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The new star of the ‘Down Under’ Death in Paradise spin-off says she was ‘overwhelmed’ by her exciting new role, which is due to go out soon on the BBC.
British-born Anna Samson, 34, stars as the lead in Return to Paradise, set in fictional Dolphin Cove on the NSW South Coast.
Return to Paradise joins Beyond Paradise, with Kris Marshall as spin-offs from the highly successful, Death in Paradise.
She plays DI Mackenzie Clarke, an Australian ex-pat who’s made a name for herself in the London Met, but when she is framed for staging evidence, she returns to her hometown of Dolphin Cove where she jilted her ex-fiancé Glenn.
Samson said: ‘In a way, it’s quite overwhelming to step into those shoes [of Death in Paradise]. I think audiences can expect the spirit of what they love in Guadeloupe.
‘But there's something about the Australian way of life, accent and landscape that is so different and informs the story.
‘So, there are a lot of differences too. One is that I'm a woman, but there's the cheek and a charm of the original that I really hope we've captured.
She’s a fan of murder mysteries.
‘This genre is part of my DNA I guess. I grew up watching murder mysteries. Mackenzie Clark really appeals to me because she is unlike many women I've played before.
'She thinks quickly, and that's always fun to play on camera.’
Samson says Mackenzie is also battling with her past.
‘She left someone at the altar. It’s no small thing to have to return to that, and she brings home with her a great sense of guilt. She's pushing against all the emotions that being back home brings up – old places, memories, and relationships.
‘She's trying to push them down, but they have a habit of coming back up, don't they?’
But there’s humour too, she insists.
‘Murder is pretty dark, it’s one of the most desperate acts of humanity. So, you take that darkness and smash it up against an environment of bright sunshine and there's something where that juxtaposition is delicious.
‘There is something about Return to Paradise that's not just about Australia. It's about a small coastal town in Australia, and that comes with its own idiosyncrasies. Regional small towns have a specific vibe – and where we're shooting on the south coast of New South Wales has a vibe. Shooting there gives an authentic quality to the show.’
The spirit and plotting from Death in Paradise has been kept, said Red Planet Pictures boss Belinda Campbell.
‘We were delighted to have the opportunity to further expand the so-called paraverse and have relished the experience of developing the franchise to create a show which is uniquely different but bears all the DNA of the original.
‘Overseeing the initial stages of the development we brought on Peter Mattessi to helm the spin-off who along with Death in Paradise’s lead writer, James Hall, created a show that sits brilliantly alongside both Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise.
Return to Paradise is a match for their perplexing puzzles, warmth, wit and iconic detectives and the joyous “will they/won’t they” storyline between Mack and Glenn adds a fabulous new angle.”
All six episodes of Return to Paradise will be available on BBC iPlayer from 6pm on Friday, November 22
English (US) ·