Celeste Barber to star in Netflix TV show Wellmania

Social media superstar Celeste Barber is finally ready to share her huge secret with fans and celebrates by posing as some of her favourite TV characters.

Celeste Barber has learnt she’s very good at keeping secrets. For over a year the comedian and social media superstar has kept the biggest secrets of her career from her eight million followers and now it’s time to spill.

Barber is returning to her acting roots and will star in Wellmania, a new comedy drama series for Netflix.

The role marks Barber’s first time in a lead role. She is also an executive producer on the series, which is based on the novel Wellmania: Misadventures In The Search For Wellness by journalist Brigid Delaney.

“It’s big. I’ve never really thought that things would never happen to me again but at the same time I never thought they would. I’ve always just kind of kept it going. And do what I want to do is work in film and television,” she says. “I’m so excited to be acting and to be back on set.”

Celeste Barber channels Bridgerton, , and

ocial media superstar recreates a character from Stranger Things.

Last week Barber hinted at the news, posting a rare non-parody photo to Instagram saying: “Shit just got real today. I’m so pumped and I wanted to post it here so it would stay and remind me how excellent and big the real stuff is.”

Barber explains that the post was made just after she signed the contract for the show, and completed this photo shoot where she recreated characters from Netflix most recognisable shows such as Call My Agent, Bridgerton, Goop, Squid Game and Stranger Things.

“The Instagram stuff started with the goal to get myself out there so I could work. And now that it’s happening,” she starts, before admitting she’s getting emotional talking about it.

“It is why I’m taking photos of myself on bloody balconies to remember these moments. I’ve been working at this for so long and I’m still backing myself. It’s part of the reason why I’m so excited. I want to [remind] people I can act as well, not just dick around online.”

The comedian recreates a character from Squid Game.

Celeste Barber channels Call My Agent.

Barber has a long list of acting credits in shows such as All Saints and The Letdown, before she became globally renowned online as a comedian.

Since then she’s been constantly on the hunt for acting roles and says while she has been offered parts they weren’t quite right.

“But don’t get me wrong, it’s not as if Marvel have gone, “Hey do you want this? And I’ve said, ‘No, it’s not a complex female character so I’m not interested’,” she jokes. “That hasn’t happened.”

The fact her first lead role (Barber will play Liv, a food and wine journalist who has to consult her health after a crisis in her life) comes on the eve of her 40th birthday next year is serendipitous.

“I graduated drama school when I was 21 and went for all the Home And Away type roles and didn’t get them. All the really gorgeous pretty girls were getting the jobs. And that was fine. I always think I knew I would Steve Carell it and make my mark later on,” she says.

“I knew as I got older I would be more interesting to people and I’ve been fine with that. I’ve been fine with getting older. I look forward to it. I know my currency and it’s not my look and that excites me. It’s my talent and what I have to offer. This coming now, at this time, is perfect.”

“I’m so excited to be acting.”

Netflix’s Director of Content in Australia and New Zealand, Que Minh Luu, says Barber embodies what the streaming service is striving for.

“To have an artist with Celeste’s warmth and comedic talent guide us through the extremes, triumphs and revelations of self-improvement and understanding is an absolute delight, and one we know our members will love,” she says.

Barber, who also has a small voice role in Netflix’s newly released animated movies Back To The Outback, is currently casting the show and will start filming the eight episodes early next year.