| Fake | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama Thriller |
| Created by | Anya Beyersdorf |
| Inspired by | Fake by Stephanie Wood |
| Written by |
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| Directed by |
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| Starring | |
| Composers |
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| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Imogen Banks |
| Producers |
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| Production location | Melbourne |
| Cinematography | Sky Davies |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 40 minutes |
| Production company | Kindling Pictures |
| Original release | |
| Network | Paramount+ |
| Release | 4 July 2024 |
Fake is an eight-part Australian drama thriller series which debuted on Paramount+ in Australia on 4 July 2024.
Fake is a drama-thriller series. [1] Inspired by the 2019 book with the same name by Stephanie Wood, [2] the series follows a smart magazine writer who thinks she has found her ideal match when she meets a successful grazier on a dating app. The writer later discovers that he is not all that he has led her to believe. [3] [4]
The eight-part 40-minute series was filmed in Melbourne in September 2023, created by screenwriter Anya Beyersdorf and directed by Emma Freeman, [3] Jennifer Leacey and Taylor Ferguson. [4] Three episodes were written by Hyun Lee and Jessica Tuckwell. [5]
The series is produced by Kindling Pictures, led by Imogen Banks and Emelyne Palmer. The series received a major production investment from Paramount ANZ and Screen Australia, in association with VicScreen. [4]
All episodes of the series were added to Paramount+ on 4 July 2024. [4] [5] The series marked its free-to-air debut on Network 10 and 10Play on 25 May 2025. [6]
Craig Mathieson of The Age wrote, "On an emotional level it is forensic, and the direction – set up by Emma Freeman – accentuates the acutely felt unease…It becomes a brutal, recurring cue. Fake is one gripping shock to the system after another." [7] Luke Buckmaster of Guardian Australia described the series' narration, "There's a logic to this narration but it's almost impossible to make a sentence like that sound natural – and the show doesn’t quite master the literary qualities it's aspiring for, either." [8] David Knox of TV Tonight wrote, "In a world of scams, bad dates and ghosting Fake is a modern cautionary tale about trust and self-worth. It's also a ripping yarn." [9]
On 25 May 2025, Network 10 aired the show free-to-air and the first episode aired to 300,000 viewers. [10]
| No. | Title [5] | Directed by [5] | Written by [5] | Original release date [4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Lanolin" | Emma Freeman | Anya Beyersdorf | 4 July 2024 |
| 2 | "Stitches" | Emma Freeman | Anya Beyersdorf | 4 July 2024 |
| 3 | "The Blue Loon" | Jennifer Leacey | Jessica Tuckwell | 4 July 2024 |
| 4 | "Eldorado" | Taylor Ferguson | Hyun Lee | 4 July 2024 |
| 5 | "Love Kitten" | Emma Freeman | Anya Beyersdorf | 4 July 2024 |
| 6 | "Run" | Jennifer Leacey | Jessica Tuckwell | 4 July 2024 |
| 7 | "Liar" | Jennifer Leacey | Anya Beyersdorf | 4 July 2024 |
| 8 | "My Joe" | Jennifer Leacey | Anya Beyersdorf | 4 July 2024 |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | AACTA Awards | Best Drama Series | Fake | Nominated | |
| Best Lead Actress in Drama | Asher Keddie | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in Drama | Heather Mitchell | Nominated | |||
| Best Direction in Drama or Comedy | Emma Freeman - Fake – Episode 5: Love Kitten | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay in Television | Anya Beyersdorf – Fake – Episode 1: Lanolin | Nominated | |||
| Best Casting | Nathan Lloyd – Fake | Nominated |
In a world of scams, bad dates and ghosting Fake is a modern cautionary tale about trust and self-worth. It's also a ripping yarn.
