90s sitcom star joins hit Aussie series
The highly anticipated Season 2 of the breakout Aussie series Strife premieres on Thursday, May 8 and the cast celebrated its upcoming return with a star-studded event in Sydney overnight.
Beloved actress Asher Keddie led the way at the exclusive launch party held at Island Radio restaurant in Redfern with her co-stars Matt Day, Emma Lung, Maria Angelico, Tina Bursill and Bryony Skillington also walking the red carpet.
Asher Keddie attends the Strife Season 2 launch party in Sydney.
One star set to steal the show this season is Mary Coustas, who was rose to fame on the 90s sitcom Acropolis Now.
In Season 2 of the BINGE series, which follows the messy and relatable life of digital publisher Evelyn Jones (played by Keddie), Coustas plays the media mogul's psychologist Sylvie, who she consults regularly after Evelyn's former deputy and friend launches a rival website.
Stream Strife Season 1 now and Season 2 from May 8 on BINGE, available on Hubbl.
Mary Coustas wowed the crowd at the event held at Island Radio restaurant.
Coustas, who hosted the event's Q&A with the stars and creatives behind the show, looked unlike the loud and flashy character of Effie Stefanidis she portrayed on Acropolis Now.
Coustas is well known for playing her Greek-Australian alter ego Effie on Acropolis Now. Source: Supplied
Coustas joins Season 2 as psychologist Sylvie. Picture: Binge
The OTT bouffant hairdo and thick Greek accent were no more as 60-year-old Coustas took to the stage with Keddie, screenwriter Sarah Scheller and executive producers Bruna Papandrea and Mia Freedman (the Mamamia founder whose 2017 memoir, Work Strife Balance, is based on the book). Instead, Coustas now 60, rocked sleek hair and looked chic in a baby blue power suit.
Maria Angelico plays Keddie's on-screen rival on the show.
Matt Day returns as Keddie's ex-husband on the series.
The series is based on publishing mogul Mia Freedman's 2017 memoir Work Strife Balance.
'I love that this [show] is about a woman trying to do something that hadn't been done before on a very large scale,' she told The Daily Telegraph in a separate interview over the weekend.
'I know Mia. I was around when that was all happening for [Mia] at the beginning,' Coustas added as she recalled the launch of Freedman's Mamamia website.
Season 2 premieres on Thursday, May 8 on Binge.
'I know what it's like for any woman that juggles a lot. To just get through the day is a miracle, let alone pull off something miraculous, like an online platform with a million people working for you and getting into trouble a lot.'
As for Keddie, she too loves how the series embraces the calm and the chaos women juggle every day.
'I found so much of the story relatable and knew it would be relatable to many women no matter what industry they're working in, not just the media industry,' Keddie previously told news.com.au.
Strife Season 2 premieres Thursday, May 8 at 8:30pm on BINGE, available on Hubbl, and on Showcase at 8:30pm and is available On Demand with episodes dropping weekly
Originally published as Popular Aussie sitcom star Mary Coustas joins Season 2 of hit Aussie series Strife
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