reinforcing Australia’s presence in premium period storytelling.
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