CHANNEL 4 DRAMA THAT LAUNCHED CAREERS OF HOLLYWOOD STARS RETURNING FOR REBOOT 21 YEARS AFTER AXE

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A beloved Channel 4 drama that launched the careers of a number of Hollywood stars is set to return for a reboot, 21 years after it was last on screen. 

The hit series, which ran from 2001 to 2005 over four seasons, was set in the beachside neighbourhood of St Kilda, Australia.  

Starring the likes of Claudia Karvan, Samuel Johnson and Deborah Mailman, the series followed the lives of a group of young adults living in the same block of flats.

The Secret Life of Us drew focus on their pursuits of love, careers, and their personal identities as they navigated the complexities of growing up. 

The show launched the career of actor and filmmaker Joel Edgerton, who went on to become a huge star in Hollywood after starring in the series as William McGill. 

The star was recently nominated for a Golden Globe in the Best Actor category for film Train Dreams, which hit the silver screen in 2025. 

He played the leading role of Robert Grainer in the movie, an orphaned logger in early 20th-century America as he builds a life and suffers serious tragedy.

Elsewhere, the actor has starred in 2012 film Zero Dark Thirty, Oscar and BAFTA winning The Great Gatsby and 2010 hit Animal Kingdom. 

Joel, 51, gained further recognition as Owen Lars in the Star Wars franchise. 

While actress Deborah, who portrayed the central character Kelly Lewis, went on to become one of Australia‘s best-loved actresses.

She starred in the likes of Offspring, The Sapphires, Redfern Now, and Cleverman.

Speaking at RMIT’s 100 Years of Television symposium, co-creator and producer Amanda Higgs revealed the show has been in talks for a reboot.  

She revealed: 'There’s a lot of talk, well, not a lot… there’s a tiny bit of talk about whether we’ll do Secret Life again.'

Ruling herself out of returning to the series, Amanda continued: 'No! I am too old to make that show. I think if you’re creating for younger audiences, you have to have that younger sensibility.'

Joel and Deborah aren't the only stars of the series that went on to have successful TV and film career - with much of the cast returning to screens after the show was axed 21 years ago.

Samuel Johnson found his big break in acting after landing the role of scruffy, womanising writer Evan Wylde in The Secret Life of Us. 

It wasn't until he was cast as Molly Meldrum in the Channel Seven mini-series Molly (2016) that Samuel really made a career comeback.

His portrayal of the veteran music critic was widely praised, and he was awarded the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality in 2017.

During that acceptance speech, Molly himself took to the stage to deliver a rather bizarre anecdote - and Samuel graciously let him enjoy the spotlight.

Claudia Karvan, 45, portrayed Dr Alex Christensen in The Secret Life of Us.

Her career afterwards has seen her appear in numerous Australian productions - including Puberty Blues, The Time of Our Lives and, most recently, Newton's Law.

While Ben Mendelsohn, 48, who starred in just five episodes of The Secret Life of Us as Rob, went on to enjoy a successful career in American film and television.

He is a familiar face thanks to roles in Hollywood blockbusters, like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Dark Night Rises, and Mississippi Grind.

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2026-02-10T10:28:51Z