Mia Milnes: Gold Coast actor heads to LA to star in major TV show

A Gold Coast actor is on her way to Hollywood after landing a lead in one of Australia's top TV shows. 

FOR five years Mia Milnes worked at cafes and shops to pay the bills as she chased her acting dream.

She would apply for roles, be rejected and front again for the next round of auditions.

The 23-year-old, who attended Merrimac State High School, finally landed that dream gig last year on one of Jonathan M. Shiff’s shows and now has her eyes on Hollywood.

Milnes hopes to complete filming for season two of Nickelodeon’s The Bureau of Magical Things before heading to Los Angeles mid-year in pursuit of breakthrough gigs.

Mia Milnes. Photo: Steve Holland

“I auditioned multiple times for the mermaid roles (in Shiff’s Mako Mermaids),” Milnes said.

“I didn’t get the roles but I did play a girl who was at the cafe. It was a small guest role I did for two days.

“A few years later (in 2018) I kept auditioning for his roles and booked one of his shows, The Bureau of Magical Things, as a lead role (as Lily)."

Last November, the TV series was renewed for a second season as part of a major production investment from ZDFE, Screen Queensland and Screen Australia.

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Andrew Conder, Rainbow Wedell and Mia Milnes on set of season one of The Bureau of Magical Things. Photo: Supplied

The show has helped launch the careers of young Australian stars in Hollywood and that is what Milnes plans on doing next.

“Once Bureau is finished I’m going to head over to LA to see what opportunities may arise.

“When I was younger, about 18-19, I went to LA a few times. But I guess when you’re that age you haven’t done much and it’s a big unknown world.

“My goal was always to book work in Australia. My idea is to book work in Australia first, because if you fail in America, you can always come back home and people will know you.

Mia Milnes is ready to take on Hollywood. Photo: Steve Holland

“My personal goal in film is to be in a period piece. Something that’s back in time. I love the ’70s and ’80s.

“I want to be doing the job that I love so I would take most opportunities that come at me – film or TV. I’m not opposed to either.”

Season two of The Bureau of Magical Things is pre-sold to Network Ten Australia, German public broadcaster ZDF and Nickelodeon.

The series is supported by City of Gold Coast Film Attraction Program.