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Major Crime Squad |
DETECTIVE ZANE MALIK
Zane Malik is a warrior, a thinker, a man of passion, an ambitious detective with the Major Crime Squad.
Malik is also an Arab and proud of it; a devout Muslim with a spiritual drive. They are issues he’s had to deal with all his life, school, university and now the Police Force.
They have shaped who he is.
At 35, Malik is one of the finest detectives in the NSW Police Force. Inspector Wright fought to have him on the Major Crime Squad. There are times, when Malik is hot-headed and challenging, that she wonders why she did, but Wright has never regretted that decision.
Malik has an impressive track record in investigative and undercover work. His results are stunning. He gets those results because he treats people with respect, and he puts in the long hours. His wife, Amina, sometimes wishes he didn’t.
When a car bomb explodes in a peaceful suburb, Malik has to confront his darkest fear. Are Islamic extremists to blame? There is some evidence to say they were, but Malik isn’t so sure.
In season 1, he set out with dogged determination to track down the man who shot his father. Now he sets out with the same determination to find the truth behind the car bomb and arrest those responsible. But why is he so desperate to do this? Could it be he’s trying to prove something to himself?
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DETECTIVE ZANE MALIK is played by DON HANY
“Detective Zane Malik is a conflicted man,” says Don, “he’s a father, a son, a husband and a detective. But he’s also a Muslim working for an Anglo establishment. All of these things pull him in different directions.” And in season 2 the pressure gets worse.
“Malik faces three big challenges this time,” Don continues, “the cultural challenge, which sees him trying to negotiate a respectful path between extreme and moderate Muslims; the challenge of undercover work (which our detectives tell us is the most terrifying and challenging police work of all); and the challenge to his family life when Malik becomes both physically and intellectually attracted to another woman.”
Don himself is a first generation Australian, born of an Iraqi Muslim father (Taffy Hany, who plays Malik’s father in the series) and a Hungarian mother. He sees the death of John Angleton and how the investigation unfolds across the series as the perfect vehicle for examining Islam in Australia.
“In season 1, Crowley’s view – that this is a western society, and if you want to live here, you have to live our way - is a valid point. To Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The opposite view, that this is a great multicultural society and everyone is welcome, is equally valid. But to misunderstand, or not seek to understand, the ramifications of a truly multicultural society is important. It’s what we explore across both series but especially in series 2, because the need to protect ourselves from terrorism is very valid as well.”
And Don feels there’s not just a need, but a responsibility to tell these stories. “We owe the audience this opportunity. To reflect on our lives and who we are, culturally, as Australians. That’s so important given events like the Cronulla riots in Sydney. I think we were all shocked about how culturally unaccepting a place like Australia can be. I’m proud that EAST WEST 101 addresses these issues, and reaches beyond entertainment for entertainment’s sake.” Top |
DETECTIVE INSPECTOR PATRICIA WRIGHT
Loved, loathed, feared and fantasised about, most often damned, Patricia Wright is the Commander of this Squad.
 She does a good job. Most of the time. No, all of the time. She’s not afraid to speak her mind. To the crew…and to her bosses. If Patricia gets handed a mandate – new ‘guidelines’ that she doesn’t agree with, she’ll fight it. When she loses, as she often does, she has to execute the bloody thing, like she loves it, like she dreamed it up.
There are some days when Patricia wakes up and wonders, how the hell did she score the job she’s got? The job she loves. The job she lives for - would die for, if necessary. If she thought about it, Patricia would recognise that she’s smart. She’s been successful as an investigative detective because she’s picked up on detail.
Wright is smart about people. She inherited that from her father. An ex-cop himself, Mick Deakin has a reputation for fearlessness and for justice. At whatever the price. So why did Wright take her mother’s name when she joined the force? And how does this career savvy, committed chief of detectives cope with a brother who’s being chased by crooks? And not just any crooks, these ones are nasty. And they mean business.
While she’s busy mending fences between her father and her brother, another man distracts her with the promise of romantic love and a new life.
Will she finally relinquish the tight hold she has on her career and succumb to his advances? Or will she learn there are some things, like kismet, that you just cannot change? |
INSPECTOR PATRICIA WRIGHT is played by SUSIE PORTER
Susie was born and bred in Newcastle. After completing her BA at Newcastle University, she went to NIDA where she graduated in 1995.
Since then she has tackled varied roles, starring on both stage and screen. She is no stranger to SBS, winning an award for her role in the critically acclaimed RAN (Remote Area Nurse).
