The Secret Life of Us
Encyclopedia
The Secret Life of Us was a television drama series set in the beachside suburb of St Kilda
, Melbourne, Australia. The series was produced by Southern Star Entertainment and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten
and on Channel 4
in the UK. Initially co-funded by the two networks, Channel 4 pulled out after the third series and the fourth series was not aired in the UK. It has been shown in other countries such as New Zealand
(TV3
), Ireland
(RTÉ Two
), Canada
(SuperChannel3), the Netherlands
(Yorin
), France (Canal Plus), Estonia
(ETV
, Kanal 11
), Norway
(NRK), Serbia
(B92
, TV Avala
), Russia
(TNT) and Israel
(Channel 2
).
The show's ratings began to dwindle following the departure of several main characters and the introduction of new characters. The third season featured a particularly high character turnover. Many original characters left, while their replacements failed to last out the series.
The key character of Evan (Johnson) departed early in the show's fourth and final season. By its end only two original characters remained: barkeeper Simon (Tredinnick) and student Kelly (Mailman).
The decision had been made to discontinue production after the first three episodes of the fourth series aired in Australia to disastrously low ratings. At that time the program was removed from its prime-time slot.
The unscreened episodes from that final season were broadcast with little publicity in late 2005.
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
, Melbourne, Australia. The series was produced by Southern Star Entertainment and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
and on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in the UK. Initially co-funded by the two networks, Channel 4 pulled out after the third series and the fourth series was not aired in the UK. It has been shown in other countries such as New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(TV3
TV3 (New Zealand)
TV3 is a New Zealand commercial television network, owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Launched on 26 November 1989, the first private television network in New Zealand...
), Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
(RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
), Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(SuperChannel3), the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(Yorin
Yorin
Yorin was a Dutch television channel. Yorin disappeared and most programs of this channel went to RTL 5. The programs of RTL 5 moved to a new channel called RTL 7....
), France (Canal Plus), Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
(ETV
Eesti Televisioon
Eesti Televisioon is the national public television station of Estonia. It made its first broadcast on 19 July 1955.The bulk of ETV's funding comes from government grant-in-aid, around 15% of which is in turn funded by the fees paid by Estonian commercial broadcasters in return for their...
, Kanal 11
Kanal 11
Kanal 11 is an Estonian TV channel. It is owned by the Kanal 2 company. The name of the channel is derived from a play on words; in the Estonian language, "Üksteist", the word for eleven, also means "each other"...
), Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
(NRK), Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
(B92
B92
B92 is a radio and television broadcaster with national coverage headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia. The network's key demographic is chiefly urban and young audience. Its programs, including the news cover topics with fairly liberal political painted attitudes...
, TV Avala
TV Avala
TV Avala is a Serbian television network with national frequency. Registered as a limited liabilty company, the station was given a national TV frequency in Serbia in April 2006....
), Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(TNT) and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
(Channel 2
Channel 2 (Israel)
Channel 2 is an Israeli commercial television channel.- History :In 1990, after 13 years of deliberations, the Knesset passed a law that paved the way for the establishment of commercial television in Israel. The goal was to enhance pluralism and create competition. Channel 2 began broadcasting on...
).
Plot
The show revolves around a group of friends in their mid twenties to early thirties who live in a St Kilda apartment building (the actual block is Belvedere Flats on the Esplanade). Their interaction with one another, relationships with other friends and romantic interests, along with their personal and career development, are featured.History and popularity
Initially, the series was immensely popular in Australia, and had a devoted cult following in the UK.The show's ratings began to dwindle following the departure of several main characters and the introduction of new characters. The third season featured a particularly high character turnover. Many original characters left, while their replacements failed to last out the series.
The key character of Evan (Johnson) departed early in the show's fourth and final season. By its end only two original characters remained: barkeeper Simon (Tredinnick) and student Kelly (Mailman).
