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Leah Purcell Steps into Thrilling Detective Role in New Crime Series High Country

The actress tells all about her new series, and the major star she wants to work with next.
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As Detective Andrea (Andie) Whitford in Binge’s new crime thriller High Country, Leah Purcell has a lot on her plate.

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New to town, Whitford is tasked with solving five murder mysteries and missing persons cases while also on her own journey of self-discovery. Meanwhile, her and her partner’s past is lurking in the rear-vision mirror.

At the heart of High Country is a woman who must connect to Country to solve not only her personal puzzle, but the puzzle that’s left the community fearful and local police scratching their heads.

When WHO sat down with Purcell to talk all things High Country, she was in Brisbane for the Matilda Awards, to celebrate her play Is That You, Ruthie?, which she not only wrote, but also directed. Purcell’s ongoing contribution to the arts in Australia is immeasurable.

She was a fan favourite in Wentworth, and appeared in series like Police Rescue, Redfern Now, Love My Way, Janet King and, more recently, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart alongside Sigourney Weaver, Asher Keddie and Alycia Debnam-Carey. Now, as the brilliant lead in High Country – also starring Sara Wiseman, Aaron Pedersen and Geoff Morell – this proud Goa-Gunggari-Wakka Wakka Murri woman gets to tap into her Aboriginality once again. Her culture is, of course, part of the storyline.

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Leah Purcell stars in the new Aussie crime-thriller, High Country, on Binge.
Leah Purcell stars in new Aussie crime-thriller, High Country. (Credit: John Tsiavis.) (Credit: John Tsiavis.)

“My mother’s side is my Aboriginal side,” the Queensland-born-and-raised actress explains, adding that her father wasn’t in the picture. “I very much grew up with Aboriginal heritage. My bloodline to Country goes out to Koa near Longreach. My mother’s mother is Gunggari, up near Mitchell, Roma way. And I was born in a community called Wakka Wakka. I’m a Wakka Wakka Murri woman,” the 53-year-old shares with WHO.

For her new character, Whitford, connecting to Country is a foreign concept, given the lack of exposure to her heritage. It’s something that makes the early days of piecing together her town’s crimes all the more difficult. “She’s thrown into these crimes that she has to solve,” Purcell says. “She’s unravelling the mysteries of these crimes while also unravelling the mystery of herself. The land speaks to her not only in the evidence, but it also speaks for her personally.”

On set.
Purcell with her co-star, Aaron Pedersen. (Credit: Binge.) (Credit: Binge.)
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The best part about the series, though, is that the ending is unexpected. So unexpected that the stars themselves were shocked at the final table reading. “There’s a great twist at the end,” Purcell tells WHO. “That’s what’s really nice about this. We’re always trying to predict what happens – even I was wondering where it was all going! I also love that these crimes personally impact Andie in varying degrees.”

The crimes portrayed on the show are brutal, and everyone in High Country is a suspect. Switching off at the end of each filming day can be hard for any actor or crew member. For Purcell, she likes to wind down in front of the telly.

“I like a good family drama,” she stresses. “At the moment I’m watching re-runs of Shameless, the American series.” She also loves Frasier and Outlander – who doesn’t? – and the Bridgerton franchise, particularly its hit spin-off, Queen Charlotte. “I love how they are a multicultural ensemble and story, and you really believe it,” she says.

Rarriwuy Hick
Purcell and Rarriwuy Hick in Wentworth. (Credit: Wentworth) (Credit: Wentworth)
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But it’s not all love stories and laughs for Purcell, who is also partial to post-apocalyptic horror. She’s a die-hard The Walking Dead fan. “It was the only show that got me so anxious. It gave me so much anxiety but I just loved it [laughs]. I would binge it until four in the morning!”

So, what’s next for the actress, who’s been on our stages and screens since the early ’90s? This household name is plotting to work with Hollywood royalty, Clint Eastwood being one of them. “In acting and directing,” she says. “I want a chance to do that, I need to make that happen!”

There is also the one that got away, and another that she happened to tick off her bucket list in 2023. “Look, I would have loved to have worked with Doris Day,” Purcell admits. “I did have Sigourney Weaver, but I did that, so tick that off. Whoopi Goldberg is another one.”

Where to watch High Country 

Stream High Country now on BINGE with a 7-day free trial. Subscribe here.

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