In EAST WEST 101 Susie plays Inspector Patricia Wright, who heads the Major Crime Squad. Wright is a woman in power, isolated through her position, and yet able to approach the problems of management in a confident and feminine way.
Susie prepared for the role by speaking with women of position and authority in the police force. The passion and dedication shown by these women informed Susie’s approach to the role of this hardworking, career driven Chief of Detectives. But in season 2 we get to see a whole different side to Patricia Wright.
“We get to see so much more of her personal life,” Susie says. “She has her work and career to deal with, as usual, but she has issues with her father and brother, and then a new love interest walks into her life. She has to deal with death, love and loss … You see so many different facets of her that you understand, so much more, why she is the way she is.”
But, Susie adds, the writers have always had a good grasp on Wright. “It’s been a joy,” she adds, “the character journey they’ve written for Wright. It’s a real gift.” Top |
AGENT RICHARD SKERRITT
 At 40, Agent Richard Skerritt still has a boyish charm, a bit like Robert Kennedy. And like Kennedy, there is a vulnerability beneath the veneer of certainty. He gives his heart and soul to his work, but behind that, what makes him tick? Patricia Wright would like to find out.
Skerritt is a career oriented, university educated, investigator with the Canberra based NSO (National Security Organisation). His area of investigation is mainly weapons, arms and people smuggling, which he sees as crucial to national security and preventing a terror attack.
Skerritt and Malik are distrustful of each other.
Skerritt regards Malik as a potential enemy. Malik’s record as an investigated Muslim caught with explosives encourages Skerritt to keep his distance. Malik does not like the cultivated secrecy of the NSO agent. The fact that the NSO doesn’t like to share its information doesn’t help promote smooth relations between the two men. But working together creates an atmosphere of respect between two very different men, as they try to find extremists that could be behind the car bomb attack and other acts of terror. |
AGENT RICHARD SKERRITT is played by GERALD LEPKOWSKI
Although born in Glasgow, Gerry has strong links to Australia. He came for a visit in the late 1980s, decided he liked what he saw and enrolled at WAPA. Graduating in 1991, he landed a few roles locally before heading back to the UK. 
“When I read the scripts, the characters just leapt right off the page. It was inspiring, I had a hundred different ideas of how I could play the role of Richard Skerritt. Unlike other scripts of poorer quality where you think ‘how am I going to make this work …’ These are a gift. And the story, well, it’s a gift too…”
Skerritt is a very enigmatic character. There’s a lot of conflict between him and the detectives in Major Crime. Skerritt and the NSO (National Security Organisation) represent the university educated, privileged type of law enforcer. And the tough street cops in Major Crime don’t quite trust them. Skerritt and the NSO have access to a lot of classified information and they’re not particularly interested in sharing it, which doesn’t help. Especially as they have to work together to prevent an act of terror.
But Agent Skerritt is more than a foil for the hotheaded Detective Zane Malik. Romance between him and Inspector Wright blossoms in season 2, and leads Wright to question her commitment to her career.
“I think that for a period of time his feelings for her are genuine, but whether there’s any longevity in it, that’s another question.” Top |
DETECTIVE SONNY KOA
 Sonny Koa has the impassive majesty of a Pacific King, the humility of a saint and the mischievousness of a joker.
At first glance, wearing cargo pants and an athletic singlet, you might take Sonny for a cool dude hip hop gangster but Sonny is a detective in the Major Crime Squad.
Sonny Koa fought hard for his place in the police force, even harder to win a place as a detective in Major Crime. His family connections didn’t really help. Koa has cousins who play on the other side of the law. Sonny worries that somehow, someday, this will bite him on the bum.
Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. Everyone who works with him, likes Sonny. He lives up to his name. He is warm, kind, humorous, thoughtful and easy going. That’s if he’s on your side.
Crooks have trembled when they gazed into Sonny’s hard dark eyes, not to mention his huge muscled frame. Sonny works out. He knows that to do his job well, he has to be able to command respect - physically, mentally and emotionally.
Sonny is proud of being a detective. His aim is to change the world for the better. He hates the stereotyped image of the Islander people as the musclemen of the criminal fraternity. But of course, it’s the very thing that makes him effective working undercover. Crims never suspect he is a cop.
He’s a natural performer which helps him play crooks. He’s canny. And he was born under a lucky star – either that or a benevolent Pacific spirit is watching over him.
But in season 2, this guardian angel on Zane Malik’s shoulder will struggle with some of his friend’s choices. Will their friendship last the distance? |
DETECTIVE SONNY KOA is played by AARON FA’AOSO
Aaron was born and bred in Cairns into the Khoedal (Crocodile) and Samu (Emu) clans. His father is Tongan, his mother from the Torres Strait so he relates strongly to the character of Detective Sonny Koa, the wise, and often humorous sidekick to Zane Malik.
