'The Tourist' on Stan star Danielle Macdonald promises us that season two is 'genre-bending'.

Australian-produced TV shows are kind of in their era right now, yeah? 

Despite the little COVID-19 hiccup that stalled forward trajectory, the local film and TV industry has bounced back with gusto and the content is hot, hot, hot right now.

One show that made waves with its first season was the gritty and darkly acerbic Stan series The Tourist which starred Aussie actress Danielle Macdonald and Irish actor Jamie Dornan.

Released in January, 2022 this genre-bending six-part series followed a man (Dornan) who gets into a car accident in the Australian outback only to lose his memory before enlisting the help of a very green cop named Helen (Macdonald) to help him rediscover his identity. With critical acclaim and a slew of nominations, The Tourist became a bona fide hit and now we’ve got a second season to look forward to.

In an interview with one of the show’s leads, Mamamia sat down with Danielle Macdonald to get the tea on the upcoming season.

For anyone who has watched The Tourist season one you’ll be well aware that it’s a wild ride. In one sweeping episode you get caught up in a murder mystery before bouncing over to a love story for the ages before slapping your knee with laughter - it’s unique and sharp storytelling at its best. 

When quizzed about where this robust show will go in season two, we asked Macdonald what it was like working on a show that brings together so many genres in such an interesting way.

“I think that's one of the things that appealed to me the most about it,” Macdonald told Mamamia. “When I read the script, I was like, ‘I don't know what this is about, I want to know what happens next.’ I sat down and read the first four scripts in just one sitting, which is like four hours. I didn't even get up to the bathroom or grab water or anything. 

"They've (the show writers) have just got a way of writing that way. I also like genre-bending things because life is not a comedy or romance - it's everything in between.”

One of the reasons why The Tourist just clicks so well is undoubtedly thanks to the palpable on-screen chemistry between Macdonald and Dornan. 

The electricity between the two actors is inextricably by design with the two seasoned performers going the extra mile to ensure no stone is unturned when it comes to setting a scene and working on the minutiae of what drives each of their characters. Macdonald admits she and Dornan would discuss and dissect every motive of Helen and Elliot to ensure they did their characters justice.

Take a look at the trailer for season two of The Tourist on Stan.

“We care about these characters,” says Macdonald. “We are those actors that seem annoying, but it's because we care.”

She also went on to say that she could only go to such a complex and deep place with the character because she trusted her scene-partner.

“I love working with Jamie,” she says. “He's a great human being. He's a good friend now. And he's someone that I just really, really trust inherently. So when you're doing these scenes I know that he's got my back. And that's so important. So it always feels okay to be vulnerable in whatever way we have to be vulnerable with each other.”

In the second season of The Tourist, the characters depart the dusty plains of Port Augusta and set sail for the moody cliffs of Ireland. Despite the change of scenery, Helen’s iconic Australian accent shines through - something that seems like it would be a no-brainer for a Sydney-born actor. 

But since breaking the US industry over six years ago there is a decided American twang to her voice now. In the lead-up to filming The Tourist she worked with a dialect coach to perfect Helen’s unique accent. However, she doesn’t have any shame around this and has chosen to lean into the process.

“I know that my voice doesn't naturally sound super Aussie anymore,” she said. “I've been told my words are still quite Australian, but my rhythm is very American. I'll never play a character that actually sounds like me because what the hell is my accent anymore - you know? So it's kind of a blessing because every time I do a character, it comes with an accent - even if it's Australian - so it always helps me get into that headspace.”

It’s this attention to detail is what makes Macdonald a true delight to watch on screen.

Fans of the show will be eager to see where this story goes after being left on a cliffhanger at the end of season one. 

This wild has just begun and things are about to get turned up a notch to turbo. 

The brand new season of the Stan Original Series The Tourist will premiere January 2. Every episode of season one is now streaming, only on Stan.

Feature Image: Stan.