Tell us about Pattie?

Pattie is the Roberts’ teenage daughter. She’s very smart, intelligent and kind of the most responsible person in her family. She’s gutsy and ballsy and loves to play sports but she’s also into books and is a straight As student, so there’s that whole side to her character. But she’s harbouring a massive secret which is like a ticking time bomb throughout the series.

I just fell instantly in love with Pattie when I read the script. It was a weird kind of feeling, but I felt like I knew her straight away and knew how to play her, which is so rare. And I love that she’s a woman of her time but is a badass. I adore the show as a whole – it’s the perfect blend of comedy and drama and a lovely story about family.

How did you prepare for playing a Northerner?

When the audition came through and it said ‘Manchester accent required’ I had no idea how to do one, so I had to hop onto YouTube straight away. I was sweating as it’s so different from my own Aussie voice - it was very terrifying and intimidating in the beginning, but we got to work with a wonderful dialogue coach called Danielle Roffe and by the time I got to set, the accent was hopefully somewhat plausible and it really adds a whole other layer to getting into character.

Had you heard of the Ten Pound Poms?

I’m embarrassed to say that I knew nothing about the Ten Pound Poms before the audition came through. Wikipedia taught me a lot about such a huge part of our country’s history. I think it’s cool that we are making a show about it, because I’ve never seen this explored in depth on screen before. As soon as my family found out I’d been cast in the show, they were all telling me about people they knew who were Ten Pound Poms.

What do you think audiences will take away from the series?

I hope the show can offer a sort of cathartic experience for viewers. You’re initially drawn in by all the comedy and humour of these characters and situations but it turns very poignant and a lot of serious issues are explored. I think everyone will be able to relate to it in some way. Audiences can expect to be taken on a huge journey with this group of characters as they embark on their new lives in Australia. They will all go through a lot of ups and downs with these amazing Brits.