After Kate has a near-death experience and knocks her head, she discovers the ability to see the undead, and is quickly introduced to her unexpected housemates: the six ghosts who have been haunting Ramshead Manor for decades.
Now with the ability to communicate with the living, the ghosts have a long list of demands and unfinished business they'd like help with, while Kate and Sean are just trying to get started on renovating the estate so they can turn it into a boutique hotel.
Based on the critically acclaimed British series, which also inspired a US adaptation, Ghosts Australia boasts a brilliant and hilarious ensemble cast including Rowan Witt, Mandy McElhinney, Brent Hill, Ines English, Michelle Brasier, George Zhao, Jackson Tozer and Tamala as Kate.
Growing up with two parents in the music industry, Tamala was surrounded by the arts and creatives. A talented writer, poet, performer and activist, Tamala 'stumbled' into acting, as she described it, when she was 14 and has since starred in shows like Upper Middle Bogan, Cleverman, and Nowhere Boys.
Tamala told 10, "When I first got the audition for Ghosts Australia, I quickly watched some of the original UK version and fell in love! Truly! I think it is such a brilliant show filled with so much heart.
"It was a huge honour to be asked to be part of the adaptation, it's a show that's able to address so many truths about history and human behaviour, all through a comedic lens. It's what makes the format so unique and impactful."
The ghosts who died in Ramshead Manor aren't able to leave the property -- until they're "sucked off" to the great beyond, as they put it. Each represents different periods of Australia's history, from Gideon, the former Naval Commander of the Third Fleet, to Lindy, the morning TV aerobics instructor from the '80s.
"We are exploring all the different eras of our own country’s history and the characters that represent them, from a Chinese gold digger to a ‘90s bikie," Tamala said. "It’s inherently and uniquely our version because of this. "
As for Kate, Tamala described her as a strong and intelligent young woman. "She's no-nonsense, assertive, patient, forgiving, and compassionate. She is a do-er. I think she is the perfect character to steer this show; there’s a lot to love about her."
Kate's ability to speak to the ghosts also means Tamala is the go-between for the living and the dead. While her 'living' co-stars aren't able to react to or interact with the ghosts, the ghosts also can't interact with anything physical in the space.
"Safe to say, I have never had to act like this in my life," Tamala said. "As Kate, I am playing, at minimum, two different scenes at once. I am holding whatever conversation I am having with a breather (what we call non-ghosts) or Sean, whilst also navigating whatever the ghosts are asking of/saying to me... Which they do, a lot. As well as also holding Kate’s own needs and wants as a character."
Tamala said they have to shoot different versions of scenes, a 'ghost version' where she would have to memorise where everyone was, what they said, and their actions, and then film a 'ghost-free version' of the same scene where she would have to replicate the scene without the other actors.
"Kate is also the glue narratively and the 'straight guy' comedically, so I had to make sure I was connecting all the different characters and their gags at all times, making sure that all the scenes moved smoothly and passing the jokes along," she added.
The ensemble cast clearly had a blast haunting the halls of Ramshead Manor, with Tamala telling 10, "It’s actually not often that you hit it off with a cast, in the ways that we have, on all jobs. We all clicked straight away and spent so much time together on and outside of the shoot.
"I feel so lucky to have worked with this ensemble," she continued. "I am working with people that I genuinely love and adore, and now call some of my closest people. They also happen to be hugely talented and hilarious. I can’t wait for you to see what they’ve brought to these characters!"
As for her own experiences with the supernatural, Tamala said she's had tons of encounters. "Ghosts and spirits are a really normal part of First Nations culture, so I grew up with people talking really openly about their ghostly encounters, and it being quite commonplace.
"There was one house in particular that I lived in as a child, where we got properly haunted. It was awful. But luckily, we didn’t stay in that house too long, and once we moved, we thankfully never saw or heard from that particular spirit again!"
Ghosts Australia airs Sundays at 8.30 pm on 10, and all eight episodes are available to stream now on Paramount+.
