Paradise LOST

CLAUDIA JESSIE on a drama inspired by the heroes who helped during the Bali bombings

- ELAINE REILLY.

BALI 2002 FROM THURSDAY 16 MARCH,

ITVX DRAMA

On 12 October 2002, popular holiday destination Bali was left devastated following terrorist attacks on two of Kuta Beach’s busiest nightclubs.

The bombings claimed the lives of 202 locals and tourists, and injured a further 209 people. Against all the odds, everyday heroes from the Indonesian island, Australia and beyond managed to bring order from chaos, and now their inspiring stories will be explored in new ITVX drama Bali 2002.

The four-part series, which premiered in Australia last year, sees Bridgerton star Claudia Jessie play British newly-wed Polly Miller, who was on honeymoon in Bali with her husband, Dan (portrayed by Paul Michael Ayre). The couple and eight of their close friends were caught up in the tragedy. The only one of their group to survive, Polly woke up to an unimaginable new reality but was determined to rebuild her life.

The drama also sees Rachel Griffiths (Muriel’s Wedding) play Perth-based plastic surgeon Fiona Wood, whose pioneering ‘spray-on skin’ treatment helped evacuated burns victims, and Richard Roxburgh (The Crown) stars as Australian Federal Police Commander Graham Ashton, who spearheaded the investigation into finding out who was responsible for the attacks.

Here, Claudia, 33, talks to us about why this is an important story to tell…

Why did you want to be involved in this series?