The PM’s Daughter: ABC TV drama showcases politics for tweens

New TV drama The PM’s Daughter shines a light on the ridiculous behind the scenes drama that goes on in the corridors of power.

It is politics for teenagers – the new TV drama The PM’s Daughter has shone a light on the ridiculous behind the scenes drama that goes on in the corridors of power.

Premiering on the ABC this month, the series stars three promising newcomers in Cassandra Helmot, Natalie English and Jaga Yap.

The PM's Daughter stars Jaga Yap, Cassandra Helmot and Natalie English.

All three agreed they knew little about politics before filming began last year.

“When politicians make decisions, I feel like it is important that they do listen to younger voices and that they do take into account our perspectives,” English told The Daily Telegraph. “In the end, it will be in our hands and we are going to have to live with those decisions when the politicians are long gone.”

English, 17, who is entering her final year of high school in Sydney, plays “political fangirl” Sadie Bonner while Helmot is Catalina Parkes Perez, the daughter of fictional Prime Minister, Isabel Perez.

While fictional and billed as a tween drama, the show is loosely based on current Australian political scene and has a lot to offer adults as well.

“The politics going on behind the politics is so interesting,” said Helmot, who will soon be eligible to vote for the first time.

“There is all of this drama going on behind the scenes that sometimes the public does not see or we will only get half the story and we see that in the show.”

The PM’s Daughter stars Natalie English. Picture: Jonathan Ng

She added: “I find it very frustrating sometimes because they are making decisions from the point of view that they won’t be affected by them because we are the ones that will have to live with their decisions went hey are not in office,” said Helmot, who will soon be eligible to vote. “It is annoying my future being decided for me and I can’t do anything.”

The PM's Daughter stars Natalie English, Cassandra Helmot and Jaga Yap.

Nineteen-year-old Yap meanwhile plays Ollie Duong, the son of fictional Deputy Prime Minister Tim Duong.

“The show involves real world problems like climate and it really provides an insight into the amount of pressure these people in politics face and how hard it is to do their jobs,” Yap explained.

“There are a lot of layers to it, it is not just speeches and voting. This is a message that teenagers and adults need to work together to do the best job and get the best outcome for everyone.”

* The PM’s Daughter airs daily at 5.30pm with all episodes available to view on ABC iview.

Originally published as The PM’s Daughter: ABC TV drama showcases politics for tweens