You know that feeling when you finish a series and it feels like you've actually moved out of a neighborhood? That’s the Sarah Adams effect. Honestly, if you spent any time watching the Bligh family navigate the post-WWII drama of Inverness, you probably didn’t just watch it—you lived it. The a place to call home cast didn’t just play parts; they anchored a specific brand of Australian melodrama that felt both sweeping and deeply, uncomfortably intimate.
It’s been a while since the finale aired on Foxtel, but the show has a weirdly long tail on streaming. People are still discovering it on Acorn TV or Amazon, and the first thing they usually do is head to Google to see where the actors ended up.
Marta Dusseldorp is the obvious starting point. As Sarah Adams, she had to carry the heaviest emotional lifting. She wasn't just a nurse; she was a woman navigating the trauma of the Holocaust while trying to find a footing in a rural Australian society that was, frankly, pretty narrow-minded. Dusseldorp has this way of acting with her eyes that makes you feel like she’s keeping a dozen secrets at once.
The Anchor: Marta Dusseldorp and the Weight of Sarah Adams
Before she was Sarah, Marta was already a powerhouse in Australian theater and television. But A Place to Call Home made her a household name internationally. What’s interesting about her performance is how she avoided the "suffering heroine" tropes. Sarah was prickly. She was stubborn. She didn't always make the "likable" choice, which is exactly why people stayed tuned in for six seasons.
Since the show wrapped, Marta hasn't slowed down. You’ve probably seen her in Wentworth or leading the charge in Bay of Fires, a show she also co-created and produced. She’s moved into a phase of her career where she’s calling the shots behind the camera too. It’s a natural progression. If you can handle the emotional gauntlet of the Bligh family for years, running a production set is probably a walk in the park.
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Noni Hazlehurst as the Formidable Elizabeth Bligh
Then there’s Elizabeth. Oh, Elizabeth. Noni Hazlehurst is basically royalty in the Australian arts scene. If you grew up in Australia, she was the friendly face on Play School. Seeing her pivot to the sharp-tongued, fiercely protective, and often manipulative matriarch of Ash Park was a masterclass.
Elizabeth Bligh wasn't a villain, though she certainly acted like one in the early seasons. The beauty of the writing—and Noni’s performance—was the gradual thawing. She represented the old world dying off to make room for the new. Hazlehurst has spoken openly in interviews about how much she appreciated playing a woman of a certain age who wasn't just a "granny" in the background. She had agency. She had a sex life. She had regrets.
Hazlehurst continues to be a vocal advocate for better scripts for older actors. She’s popped up in films like Ladies in Black and continues to be a staple of the industry. She’s the kind of actor who doesn't just show up; she changes the temperature of the room.
The Men of Ash Park: Brett Climo and Craig Hall
We have to talk about George Bligh. Brett Climo played George with a sort of quiet, dignified repressed energy that was honestly frustrating at times. You just wanted him to stand up to his mother sooner! But Climo understood the period. Men in the 1950s weren't exactly encouraged to be emotionally vulnerable. His chemistry with Dusseldorp was the engine of the show.
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And then there’s Dr. Jack Duncan. Craig Hall brought a rugged, slightly broken charm to the role. His long-simmering romance with Carolyn Bligh (played by the brilliant Sara Wiseman) provided some of the show’s most grounded moments. Fun fact for those who don’t know: Craig Hall and Sara Wiseman are actually married in real life. That’s why their chemistry felt so lived-in. It wasn't just good acting; it was a decade of actual partnership showing up on screen.
The Younger Generation: Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood and David Berry
The show really excelled at showing how the younger Blighs—Anna and James—struggled against the constraints of their status.
- Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood (Anna Bligh): Anna was the firebrand. Arianwen played her with a restless energy that perfectly captured the "bored rich girl turns serious novelist" vibe. She’s since moved to the US and has been involved in various creative projects, including voice work and short films.
- David Berry (James Bligh): This was the breakout role for Berry. His portrayal of a gay man in the 1950s, dealing with "conversion therapy" and the crushing weight of family expectations, was heartbreaking. It’s no surprise that shortly after, he was cast as Lord John Grey in Outlander. He went from one massive period drama to another, and he’s arguably the most globally recognized face of the a place to call home cast today because of that Starz connection.
- Abby Earl (Anna’s sister-in-law/rival, essentially): Abby played the complicated, often tragic Olivia Bligh. Her journey from the "perfect wife" to a woman finding her own identity was one of the show’s best subplots.
Why the Casting Worked When Others Failed
Most period dramas feel like people playing dress-up. This one didn't. Why? Because the casting director, Kirsty McGregor, focused on stage actors. People like Jenni Baird (who played the deliciously awful Regina Standish) brought a theatrical precision to the roles.
Regina is a great example of the show's depth. She could have been a cartoon villain. Instead, Baird played her as someone deeply traumatized and desperate for love, which made her more terrifying because you could almost—almost—understand why she was poisoning people.
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What You Should Do Next if You Miss the Show
If you’re sitting there missing the rolling hills of the Southern Highlands, there are a few ways to get your fix.
First, check out The Newsreader. It’s not the same era, but it features that same high-quality Australian ensemble feel. Second, if you haven't followed the cast on social media, Marta Dusseldorp and David Berry are quite active and often share throwbacks or updates on their current projects.
Specifically, look into the "A Place to Call Home" fan groups on Facebook. They are surprisingly active for a show that ended years ago. They track every rerun and every New Zealand location tour.
If you're looking for a new series with a similar "found family" or "intense period drama" vibe, I’d suggest Sisters of War (which also stars Sarah Snook) or The Doctor Blake Mysteries.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Stream the "Lost" Ending: If you only watched the original broadcast, seek out the alternate ending. There were different versions of how the story wrapped up depending on the season five/six transition.
- Visit the Real Ash Park: The actual house used for the exterior of Ash Park is called Camelot. It’s located in Kirkham, New South Wales. While it’s a private residence, you can often view it from the road or look for local heritage open days.
- Follow the Creators: Bevan Lee, the creator of the show, is a master of the genre. Look up his other works like Packed to the Rafters or Between Two Worlds if you want to see how he handles family dynamics.
The a place to call home cast succeeded because they treated a soap-opera premise with the gravity of a Shakespearean play. They didn't wink at the camera. They leaned into the tea-drinking, the cigarette-smoking, and the agonizing silences. That’s why we’re still talking about them in 2026.