Regular Stars
- Samuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson (actor)Samuel Johnson is an Australian actor, radio presenter and voiceover artist.He was educated at Wesley College, Melbourne and is best known for his role as Evan Wylde in the television series The Secret Life of Us.-Starting out:At the age of 14, Johnson performed in his first school play, cast in a...
as Evan Wylde (series 1–4) - Deborah MailmanDeborah MailmanDeborah Mailman , is an Australian television and film actress. She was the first Aboriginal actress to win the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role...
as Kelly Lewis (series 1–4) - David TredinnickDavid Tredinnick (actor)David Tredinnick is an Australian actor. An experienced actor with a long career in theatre, he is perhaps best known for his regular role as bar owner Simon Trader in the television series The Secret Life of Us....
as Simon Trader (series 1–4) - Claudia KarvanClaudia KarvanClaudia Karvan is an Australian actress popular for her roles in the television series The Secret Life of Us and Love My Way. She is also a producer and writer on Love My Way. She currently stars in the drama series Spirited...
as Alex Christensen (series 1–3) - Sibylla BuddSibylla BuddSibylla Budd is an Australian actress best known for her role in the television series The Secret Life Of Us.-Early life and education:...
as Gabrielle Kovitch (series 1–3)
- Spencer McLarenSpencer McLarenSpencer McLaren is an Australian theatre actor and television actor. The 1999 NIDA graduate is most well known for his starring role on the Australian television drama, The Secret Life Of Us, as Richie Blake; a role he played for 66 episodes.-Theatre:Australian productions of:* Kismet* Cats* West...
as Richie Blake (series 1–3) - Abi TuckerAbi TuckerAbigail Anne Tucker is an Australian singer-songwriter and actress, best known for acting roles in television shows such as Heartbreak High, The Secret Life of Us and in McLeod's Daughters.-Career:...
as Miranda Lang (series 1–3) - Damian De MontemasDamian De MontemasDamian De Montemas is an Australian actor who plays Brian Alexander on Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities and Jason Kennedy in the first two series of The Secret Life Of Us....
as Jason Kennedy (series 1–2) - Joel EdgertonJoel EdgertonJoel Edgerton is an Australian film and television actor.-Early life:Edgerton was born in Blacktown, Sydney, to a homemaker mother and a solicitor/property developer father, Michael. His brother, Nash Edgerton, is a stuntman and filmmaker...
as Will McGill (series 1–2) - Michael DormanMichael DormanMichael Dorman is a New Zealand actor based in Australia, best known for his work on the television series, The Secret Life of Us and his supporting work in such acclaimed films as Suburban Mayhem and West.-Filmography:...
as Christian Edwards (series 2–4)
- Sullivan StapletonSullivan StapletonSullivan Stapleton is an Australian actor, who has appeared in many television series but is best known from his roles in Satisfaction and The Secret Life of Us.-Career:...
as Justin Davies (series 3–4) - Dan SpielmanDan SpielmanDan Spielman is an Australian actor. He has no formal acting training and works in theatre, TV and film since graduating from high school in 1996 at St...
as Patrick A.K.A "Tidy" (series 3) - Nina LiuNina LiuNina Liu is an Australian actress of Chinese descent. Her most prominent role was as Chloe in the television series, The Secret Life of Us...
as Chloe (series 3) - Gigi EdgleyGigi EdgleyGigi Edgley is an Australian actress and recording artist. She is best known for her roles as Chiana on the series Farscape and Lara Knight in Rescue: Special Ops.-Early life:...
as George (series 3) - Stephen Curry as Stuart Woodcock (series 4)
- Brooke HarmanBrooke HarmanBrooke Harman is an American-born Australian actress. Born in Orange County, California and moving to Brisbane, Queensland as a young child, her first television role was at age 11 on the children's television series The Wayne Manifesto...
as Bree Sanzaro (series 4) - Nicholas Coghlan as Adam Beckwith (series 4)
- Alexandra Schepisi as Lucy Beckwith (series 4)
- Anna TorvAnna TorvAnna Torv is an Australian actress known for her role as FBI agent Olivia Dunham on the Fox television series Fringe.-Early life:...
as Nikki Martel (series 4) - Ryan JohnsonRyan Johnson (actor)Ryan Johnson , an Australian actor who has appeared in numerous television series and films.-Biography:Johnson is a native of Brisbane. He attended Somerset College in Gold Coast, Queensland, and graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 1999. His most recent film role was in the...
as Zelko Milanovic (series 4)
Recurring Guest Stars
- Jessica GowerJessica GowerJessica Gower is an Australian actress; sometimes credited as Jess Gower.Gower's first claim to fame was as a starstruck but confused fan in a 2001 television commercial for Telstra featuring John Farnham and Glenn Wheatley...
as Samantha Conrad (series 1) - Catherine McClementsCatherine McClementsCatherine McClements is an Australian actress.-Early life:Catherine is the third of four children, and after acting with the St Martin's Youth Arts Centre in Melbourne for a couple of years, she successfully auditioned for the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art when she was 17...
