Rising star Talijah Blackman-Corowa fronts new Australian crime drama, Black Snow

A Brisbane uni student scored a leading role in a major new Aussie crime drama after responding to a Facebook call-out.

Actor Talijah Blackman-Corowa is leading a new generation of screen stars.

The 21-year-old debuts in new Queensland crime drama Black Snow, filmed in Proserpine this year, alongside Australian acting stars Travis Fimmel, Brooke Satchwell and Alexander England.

Growing up on Brisbane’s southside, Blackman-Corowa was cast as Eddie Mabo’s daughter in 2012 movie Mabo when she was 11, which sparked an interest in the “magic” of filmmaking that saw her pursue a creative arts degree at JMC Academy.

Brisbane actor Talijah Blackman-Corowa on the Proserpine set of Stan Original Series Black Snow, which premieres New Year's Day.

Approaching her final trimester this year, her cousin sent her a Facebook post, which was an open casting for Australian South Sea Islanders in her age bracket. Shocked to see a call for her community, she decided to apply.

After being cast in the role, she travelled to Airlie Beach for rehearsals within a week.

“I was like, what the heck? I’d never seen anyone call out to us to be a part of something so that’s what first made me give it a go,” Blackman-Corowa said.

“I remember the first day I saw all the pictures in the production office of all (the actors’) faces and … it was just crazy to be acting in the same show as them.”

“I think it’s going to be really important for Australians to see our people on screen and to give my community a voice, and my mob a voice.”

Brisbane actor Talijah Blackman-Corowa stars in Stan series Black Snow

The crime drama, set among North Queensland sugarcane fields, is told across two timelines, following the unsolved 1994 murder of schoolgirl Isabel Baker (Blackman-Corowa) which devastated the South Sea Islander community.

When a time capsule is unearthed the case is reopened 25 years later with a Detective sergeant (Fimmel) from the state’s cold case unit arriving to find her killer.

Blackman-Corowa is hoping her appearance in the series will inspire the younger generation as the film Mabo did for her.

“Looking at the poster and seeing me at the front, it’s kind of weird because you never see that,” she said.

Travis Fimmel and Jemmason Power in Stan series Black Snow

“But at the same time I remember showing my little cousin the poster and … just seeing the younger South Sea Islander and Indigenous kids look at that and hopefully make them realise that they should be in these spaces because they are just as creative and talented.”

“I’m hoping this opens doors and … younger people can feel like they can do whatever they want.”

Having deferred her degree to film the series – and also direct a music video for co-star and activist Ziggy Ramo – Blackman-Corowa is excited to trial all facets of the film industry,

“I’ll take any opportunity. That’s how I got myself here,” she said.

Black Snow will have its Australian premiere at Event Cinemas, Brisbane City on Friday before its release on Stan on January 1.