“Sonny’s a good bloke. He’s probably best described as the guardian angel of Detective Malik. Throughout season 1 he was really cool, calm and collected but this time around you see a darker side of Koa. A much edgier side. But then there’s a lot more at stake -- for all the characters.”
In preparation for the role, Aaron spent time with the real-life version of Sonny Koa. “He was so generous with his time. I got some real insights into his demeanour and how he’d handle certain situations. In this series both Malik and Koa are involved in investigations where the official line between personal and professional gets a little blurred. So it was great to see how he’d approach that scenario.”
“I think it’s great we have a Samoan detective and a Muslim detective as the heroes. Ten years ago that wouldn’t have happened. And the type of issues Malik and Koa delve into … the areas they investigate are more representative of the real Australia, of all the different nationalities that make up Australia today.”Top |
DETECTIVE HELEN CALLAS
Helen is brisk, smart and capable. One of the boys.
Men like her. They understand her, the bragging, the boyish energy, even the cover-ups. In many ways, Helen’s quite a direct person. If your kebab has too much onion in it and she’s sharing a car, she’ll tell you.
 Women don’t warm to her as much. She’s more competitive with them for a start. But now that she is pregnant, Callas is seeing the flip side of that. Mid way through the second season Callas is put on desk duty and feels that she is being punished not protected.
As a detective, she’s excellent at chasing paper trails, she’s done some pretty good investigations, and is regarded as someone who will kick on to head her own Squad one day. But will mother hood interrupt this career path she has set for herself?
Callas is capable of empathy but hides her softer side, feeling safest when she comes across as tough, blunt and brutal.
And there’s another thing Helen’s been hiding; she’s a lesbian. She just hasn’t come out about it yet. But in season 2, this tough talking detective comes out of the closet once and for all. And has to choose between being a good mother and being a good cop. |
DETECTIVE HELEN CALLAS is played by DANIELA FARINACCI
Award winning actress Daniela Farinacci plays the character of Detective Constable Helen Callas. 
Based in Melbourne, Daniela’s career spans film, theatre and television. Recent highlights include Lantana, Look Both Ways, Little Fish and My Year Without Sex. Recent television roles include Rush, Carla Cametti P.D. and The Pacific.
When Daniela fell pregnant, she realised her pregnancy could have spelled the end for Detective Callas. But producers Knapman Wyld had something else in mind.
“They were amazing, they could’ve given me the flick but instead they saw my pregnancy as a creative opportunity and they’ve written it in beautifully. Callas’s pregnancy reflects a major theme of the show, which is about family. Malik’s family, Wright’s family … it certainly has a large impact on Inspector Wright, and leads her to question her decision to remain single and childless. We’ve been having a great time exploring that. And Callas gets herself into a couple of sticky situations. It being her first child, she has the indestructible conviction it won’t affect her working life, she’ll still be able to do everything she used to do.”
But it’s not the only reason Daniela is happy to back at Major Crime. “It’s great coming back to season 2. It’s really relaxed and comfortable, like slipping on an old shoe. We know what the show is now, it’s a great formula, it’s working for us. We learned so much from the first series. I think it’s important not to replicate it, but to grow from it. This time around there’s a lot more to sink your teeth into. It’s quite exciting.”
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PLAIN CLOTHES CONSTABLE JUNG LIM
Constable Jung Lim is a hard-nosed, hard-edged, danger-loving, detective in training.
 Lim is fun to work with. She’s warm, witty, and a great tease. She is also intelligent and sensitive.
But don’t get her on a bad day. She’s a perfectionist and can get frustrated when nothing is going right. At her worst, Jung Lim is temperamental and over sensitive, and colleagues tiptoe around her. But then it’s over and Jung is all smiles again.
She’s a natural born detective who does whatever it takes to get the job done.
After graduation, Lim’s desire was to specialise in forensics. She has moved into this area and is experienced beyond her years in the Force.
Because of her formidable knowledge of crime scene science, investigating detectives always make sure she is on the invite list. Lim’s life took a major upswing in season 1 when she made plain clothes.
In season 2, Lim gets another chance to shine. But she soon finds that being an ambitious Chinese cop with her star on the rise is not as simple – nor as easy - as she thought. |
PLAIN CLOTHES CONSTABLE JUNG LIM is played by RENEE LIM
Although born in Australia, Renée’s parents are Chinese Malaysian. And while she speaks the little known dialect Hokkien, as Jung Lim she’s often called upon to speak both Mandarin and Cantonese. “I have been learning Mandarin and have enough to translate most of the dialogue myself, but I don’t know how authentic it’s going to sound!”
