Townsville sisters’ success at Logies for their show Colin from Accounts

While many Aussies have seen Harriet Dyer on the silver screen, another Dyer has been making moves behind the scenes as the director of one of Foxtel’s most-watched originals.

Sisters Harriet and Madeleine Dyer have made Townsville proud taking home three awards at the Logies for Colin from Accounts.

Sisters Harriet and Madeleine Dyer have made Townsville proud taking home three awards at the Logies this week, including the TV Week Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress and Most Outstanding Comedy, for the Australian television series Colin from Accounts.

While many Australians have seen Harriet’s face on the small screen, another Dyer has been making moves behind the scenes as the director of one of Foxtel’s most-watched originals.

Colin from Accounts director Madeleine Dyer is a Townsville Grammar and University of Southern Queensland graduate with a passion for bringing north Queensland culture onto the screen.

She said it was an “unreal” experience to watch her sister accept a Logie while sitting in her Sydney home on the phone to her folks in Townsville who have been “so supportive” of their daughters.

“I just started crying, and I don’t normally cry with joy, “Madeleine said.

Sisters Harriet and Madeleine Dyer have made Townsville proud taking home three awards at the Logies for Colin from Accounts.

“My favourite message from the night was, ‘Dad is bruising the cardamom,’” Madeleine laughed, referring to a traditional cardamom-infused gin and tonic her father makes only on special occasions.

Madeleine said her sister “absolutely nailed” her performance of Ashley carrying with “that rank Townsville girl” archetype.

“We own that. Hard,” Madeleine said.

Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer with award for Most Outstanding Comedy series that their show won at the 63rd Logies in Sydney on Sunday night. Picture: Damian Shaw

With Colin from Accounts her “first proper TV gig”, Madeleine says the shoot was incredibly smooth and she loved the opportunity to pursue her passion alongside her sister.

“To be fair, it was just nice to hang out with Harri on set and do what we love together,” Madeleine said.

“They (Harriet Dyer and co-star Patrick Brammall) gave it everything.”

And while this show had a larger budget and more resources than anything Madeleine has directed before, she said what mattered was that everyone was glad to be there.

Colin From Accounts husband and wife team Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer.

“Cultivating a culture of fun and enjoyment can be done at any budget level,” she said.

Madeleine is two years older than her baby sister, but she claims Harriet has always been looking out for her and waiting for the right moment to give her sister a leg up.

“But I had to prove myself and do my thing,” Madeleine said.

“I’d worked enough in this space to warrant that. It was perfect timing.”

While she can’t give away too much about a potential season two, Madeleine believes in her “heart of hearts” that there will be one.

Until then, she will be releasing an indie Christmas film in mid-November, 2023 and continues to work on a feature film, Blood Sisters which Madeleine claims is “intrinsically Queensland”.

While she’s on the hunt for production partners, Blood Sisters will be based in Townsville and continue up into northern Queensland.

Originally published as Townsville sisters’ success at Logies for their show Colin from Accounts