Australia, we just hit a milestone moment in TV history! Mark Coles Smith became the first ever Aboriginal actor to be nominated for the TV WEEK Gold Logie Award in 2023.
Mark was nominated for this role in Mystery Road: Origin – with the show scoring a total of six nominations including in Popular and Outstanding Drama categories.
“I hope I’m an inspiration,” Mark told TV WEEK of his nomination. “To be an inspiration to others is a profoundly beautiful thing. Our young mob deserve to feel inspired, so if I can be a part of that, I feel blessed.”
Mark Coles Smith, plays young constable, Jay Swan.
(Image: ABC iview)TV WEEK caught up with Mark on the red carpet, ahead of the glamorous awards show.
How does it feel to be attending the TV WEEK Logie Awards as a Gold Nominee?
I’m nervous, excited and very proud of why I’m here, which is Mystery Road: Origin. It’s really beautiful to see the cast again, a lot of the cast are here, and I’ve never done the Logies before so this is huge! I didn’t realise it was like this, all the fans are here, it’s awesome. So I’m hoping that I fit in and I’ve scrubbed up alright. It’s such a beautiful first time to come to the Logies.
Mark Coles Smith and the Mystery Road cast. Note: readers he scrubbed up more than alright, dressed by Harriet Crawford, junior Vogue stylist, who he shouted out for “actually making me look really beautiful”.
(Image: Getty)What’s up next for Mystery Road: Origin?
We’re going to take advantage of that momentum.
What are you looking forward to as you attend your first ever Logies?
I’m hoping that the canopies are good, I’ve got some fingers crossed for some fresh oysters, Sydney’s famous for its oysters! Maybe some nice champagne and a good DJ, when this is all over, I want to dance the night away. I might see you there!
A man of the people, ladies and gentlemen.
Mark Coles Smith, Osher Gunsberg, Shaun Micallef, Sonia Kruger (Gold Logies winner) and Leigh Sales.
(Image: Paul Suesse)Even though he didn’t win the Gold Logie this time, we can’t wait to see what he achieves next on Australian TV screens! If you haven’t seen it yet, get out the popcorn and switch on the ABC for an Aussie crime spin-off series filled with mystery… solved by a young Indigenous constable, Jay Swan.
Mystery Road: Origin is now streaming on ABC iview.
