Finding a movie that captures the actual, awkward, breathless reality of being sixteen is rare. Most teen dramas feel like they were written by people who haven't spoken to a teenager since the nineties. But Katie Found’s 2020 Australian indie gem changed that. When people look up the cast of My First Summer, they aren't just looking for a list of names they can find on IMDb. They’re usually trying to figure out how two young actors managed to make a story about grief and isolation feel so incredibly warm.
The movie focuses on Claudia, a girl raised in total isolation by her mother, and Grace, the local teen who stumbles into her world. It’s a tiny cast. It’s intimate. There aren't many distractions, which means the heavy lifting falls entirely on the shoulders of the two leads. If they didn't click, the movie would have been a disaster.
Markella Kavenagh as Claudia
Markella Kavenagh is the soul of this film. Before she was heading off to Middle-earth for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, she was wandering around a secluded Australian property as Claudia.
Claudia is a tough role. Honestly. She’s lived her whole life away from society, so she doesn't have the social "armor" most of us wear. Kavenagh plays her with this fragile, wide-eyed curiosity that never feels like a caricature. You’ve probably seen her in The Gloaming or Picnic at Hanging Rock, but this is different. It's stripped back. She has to convey a lifetime of trauma and a sudden burst of first love mostly through her eyes because Claudia doesn't always have the words for what she’s feeling.
It’s worth noting that Kavenagh’s performance is what actually grounds the more "fairytale" elements of the script. Without her groundedness, the premise—a girl hidden from the world—might feel too unbelievable. She makes it feel visceral.
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Maiah Stewardson as Grace
Then you have Maiah Stewardson. She plays Grace, the "outsider" who isn't really an outsider. Grace is the audience's surrogate. She’s the one who discovers Claudia, and Stewardson plays her with a mix of teenage rebellion and deep, unexpected empathy.
Stewardson has a background in stage and screen (you might recognize her from Girl Asleep), and she brings a necessary kinetic energy to the screen. If Claudia is the stillness of the woods, Grace is the wind. She’s messy. She’s vibrant. Her performance captures that specific teenage urge to protect something beautiful, even if you don't fully understand it yet.
The cast of My First Summer isn't just a duo, though. While the girls take up 90% of the screen time, the supporting players provide the tension that makes the girls’ sanctuary feel so temporary.
The Supporting Players
- Steve Mouzakis (Detective Mike): You know him from Prison Break or Wentworth. He brings a sense of encroaching reality. He isn't a villain, which is a smart choice by the director. He’s just a guy doing his job, but his presence represents the end of the girls' private world.
- Edwina Wren (Donna): She plays Grace's mother. It’s a complicated role because she represents the "normal" world that Grace is trying to escape.
- Harvey Zielinski (Detective Ben): Adds to the procedural element that looms over the girls' idyllic summer.
Why the Chemistry Between the Leads Mattered
Most movies about "firsts" rely on tropes. This one didn't. The producers have mentioned in various interviews that the chemistry read between Kavenagh and Stewardson was the pivot point for the entire production.
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They spent a lot of time together before filming. It shows. There’s a scene where they’re just painting each other's faces and eating fruit—it feels unscripted. It feels like two people actually becoming friends in real-time. That’s the secret sauce of the cast of My First Summer. When you watch them, you aren't thinking about a script or a lighting rig. You’re just watching two kids try to survive a world that doesn't have a place for them.
The Impact of the Casting Choices
Choosing two actors who were relatively fresh to the international scene was a gamble that paid off. If they had cast "big" stars, the immersion would have been broken. Instead, we got a raw, unfiltered look at queer youth.
The film was shot on a tight schedule, and the intimacy of the set clearly translated to the performances. Katie Found (the director) created a safe space for these actors to explore some pretty heavy themes—suicide, abandonment, and social anxiety. It's not light stuff.
What to Watch Next if You Loved the Cast
If you’ve finished the movie and you’re looking to see where these actors went next, here’s the roadmap.
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Markella Kavenagh is obviously the one to watch in high-budget fantasy now, but she also has some great work in smaller Australian dramas. Maiah Stewardson continues to be a force in the indie scene. Their work together in this film remains a high-water mark for Australian coming-of-age cinema.
The cast of My First Summer proved that you don't need a cast of thousands to tell a massive story. You just need two people who are willing to be vulnerable on camera.
Practical Insights for Fans
- Check out the soundtrack: The music by Freya Berkhout is basically a third character in the film. It mirrors the emotional beats of the actors perfectly.
- Look for the "Making Of" clips: If you can find the behind-the-scenes footage from the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) era, it gives a lot of context on how Kavenagh and Stewardson built their bond.
- Follow the director: Katie Found has a very specific visual style. If you liked the "vibe" created by the cast, her future projects are likely to hit the same notes.
The real takeaway here is that My First Summer isn't just about the plot. It’s a character study. It’s a masterclass in how to use a limited cast to create an expansive emotional world. If you haven't seen it yet, go in for the performances. Stay for the way Kavenagh and Stewardson make a small patch of Australian bushland feel like the entire universe.
To fully appreciate the performances, watch the film with an eye for the non-verbal cues between the two leads. Notice how their body language shifts from guarded to open as the summer progresses. This subtle physical acting is what separates "teen movies" from genuine cinema. If you're looking for more, research the film's debut at the BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival to see how international audiences responded to this specific casting.