Top Of The Lake is the kind of creepy, unsettling and downright confronting series that really gets you thinking. If you loved Broadchurch or The Kettering Incident, Top Of The Lake will be right up your alley.
Here’s everything you need to know about Top of the Lake, from its highly-acclaimed first season, through to everything we know about its upcoming second…
Top Of The Lake Season One
Season one of the series aired back in 2013. It was written by Jane Campion and Gerard Lee and directed by Jane and Garth Davis. The first season followed the investigation into the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl by Detective Robin Griffin (Elisabeth Moss. Renowned Australian actor David Wenham, who will is also set to appear in the upcoming Network Ten thriller Wake In Fright, starred alongside Elisabeth as Detective Sergeant Al Parker.
The first season is one of the most popular Australian dramas overseas. According to Screen Australia, the drama can be viewed in over 255 territories. It was also nominated for Golden Globes, Primetime Emmys, AACTAs, BAFTAs and TV WEEK Logie Awards.
Top Of The Lake: China Girl
The second series, also written by Jane Campion, picks up four years on from the events of season one. This time Detective Robin Griffin is back investigating the murder of an Asian girl, whose body washes up on Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Where is Top Of The Lake filmed?
Season one of the series was filmed in New Zealand with plenty of picturesque shots of Queenstown featuring throughout the series. The show was set in the fictional town of Laketop, which was filmed in Glanorchy on the South Island.
Top Of The Lake: China Girl was filmed in Sydney, Australia.
Top Of The Lake: China Girl Cast
Elisabeth Moss and David Wenham reprise their roles for the second season. They are joined by an a-list cast including Nicole Kidman and Gwendoline Christie. Other famous faces joining the series include David Dencik (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Australian theatre star Ewen Leslie.
Elisabeth Moss
Elisabeth Moss is back as Detective Robin Griffin. You may recognise Elisabeth from her role as Peggy Olsen on Mad Men. She also currently stars in the critically-acclaimed TV adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale, based on the Margaret Attwood novel of the same name.
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman joins the cast of the second season and is barely recognisable as Julia Edwards. Julia is the adoptive mother of Robin’s daughter Mary, a product of a rape that she gave up for adoption 17 years ago.
Nicole appeared at the premiere of Top Of The Lake: China Girl, held this week in Sydney.
Speaking to Vanity Fair of the role, Nicole said: “I am just trying to stay very bold and open and try things and support filmmakers that I believe in, and also people like Jane Campion (writer and director), who has been my friend since I was 14 and discovered me basically.”
It’s Nicole’s second recent foray into TV. She was nominated for an Emmy for her role in the HBO mini-series Big Little Lies.
Nicole Kidman as Julia Edwards in Top Of The Lake: China Girl.
Alice Englert
Alice Englert is the daughter of Jane Campion (writer and director of the series). In the show she plays Mary, the biological daughter of Robin (Elizabeth Moss) and adoptive daughter of Julia (Nicole Kidman). Alice had previously appeared in the films Ginger & Rosa and Beautiful Creatures.
Alice Englert in Top Of The Lake: China Girl.
Gwendoline Christie
We’re used to seeing Gwendoline Christie in a full suit of armour playing Brienne of Tarth in Game Of Thrones. It’s a pleasant surprise to watch her play Miranda Hilmarson, a police officer from Sydney assigned to work with Robin on the murder case.
Elisabeth Moss and Gwendoline Christie in Top Of The Lake: China Girl.
Where can I watch Top Of The Lake: China Girl?
Top Of The Lake: China Girl will premiere on BBC First on August 20. The first season of Top Of The Lake can be streamed on Foxtel Now.
