Deborah Mailman says shows with First Nations characters like Little J and Big Cuz need to be on TV

Logie-winning actor Deborah Mailman didn’t see herself represented on screen as a child. Now she says we must have these shows on TV.

Deborah Mailman arrives ahead of the 2021 AACTA Awards. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images for AFI

Growing up, Logie-winning actor Deborah Mailman didn’t see herself represented on screen.

She wishes there had been a show such as Little J and Big Cuz, which pulls focus on indigenous communities.

The 49-year-old, best known for her roles in Offspring and Total Control, voices the character of Big Cuz on the NITV’s animated series.

“It’s so great this show is here now for our kids,” Mailman said. “Representation is important. It allows them to relate and be part of something.

“I really love these characters and these stories the writers have created just to be able to give a first nations perspective on what it means to be in a community growing up and understanding about land and country and culture.

“What’s also important is this show is being made into language versions for (first nations) communities too.”

It’s the third season of the Logie Award-winning series which draws on stories from first nations writers all over Australia. Miranda Tapsell, Aaron Fa’aoso, Renee Lim and Shari Sebbens join Mailman in the voice booth.

Multi-award winning actor, Ursula Yovich steps into the role of Nanna following the untimely passing of the much-loved Ningali Lawford Wolf.

Children series Little J & Big Cuz returns for season three with Miranda Tapsell & Deborah Mailman. Supplied: ABC

“She was one of my oldest friends, the darling girl,” Mailman said. “The producers did the right thing by making sure her family gave us permission to use her voice and her image.

“This work celebrates what Ning was about and she was so very passionate about this show.”

Mailman said voice work had become her new passion. She built a recording studio at home well before this season, when Covid first locked down the whole world, so she could continue to meet her many commitments in that line of work.

“It really helped when this came along – everyone was in different parts of the country,” she said.

“We had people in Broome and Cairns. We’d all link up via Zoom so we could all see each other.”

Mailman has her fingers crossed for a third season of the AACTA-nominated Total Control which she stars in with Rachel Griffiths.

“There’s always been that ­desire to have a three-season arc,” Mailman said. “There’s definitely more story to tell where we left it at the end of this season.

“Shows like Total Control and Little J and Big Cuz are great to have characters which are first nations characters offering a different and unique perspective.

“And when you have first nations writers it shows – they know the world and are coming from a lived experience.”

Little J and Big Cuz, Friday, 7:30pm, NITV

Originally published as Deborah Mailman says shows with First Nations characters like Little J and Big Cuz need to be on TV