A long-awaited ABC drama about Wiradjuri woman and tennis champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley has drawn strong audiences and critical praise since its premiere in January, with reviewers calling it one of the most significant pieces of Australian screen storytelling in years.
Goolagong – a three-part miniseries that began streaming on ABC and ABC iview on 4 January 2026 – follows Goolagong’s journey from her childhood in Barellan, in south-western New South Wales, to her historic Wimbledon triumphs and her eventual reinvention as a mother returning to elite competition. The series was nine years in development before going into production in Victoria in mid-2025.
Rising actor Lila McGuire leads the cast as Goolagong, with reviewers across The Guardian, The Age and TV Tonight all rating her performance outstanding. Goolagong herself and her husband Roger Cawley are credited as associate producers.
Behind the camera, the creative team is led by First Nations talent: director Wayne Blair (Total Control, Mystery Road), writer Steven McGregor (Sweet Country) and co-producer Danielle MacLean. The production injected an estimated $9 million into Victoria’s economy and included seven dedicated placements for emerging First Nations screen workers.
Goolagong Cawley is one of the most celebrated athletes in Australian history, winning 14 Grand Slam singles titles including two Wimbledon championships. She was the first Aboriginal player to win at Wimbledon and in 1980 became the first mother in the modern era to claim the title.
Writing for The Conversation, UNSW’s Indigenous Scientia Senior Lecturer Liza-Mare Syron called the series a compelling and inspiring story for all Australians, praising its portrayal of Goolagong’s strength, resilience and vulnerability as a First Nations woman navigating a world not designed for her success.
BBC Studios is handling international distribution, bringing Goolagong’s story to audiences worldwide.
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