Jessica Mauboy lures best friend Bonnie Sveen from Summer Bay to The Secret Daughter

LIFE will imitate art when gal pals Jessica Mauboy and Bonnie Sveen team up on Seven’s exciting new drama series, The Secret Daughter.

Soul sisters Jessica Mauboy (second left) made her breakthrough role in The Sapphires opposite, (L-R) Shari Sebbens, Deborah Mailman and Miranda Tapsell. Picture: Supplied

EXCLUSIVE

BONNIE Sveen is set to make a shock exit from Seven soap, Home And Away to join Jessica Mauboy in the network’s exciting new drama series, The Secret Daughter.

The Silver Logie-winning actor will make her leap to prime-time later this year as Mauboy’s on-screen best friend and back-up singer, in a casting call which has paired the off-screen pals together for the first time.

Sveen, who will farewell her huge following as Summer Bay’s favourite single mum, Ricky Sharpe over the coming months, will play the supporting role of Layla to Mauboy’s lead turn as part-time pub singer Billie, who chases her musical dreams to the big city but happens upon clues to her family’s past along the way.

Laughing like school girls through the show’s first script reading yesterday, the talented twosome will need little work on their natural chemistry, but say they will lean on each other as the production tests both Mauboy’s fledgling acting abilities and Sveen’s surprising musical chops.

Soul sisters Jessica Mauboy (second left) made her breakthrough role in The Sapphires opposite, (L-R) Shari Sebbens, Deborah Mailman and Miranda Tapsell. Picture: Supplied

It was Mauboy who urged producers to sign up Sveen, after they were introduced a few years ago by fellow actor and friend Shari Sebbens (Mauboy’s co-star in Australian box office smash, The Sapphires and Sveen’s one-time roommate).

“As soon as I saw one of her headshots come up during castings, I was like ‘hell yeah, I know her,” Mauboy told NewsCorp Australia.

“We can give each other a look across the room and then just burst out laughing, it’s that kind of relationship. Already, I’m glued to her, we are best friends and it’s amazing how that bond has aligned, how it fits with us in real life, on set and off it.”

For Sveen, the chance to reignite her passion for musical performance opposite the Sony pop sensation made it an easy career move to make.

“It’s not like I’m really confident [as a singer] ... I mean, here I am standing with the amazing Jess, but I’ve loved every minute of it so far,” Sveen said.

Mauboy was equally in awe of Sveen’s faith in the project she will helm.

Bonnie Sveen will leave her role as Ricky Sharpe on Home And Away, following the departure of co-star Stephen Peacocke who played her long-time love interest Darryl 'Brax' Braxton.

“That’s a massive step for her and I just love her work. I think she’s an incredible chick and just so much fun. To have her on board, to share her spirit and personality and experience is just everything for me,” she said.

Redfern Now star Leah Purcell will direct the first episode, providing Mauboy with another mentor and mother figure.

“It’s been a huge privilege and an honour to work alongside Leah ... it’s almost a mother to daughter relationship, she’s been so caring. It’s just so incredible to be in her world and really get to know what’s going on insider her head. You don’t get that access very often, I’ve just been blown away.”

Besties bond. Mauboy and Sveen are friends off screen after being introduced by fellow actor Shari Sebbens, Mauboy’s Sapphires co-star and Sveen’s one-time room mate. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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