Jacki Weaver joins Secret City miniseries

A good get for Foxtel with news that Jacki Weaver will headline the cast of upcoming political thriller Secret City, which begins shooting in Canberra later this month.

Weaver will play Senator Catriona Bailey, Attorney-General and Australian Labor Party powerbroker in the series inspired by The Marmalade Files and The Mandarin Code, written by Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis.

She joins previously-announced cast including Anna Torv (Fringe, Deadline Gallipoli), Damon Herriman (Justified, The Water Diviner, INXS: Never Tear Us Apart) and Dan Wyllie (Puberty Blues, Tangle).

The six-part series is set in a world of secrets, lies, murder and betrayal – beneath the placid facade of Canberra. Amidst rising tension between China and America, senior political journalist Harriet Dunkley (Torv) uncovers a secret city of interlocked conspiracies, putting innocent lives in danger – including her own.

Foxtel Head of Drama Penny Win said: “We are delighted to announce this huge casting coup, and honoured to have one of Australia’s most acclaimed and respected actors join this exciting new Foxtel mini-series.

“Set in the backdrop of the nation’s capital, Secret City will be a compelling and intriguing Australian political drama and we are very proud of the cast and creatives we are assembling for this program.”

The Matchbox Pictures production will air next March.