Broome film star Mark Coles Smith lands Gold Logie nomination for Mystery Road: Origin

Actor Mark Coles Smith, who hails from Broome, has been nominated for a Gold Logie for his powerful performance in ABC TV series Mystery Road: Origin. The rising star, who comes from humble beginnings in one of the country’s most remote regions, is now rubbing shoulders with giants of the Australian television and film industry. The actor has been nominated for multiple Logies for his role as police officer Jay Swan in the prequel to the hit ABC TV series Mystery Road. Smith described working on the project on his Facebook page earlier this month before the final episode aired, calling the series one of the most rewarding projects he had been a part of. “It’s safe to call it the most demanding project I have ever worked on. Both in hours over days, rogue cattle, freak dust storms, plagues of flies, and more importantly, the intention to honour all that had been built before us,” he said. “Arriving at the end of the final episode this evening, I understand how truly special what we’ve made is, and how none of it would have been possible without the family who brought it together. “Dylan Rivers and Tyson Perkins have crafted a story for Jay Swan that is visionary, and all I can feel is proud and blessed to have been a part of that journey. “To our all-star female ensemble, Tuuli, Lisa, Leonie, Dubs, and the rest of the gang, you all set the screen ablaze.” The prequel to the long-running series itself received a Logie nomination for most popular drama series, miniseries or telemovie. The series boasts acclaim from international audiences as well with the series making the shortlist in the UK’s Broadcast Digital Awards alongside HBO’s record-breaking series The Last of Us and The White Lotus. Smith was nominated for the Gold Logie alongside Aussie TV stalwarts Leigh Sales, Osher Gunsberg, Sonia Kruger, Julia Morris, Shaun Micallef and Hamish Blake. The 36-year-old has so far had a stellar career, starring in multiple major Australian productions including his big-screen debut as Billy Bacon in World War I drama Beneath Hill 60 in 2010. It comes as Smith received critical acclaim for his role in fellow Kimberley filmmaker Jub Clerc’s directorial debut Sweet As released earlier this year. Smith also enjoyed the opening of his documentary film Keeping Hope at the Sydney Film Festival in June which tackles the sensitive issue of youth suicide in the Kimberley. On its successes as one of the most viewed TV series on ABC iView ever, it was announced earlier this month that Mystery Road: Origin has been renewed for another season and is set to return to the small screen in 2024. Broomies can help Mr Smith get closer to the gold by voting at the Logie website. Voting is now open for all popular awards and remains open until the end of the red carpet telecast at 7.30pm AEST on Sunday, 30 July except for the coveted Gold Logie Award, which, for the first time ever, will stay open throughout the telecast and close at 10.30pm AEST.