From Innisfail To Netflix Jarron Andy Takes On Brilliant New Role

Jarron Andy on Horseback, on-set for My Brilliant Career. Photo supplied

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From the banana farms of Innisfail to screens around the world, Far North Queensland actor Jarron Andy is helping bring a First Nations perspective to one of Australia’s most recognisable stories.

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The Yalanji Yidinji actor stars as Charlie in Netflix’s new six-part adaptation of My Brilliant Career, a reimagining of Miles Franklin’s classic 1901 novel.

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Before pursuing acting, Andy worked on banana farms and as a painter in Far North Queensland but said film and television had captured his imagination from an early age.

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“Film and TV was one of those outlets I had as a kid growing up in my small little country town,” Andy told Ngaarda Media.

Eventually, he took a leap of faith and moved to Sydney to pursue acting professionally.

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“As a small country town kid, it’s a big ask to just pack up and buy a one-way ticket and head down to Sydney,” he said.

“But if I didn’t give it a go, it would be a big regret I’d have for the rest of my life.”

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His latest role sees him play Charlie, a character created specifically for the new adaptation, which expands the original story to include First Nations characters and perspectives. Andy said the inclusion was particularly meaningful given Aboriginal people were largely absent from previous versions of the story, with the role also carrying an important message for young people growing up in regional communities.

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“Mob were around and unfortunately we didn’t get a mention in the original storytelling and as well as the film,” he said.

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