Celeste barber to headline australian dramedy series ‘wellmania’ ordered by netflix

Australian comedian Celeste Barber is returning to her acting roots, making her debut as the lead in _Wellmania_, a new comedic drama series which has received an eight-episode order by

Netflix. Barber also will serve as executive producer on the series inspired by Brigid Delaney’s novel _Wellmania: Misadventures in the Search for Wellness._ The half-hour _Wellmania_ will

be produced by Fremantle Australia with principal photography in Gadigal Country, Eora Nation in Sydney, Australia. Co-created by Delaney and Benjamin Law (_The Family Law_), in _Wellmania,_

when human tornado Liv (Barber) has a major health crisis, she is forced to rethink her ‘live fast die young’ attitude. Throwing herself body-first into a wellness journey, she tries

everything from the benign to the bizarre in an attempt to get well quick, and reclaim her old life. “Celeste embodies exactly what Netflix ANZ is striving for – sparking global love for

being our quintessentially Australian and funny selves,” said Que Minh Luu, Netflix’s Director of Content in Australia and New Zealand. “The search for wellness and meaning is a

fundamentally human drive, and in a post-pandemic world this quest carries for us more weight than ever. To have an artist with Celeste’s warmth and comedic talent guide us through the

extremes, triumphs and revelations of self-improvement and understanding is an absolute delight, and one we know our members will love.” WATCH ON DEADLINE _Wellmania_ will be Barber’s second

Netflix role, after voicing the character of Kayla the koala in animated feature _Back to the Outback._ “I’m so excited about this project, the whole team is awesome,” said Barber. “We’ve

been working on it for a while and I’ve been busting to tell everyone about it. I’m drawn to projects that centre around interesting, dynamic and complex lead female characters and that’s

exactly what _Wellmania _is. I’m stoked to be working with Netflix and tell this Australian story to an international audience, and to also be an executive producer so I can boss people

around.” Barber executive produces with Chris Oliver-Taylor and Warren Clarke for Fremantle Australia, with Bree-Anne Sykes who serves as producer. Belinda King (_The Elegant Gentleman’s

Guide to Knife Fighting) _and Law are co-Executive Producers, and will also head the writing team. Romina Accurso (_The Heights, Spreadsheet_) will serve as Script Producer and writer, and

Nick Coyle (_Sarah’s Channel_) and Amy Stewart (_Hardball, The Heights_) will serve as writers. “Working with Celeste Barber and Netflix is a dream come true for all of us at Fremantle

Australia,” added Clarke. “We cannot wait to see the impact that this series has in Australia, and right across the globe.” Barber has a strong following of 8.5 million on Instagram where

she parodies celebs and some of the ridiculous things they posted. On television, Barber previously appeared as paramedic Bree Matthews in _All Saints_ and is known for her roles in_ Office

Correctness_ and _How Not to Behave._ Barber has sold out stand-up tours across the U.S. and Australia. Pre-pandemic, her first stand-up special,_ The Challenge Accepted,_ aired on Showtime.

Barber is repped by Underground, Lisa Mann Creative Management in Australia and The Nord Group.