The Unusual Suspects: Lena Cruz, Heather Mitchell in SBS series

Viewers will get a glimpse inside some of the eastern suburbs’ finest homes as well as be introduced to some of the area’s best acting talent in a hit new TV show.

A new TV series shot and set in Sydney’s eastern suburbs will showcase our favourite local haunts and provide a rare glimpse inside some of the area’s most glamorous private mansions.

The female lead heist drama The Unusual Suspects will premiere on SBS next month starring local talent including Coogee’s own Hollywood star Miranda Otto and her real life partner Peter O’Brien, Point Piper’s Heather Mitchell and fellow Coogee actor Lena Cruz.

Heather Mitchell and Lena Cruz at Shark Beach. Picture: Monique Harmer

As well as being set in public spots including Nielsen Park and Shark Beach in Vaucluse and The London Hotel in Paddington, the four part series was also filmed on location in local multimillion houses.

They include a clifftop home in Gordon’s Bay, sprawling Maroubra residence, and palatial houses in Vaucluse and Bellevue Hill.

The series was shot over six weeks from late September to early November last year.

The dynamic local duo on the bench at Nielsen Park where a pivotal scene was filmed. Picture: Monique Harmer

The cast on the same bench during a break in filming.

But the real treat is seeing our local talent take centre stage in the series which revolves around a dynamic group of Filipino women – some of who are domestic servants employed by the rich and one who is a self-made beauty industry millionaire.

Cruz has worked extensively on the small screen and stage but is perhaps best known as Dr Sofia Martinez on Kiwi soap Shortland Street.

Her character Amy is one of the domestic staff but far from being marginalised, the Filipino women are central to this storyline.

Heather Mitchell's character Birdie on the left.

“As an actor it’s only been these last two years that I’ve had so many auditions because of (people finally valuing) diversity. I’m sitting here saying finally! I never thought it would happen in my lifetime,” Cruz said.

“This role is so 3D – it’s got real heart.”

Cruz said the characterisation of the Filipino characters rang true.

“My mum she’s on a pension now and still to this day she sends home money to her sister in the Philippines.

The cast at one of their mansion sets.

“And then Roxanne (the millionaire character) I know her too. The people who don’t teach their children the language and the culture because they want them to ‘fit in’. It’s all very misguided.”

Mitchell is a veteran actor whose extensive film credits range from Baz Lurhmann’s The Great Gatsby and Strictly Ballroom to television’s A Place to Call Home,

Her character Birdie resided in the impressive Vaucluse home which gave the actor some serious property envy.

The series starts streaming next month. Picture: Monique Harmer

“It had such a beautiful, lush garden,” Mitchell said.

“We had access to the most extraordinary places. It was such an incredible privilege to be able to just step into these people’s lives.”

The Unusual Suspects will premiere on Thursday, June 3 at 8.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand, with all episodes available to stream at the same time of the premiere.