Playing Gracie Darling

Playing Gracie Darling
GenreDrama
Created byMiranda Nation
Written byMiranda Nation
Directed byJonathan Brough
Starring
ComposerJan Skubiszewski
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Rachel Gardner
  • Jo Porter
Running time42–43 minutes
Production companiesCurio PicturesSony Pictures Television
Original release
NetworkParamount+
Release14 August 2025 (2025-08-14)

Playing Gracie Darling is an Australian television drama for Paramount+.[1] Produced by Curio Pictures, the series follows the events of Gracie Darling and her friends, who haven't seen Gracie since a séance went wrong 27 years ago. Joni, her friend, feels like she failed her, and when she receives a mysterious call saying another Darling sibling has disappeared, Joni's haunted by the events of the past catching up to the present. The series first aired on 14 August 2025.[2]

Plot

When Joni was 14, her friend Gracie Darling disappeared after a séance went wrong. She harbors guilt and hasn't been the same since. Joni, now a child psychologist, is still haunted by her past, and when she gets a call from a local cop that another Darling has gone missing after a séance, all the guilt of the past comes to the present.[3]

Cast

  • Morgana O'Reilly as Joni Grey, psychologist who returns to her town after Frankie disappears.
    • Eloise Rothfield as Young Joni Grey, Gracie's best friend, who took part in the spirit session.
  • Harriet Walter as Pattie Grey, Joni's mother. [4]
  • Rudi Dharmalingam as Jay Rajeswaran, police officer and Anita's ex-partner and Raffy's father.
    • Kavan Meegamuge as Young Jay Rajeswaran, part of Gracie's group of friends who participated in the spirit session.
  • Kristina Bogic as Gracie Darling, a teenage girl who disappeared 27 years ago after a spirit session.
  • Celia Pacquola as Ruth Darling, Gracie's sister and mother of the missing Frankie.
  • Annie Maynard as Anita Evans, Jay's ex-partner and Raffy's mother.
    • Scarlett Simmons as Young Anita Evans, part of Gracie's group of friends who participated in the spirit session.
  • Dan Spielman as Peter Darling, orphaned cousin of Gracie and Ruth.
  • Anne Tenney as Moira Darling, mother of Gracie and Ruth, and grandmother of Frankie.
  • Saiesha Sundaralingam as Raffy Rajeswaran, daughter of Anita and Jay, and best friend of Frankie.
  • Chloe Brink as Mina Grey, Joni's teenage daughter.
  • Stella Miller as Lulu Grey, Joni's daughter.
  • David Quirk as Billy Parkes, a mysterious fisherman.
    • Bede Warnock as Young Billy Parkes, an outcast who used to hang out with Gracie Darling.
  • Peter Carroll as James Darling, Gracie and Ruth's grandfather.
  • Pip Miller as Bob Grey, Joni's father.
  • Jazi Hall as Caitlyn Kelly, a rebellious teenager.
  • Ariel Donoghue as Frankie Darling, Ruth's daughter, who disappears just like Ruth's sister Gracie.
  • Dominic Ona-Ariki as Zac Teporoa, a minister.

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Darling Girl"Jonathan BroughMiranda Nation14 August 2025 (2025-08-14)
2"Grey Starling"Jonathan BroughMiranda Nation14 August 2025 (2025-08-14)
3"Murmurations"Jonathan BroughMiranda Nation14 August 2025 (2025-08-14)
4"Let Me Out"Jonathan BroughMiranda Nation14 August 2025 (2025-08-14)
5"Nine of Swords"Jonathan BroughMiranda Nation14 August 2025 (2025-08-14)
6"Dies Irae"Jonathan BroughMiranda Nation14 August 2025 (2025-08-14)

Production

On 16 September 2024, the series was announced at the Paramount+/Network 10 upfronts.[5]

The 6-part series is produced by Curio Pictures with Jo Porter, Rachel Gardner serving as producers, with Anya Beyersdorf writing additional content.[6] All six episodes were directed by Jonathan Brough.

On 15 January 2025, the series had entered production receiving funding from Screen Australia and Screen NSW, with filming taking place in New South Wales' Hawkesbury River region.[3][7]

References

  1. ^"Cameras Roll On New Australian Mystery Drama Starring Morgana O'Reilly And Dame Harriet Walter". Paramount Australia & New Zealand | Corporate. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  2. ^"Playing Gracie Darling (TV Series 2025– ) - IMDb". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  3. ^ abKnox, David (January 15, 2025). "Filming underway on Playing Gracie Darling | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  4. ^Staff Writer (January 14, 2025). "Dame Harriet Walter, Dan Spielman, Chloe Brink get in the game for 'Playing Gracie Darling'". IF Magazine. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  5. ^Knox, David (September 16, 2024). "2025 Upfronts: Paramount+ | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  6. ^"Paramount+ Australia original drama Playing Gracie Darling announces cast as shoot begins". C21media. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  7. ^Frater, Patrick (September 18, 2024). "Paramount+ Commissions Australian Mystery Drama Series 'Playing Gracie Darling' – Global Bulletin". Variety. Retrieved January 15, 2025.