'They cut that scene.' Monika Tu on the Luxe Listings Sydney moments you don’t see on screen.

When Monika Tu walks into a room, it's hard not to notice her - that's something we witnessed first-hand when she came into the Mamamia office.

While we stood there, dressed for the torrential rain here in Sydney (think, slicked hair and sneakers), she arrived wearing designer, diamonds, and heels. Would you expect anything less?

Monika was a breath of fresh air when she became a cast member on season two of Amazon Prime Video's Luxe Listings Sydney. 

The Chinese-Australian real estate agent brought new clients, properties from outside Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, her contagious energy and luxe wardrobe to the high pressure show.

Watch the trailer for Luxe Listings Sydney. Post continues below.

Now, she's settled in for a third season, which premieres on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, September 30. 

The stakes are higher and the houses are bigger (much bigger).

Speaking to Mamamia, Monika shared five things we don't see on screen.

1. What goes into a typical day of filming.

Days on the set of Luxe Listings Sydney are always different. 

Because they film at different properties - some close and some far - their start time will depend on which property they are going to.

"Some of [the properties] we need to be [at] in the morning because of the sunshine, and some of them are so far, we have to get up a little bit earlier [to get there]," Monika told Mamamia.

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Since they filmed during the pandemic, every day of shooting began with a RAT test.

"The nurse is sent to our house to make sure everybody is safe," the real estate agent said.

After hair, makeup, and wardrobe (we'll get to that), the cast heads to set.

"We work with a very professional team, so that makes our lives really easy," Monika shared. "Everything is already organised, and because it's a reality show and it's unscripted, you just go there and be yourself."

Since she and her cast mates - D'Leanne Lewis, Gavin Rubinstein and Simon Cohen - are literally doing their jobs on the show, it's not much harder than a normal day of work.

"That's what I love the most," Monika said. "We're just working and shooting."

2. There was a scene which was cut.

Although Monika says we see most of what they film, there was one scene featuring her, Simon Cohen, and a spider that didn't make it.

After briefly pausing, wondering whether she could tell share what happened, Monika said: "I had a bit of an incident with Simon and the spiders."

Monika explained that this season she's involved in a charity event, CEO Dare to Cure, where she got the men to "be brave" and do a dare.

She didn't realise Simon doesn't like spiders.

"I took a spider into his office [to] kind of [freak him out]," Monika said. 

"But that wasn't on the show." 

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3. There's one part of filming Monika finds stressful.

Having moved to Australia from China in 1988, English is Monika's second language. 

For that reason, she finds the master interview - the one-on-one interviews to camera - "the biggest challenge".

"It's really stressful, you usually just talk to yourself and it's really hard," she said.

"Because I'm Chinese and English is my second language, I have to think about what to answer and come back with proper English. It's really stressful.

"But at the end of the day, the team and my producer were really fantastic and extremely patient with me," she added before noting she doesn't rehearse what she says either.

"Because that's my brand - it's not very polished, it's just so authentic."

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4. They sometimes have to work in-between filming.

A normal day of filming Luxe Listings Sydney goes for three to four hours.

And although during that time Monika is "fully committed" and gives her phone to her assistant or partner, she will sometimes have to work.

"Real estate is very demanding and very competitive. You don't really [get] to stop," she said.

"I really respect the team, the producers and cameramen, [but] if there's something really urgent I'll [reply]. 

"It happens."

5. Monika uses her own wardrobe.

Yep, you read that right. All that designer, diamonds, and pearls are hers.

But because they're shooting for TV, Monika is provided a stylist.

"They come to my wardrobe and choose [the] pieces which will be good for the camera. You can't have too many patterns and stuff like that," she said.

"But they respect me."

"I really do bring a little luxe to the show. I was wearing my Valentino pyjamas for the master interview and I have my big furs," Monika added.

"It's Luxe Listings! You have to present the wardrobe, that's what Luxe is all about!" 

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You can watch the first three episodes of season three of Luxe Listings Sydney on Amazon Prime Video now.

Feature Image: Amazon Prime Video.