as Carmen (series 1) - Tasma WaltonTasma WaltonTasma Walton is an Australian television and film actress.-Acting career:Walton joined local radio station 6GE and trained as a production assistant and copy writer in her home town...
as Leah (series 1) - Tempany DeckertTempany DeckertTempany Deckert is an Australian actress and author. She is best known for her role on popular soap opera Home and Away.-Early life:...
as Andrena (series 1) - Susie PorterSusie PorterSusie Porter is a multiple award winning Australian television and film actress.-Television:Susie Porter began her acting career in one episode of House Gang, a short lived television program. She then had small roles in other Australian television programs in the late 1990s, including Big Sky,...
as Pandora (series 1)
- Damian Walshe-HowlingDamian Walshe-HowlingDamian Walshe-Howling is an Australian actor, best known for his role as Andrew "Benji" Veniamin in the Australian underworld drama, Underbelly, for which he won the Best Supporting or Guest Actor in a Drama Series at the 2008 AFI Awards.-Biography:He also starred on Blue Heelers as Constable Adam...
as Mac (series 1) - Kenneth Ransom as Brad (series 1)
- Todd MacDonaldTodd MacDonaldTodd MacDonald is an Australian actor who is best known for his roles on the soap opera Neighbours and the drama series The Secret Life of Us and Rush....
as Nathan Lieberman (series 1–3) - Alice GarnerAlice GarnerAlice Garner is an Australian actress, musician and historian.She is the daughter of Australian writer Helen Garner and writer and actor Bill Garner.-Acting life and career:...
as Caitlin (series 1–2)
- Diana GlennDiana Glenn-Life:Glenn has an English father, Greek mother and three siblings. The family migrated to Australia when she was 14. She went to Melbourne Girls Grammar School and studied arts at Monash University and Melbourne University.-Career:...
as Jemima Taylor (series 2–4) - Vince ColosimoVince ColosimoVincenzo Colosimo is an Australian AFI Award winning stage, television and screen actor. He has worked in both Australia and the United States.-Personal life:...
as Anthony 'Rex' Mariani (series 2–3) - Jacek KomanJacek Koman-Early life:Koman was born in Bielsko-Biała, Poland and came to Australia in 1982 with his brother Tomek. They landed in Perth, before heading over to Melbourne, where he began acting again.-Personal life:...
as Dominic (series 2) - Murray BartlettMurray BartlettMurray Bartlett is an Australian actor. Raised in Perth, Western Australia, he pursued an acting career in his native Australia for several years, including a high-profile role in the Australian series headLand. In 1993 he played con man Luke Foster in Neighbours.In 2000, Bartlett relocated to the...
as Nick (series 2)
- Torquil NeilsonTorquil Neilson-Biography:Born in London and raised in Melbourne, Neilson currently resides in Sydney where he has lived since 2003. He is best known for his role as Jason Cotter in Frontline which he played from 1994 to 1997. Neilson's other television roles include Blue Heelers, The Secret Life of Us and Love...
as Jake (series 3) - Pia MirandaPia MirandaPia Miranda is an Australian, multi-award-winning actress whose career was launched with her successful 1999 role in the feature film Looking for Alibrandi, an Australian film based on the novel by Melina Marchetta....
as Talia (series 3) - Pamela RabePamela RabePamela Rabe is a Canadian / Australian stage, television and film actor. A graduate from the Playhouse Acting School, in Vancouver, Pamela Rabe is one of Australia’s most highly regarded and awarded actors. She is best known for her appearances in the films Cosi, Sirens and Paradise Road...
as Luciana (series 3) - Rhys MuldoonRhys MuldoonRhys Muldoon is an Australian actor, writer and director who has worked extensively in film, television, theatre and radio.-Television:...
as Frank Goodman (series 3–4) - Aaron PedersenAaron PedersenAaron Pedersen is an Australian television and film actor of Arrente/Arabana Australian Aboriginal descent.-Career:Prior to Aaron's acting career, Aaron plied his trade as a journalist with ABC2 at Elsternwick studios in Melbourne....
as Corey Mailins (series 4)
Cancellation
Production ended in 2004 with the completion of the fourth series.The decision had been made to discontinue production after the first three episodes of the fourth series aired in Australia to disastrously low ratings. At that time the program was removed from its prime-time slot.
The unscreened episodes from that final season were broadcast with little publicity in late 2005.
DVD releases
| Season | Date Released | # Of Episodes | # Of Discs | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Complete Series | 10 November 2010 | 88 | 25 |
|