Fake (TV series)
| Fake | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama Thriller |
| Created by | Anya Beyersdorf |
| Inspired by | Fake by Stephanie Wood |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by |
|
| Starring | |
| Composers |
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| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Imogen Banks |
| Producers |
|
| Production location | Melbourne |
| Cinematography | Sky Davies |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 40 minutes |
| Production company | Kindling Pictures |
| Original release | |
| Network | Paramount+ |
| Release | 4 July 2024 |
Fake is an eight-part Australian drama thriller series which debuted on Paramount+ in Australia on 4 July 2024.
Synopsis
Fake is a drama-thriller series.[1] Inspired by the 2019 book with the same name by Stephanie Wood,[2] the series follows a smart magazine writer who thinks she has found her ideal match when she meets a successful grazier on a dating app. The writer later discovers that he is not all that he has led her to believe.[3][4]
Production
The eight-part 40-minute series was filmed in Melbourne in September 2023, created by screenwriter Anya Beyersdorf and directed by Emma Freeman,[3] Jennifer Leacey and Taylor Ferguson.[4] Three episodes were written by Hyun Lee and Jessica Tuckwell.[5]
The series is produced by Kindling Pictures, led by Imogen Banks and Emelyne Palmer. The series received a major production investment from Paramount ANZ and Screen Australia, in association with VicScreen.[4]
Cast
Main
- Asher Keddie as Birdie Bell
- David Wenham as Joe Burt
Supporting
- Janet Andrewartha as Kath Tovey
- Nicholas Brown as Anton
- Anne Charleston as Shirley Burt
- Heather Mitchell as Margeaux
- Ming-Zhu Hii as Kirsty
- Spencer McLaren as Tovey
- Jack Sandle as Connor
- Greg Stone as Peter Van Rotterdam
- Louisa Mignone as Peggy[4]
Guests
- Arka Das as Rohit
- Freya Stafford as Tessa Rain
- John Stanton as Percy
- Peta Brady as Milena
- Petra Yared as Jessa
- Tony Rickards as Mr Whitney
Broadcast
All episodes of the series were added to Paramount+ on 4 July 2024.[4][5] The series marked its free-to-air debut on Network 10 and 10Play on 25 May 2025.[6]
Reception
Craig Mathieson of The Age wrote, "On an emotional level it is forensic, and the direction – set up by Emma Freeman – accentuates the acutely felt unease…It becomes a brutal, recurring cue. Fake is one gripping shock to the system after another."[7] Luke Buckmaster of Guardian Australia described the series' narration, "There's a logic to this narration but it's almost impossible to make a sentence like that sound natural – and the show doesn’t quite master the literary qualities it's aspiring for, either."[8] David Knox of TV Tonight wrote, "In a world of scams, bad dates and ghosting Fake is a modern cautionary tale about trust and self-worth. It's also a ripping yarn."[9]
On 25 May 2025, Network 10 aired the show free-to-air and the first episode aired to 300,000 viewers.[10]
Episodes
| No. | Title [5] | Directed by [5] | Written by [5] | Original release date [4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Lanolin" | Emma Freeman | Anya Beyersdorf | 4 July 2024 |
| 2 | "Stitches" | Emma Freeman | Anya Beyersdorf | 4 July 2024 |
| 3 | "The Blue Loon" | Jennifer Leacey | Jessica Tuckwell | 4 July 2024 |
| 4 | "Eldorado" | Taylor Ferguson | Hyun Lee | 4 July 2024 |
| 5 | "Love Kitten" | Emma Freeman | Anya Beyersdorf | 4 July 2024 |
| 6 | "Run" | Jennifer Leacey | Jessica Tuckwell | 4 July 2024 |
| 7 | "Liar" | Jennifer Leacey | Anya Beyersdorf | 4 July 2024 |
| 8 | "My Joe" | Jennifer Leacey | Anya Beyersdorf | 4 July 2024 |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | AACTA Awards | Best Drama Series | Fake | Nominated | |
| Best Lead Actress in Drama | Asher Keddie | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in Drama | Heather Mitchell | Nominated | |||
| Best Direction in Drama or Comedy | Emma Freeman - Fake – Episode 5: Love Kitten | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay in Television | Anya Beyersdorf – Fake – Episode 1: Lanolin | Nominated | |||
| Best Casting | Nathan Lloyd – Fake | Nominated |
References
- ^ Frater, Patrick (14 September 2023). "Asher Keddie to Produce and Star in 'Fake,' Paramount+ Australia Drama Series About a Romantic Relationship Built on Lies". Variety. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Wood, Stephanie (3 July 2024). "Toxic boyfriend gets the TV treatment: 'Now it's Asher Keddie in his arms, not me'". Good Weekend. The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Nine Entertainment (published 6 July 2024). p. 6. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Cameras Roll on Asher Keddie and David Wenham in Drama Series Fake" (Press release). Screen Australia. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Siemienowicz, Rochelle (6 June 2024). "Fake, Paramount+ streaming preview: Asher Keddie and David Wenham in love scam thriller". ScreenHub. Creative Hubs Group. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Fake: episode guide". Australian Television. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Laidlaw, Kyle (13 May 2025). "Asher Keddie and David Wenham led Paramount+ thriller FAKE lands on 10". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Mathieson, Craig (26 June 2024). "The best Australian drama in years, Fake surgically dissects a sham romance". The Age. Melbourne: Nine Entertainment (published 27 June 2024). p. 7. ProQuest 3072244957. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Buckmaster, Luke (4 July 2024). "Fake review – Asher Keddie thrills in visceral drama about a romance scammer". Guardian Australia. Guardian Media Group. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Knox, David (2 July 2024). "Fake". TV Tonight (Review). Retrieved 6 July 2024.
In a world of scams, bad dates and ghosting Fake is a modern cautionary tale about trust and self-worth. It's also a ripping yarn.
- ^ Knox, David (26 May 2025). "Nine News, Travel Guides dominate Sunday viewing. | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
