Hunger Games star Stef Dawson takes time out from rising Hollywood career to appear in ABC dystopian series Cleverman back home in Australia

Published: 11:27 EST, 28 May 2016 | Updated: 12:06 EST, 28 May 2016

View
comments

She has four Hollywood movies coming out this year after her big break in The Hunger Games.

But when rising star Australian actress Stef Dawson was tapped to appear in ABC’s upcoming TV series Cleverman, she rushed home to start filming.

The sci-fi series depicts a species from Dreamtime mythology clashing with humans, and uses it as an allegory for Aboriginal issues in Australia.

Scroll down for video

Special project: Stef Dawson rushed home to start filming ABC’s upcoming TV series Cleverman, taking time out from her burgeoning Hollywood career

‘It’s something that resonates with me as an actress. It’s why I signed up to this crazy life in the first place, to be a voice for something and perhaps help create a change,’ Dawson told the Daily Telegraph.

The 27-year-old said the situation created a ‘scary’ dystopian future where the government uses the fear of the outsiders to control the population.

‘It’s definitely poignant and it’s current, but then it’s about things that have happened again and again throughout history,’ she said.

Big break: Dawson, who played Annie Cresta (left) in The Hunger Games alongside Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Sam Claflin (right), said the massive film series launched her career

'It’s why I signed up to this crazy life in the first place': Dawson said Cleverman was something that resonated with her as an actress. 'To be a voice for something and perhaps help create a change'

Dawson, who played Annie Cresta in The Hunger Games alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth, said the massive film series launched her career.

‘In such a huge market, when eyes are upon you in such a big and beloved franchise … people start to know you exist and want to bring you in for more things,’ she said.

Her new series, which begins next Thursday and will air in the U.S. at the same time, features the ‘Cleverman’ who is a conduit between this world and the Dreaming.

Social statement: The sci-fi series depicts a species from Dreamtime mythology clashing with humans, and uses it as an allegory for Aboriginal issues in Australia

Ryan Griffen, who created the original concept, said he wanted to make 'something cultural that my young son could connect to on a superhero basis'.

The ensemble cast includes Aboriginal actors Hunter Page-Lochard and Rob Collins as estranged brothers Koen and Waruu West, alongside Frances O’Connor and Games of Thrones star Iain Glen.

Sally Riley, head of Indigenous at ABC TV, said the show ‘sets the benchmark for diversity’ on Australian television. It has an 80 per cent Aboriginal cast.

Diversity: Cast includes Aboriginal actors Hunter Page-Lochard (centre) and Rob Collins (right) as estranged brothers Koen and Waruu West, alongside Frances O’Connor and Games of Thrones star Iain Glen (left)