As for the Asian students in episode 8, Renée says she can empathise with them. “I completely understand them and I have a lot of empathy for them in a cultural sense. I have friends who are Chinese students, I see the difficulties they experience. And don’t forget every Chinese parent wants their kids to work hard and get straight ‘A’s. It’s ingrained in you from the day you’re born…”
In season 2, we get to see a different side of no-nonsense, hardworking Jung Lim. “She gets chosen to lead an investigation. But the promotion is just another thing Lim takes in her stride, with her typical pragmatism and ‘let’s-get-on-with-it’ attitude. She knows it’s because Callas is pregnant, but what’s great is that Callas’s pregnancy provides the opportunity to see a bit of warmth and emotion from Lim as well.”
As to whether Renée prefers being a doctor or an actor – “I love both of them equally. I hope I never have to choose. I love being a doctor because I can help people. But I love being an actor, and in East West 101 I feel like I’m helping people too, by telling these stories that need to be told …”Top |
THE MALIK FAMILY - RAHMAN MALIK
 Although born in Iraq, Rahman studied in Cairo, where he became a scientist and university lecturer. He and his wife, Mariam, came out to Australia but were unable to get jobs in their chosen fields. Rahman was requalifying, working his corner shop, when any chances of a professional life were blown away by an armed robber. He was shot in the head, resulting in brain injury. In Season 2, his wife, Mariam is in Iraq and Rahman would do anything to bring her home again. |
RAHMAN MALIK is played by TOFFEEK ‘Taffy’ HANY
Taffy was born in Babylon in 1946, one of nine children, and studied music – violin and singing - at the Baghdad Conservatorium. ‘In Baghdad there are tea houses, where people sing – some of the older singers taught me the old songs. It is Maqam music – very hard to master.’
Taffy left Iraq in 1967 to study music in Hungary, where he met his wife, an engineer at the time. They later moved to Australia.
In 2008, Taffy was nominated for best supporting actor in a TV series at the AFI Awards for EAST WEST 101. Prior to working on EAST WEST 101, Taffy had no acting experience.
“I’m incredibly proud of him,” says his son, Don. “He was someone I could never imagine working with but I can’t imagine the show without him now. From coaching me in Arabic to coaching other people who come on and helping out with casting, then playing my dad. He’s a massive part of the show. It’s phenomenal.” Top |
THE MALIK FAMILY - AMINA MALIK
 Amina is a contemporary Muslim woman who balances a solid career in store management with the hectic demands of being Zane’s wife, mother of Amir and Yasmeen, and daughter-in-law to Rahman. In season 2, Amina’s strength is tested. She is pushed to the limit by physical attacks, attacks on her religion, her way of life and her marriage. |
AMINA MALIK is played by TASNEEM ROC
Tasneem spent a lot of time preparing for this role by spending time with Muslim women. She learned some Arabic, some prayers from the Koran, visited mosques and talked to people from refugee camps.
“Because they’re not always portrayed accurately or sympathetically in the media, there was a lot of concern from the Muslim ladies I spoke to about how the show was going to portray them. In the intimate scenes, especially, it was difficult for us to be true to the moment and yet respectful of Muslim sensibilities… But in the end they were really, really happy with our depiction of a contemporary Muslim family.”
During filming of season 2 Tasneem also got to experience, first hand, some of the abuse Muslim women suffer. “When we filmed the scene where Amina’s hijab is ripped off there were a lot of locals hanging around watching. The young actors who ripped it off were just lovely, but in one take I was really, really shocked – the locals started cheering when the boys ran off with my hijab. A lot of women have told me how they are abused for wearing the hijab, but I’d never been on the receiving end of anything like that myself.” Top |
THE MALIK FAMILY - YASMEEN MALIK
Yasmeen is Detective Malik’s youngest child. At ten, Yasmeen is affectionate, but fears her father’s work takes him into danger. In Season 2 she gets into danger herself and discovers that Baba is not always there when she needs him. |
YASMEEN MALIK is played by LUCY ABROON
This role is the first for Lucy Abroon. Lucy’s mother is an Aussie, but her father is originally from Iran, so there’s plenty of personal experience Lucy brings to the part. |
THE MALIK FAMILY - AMIR MALIK
 Amir is the feisty teenage son of Detective Malik. Amir is hot headed – like his Dad, stubborn – like his Dad, loyal. In Season 2, while his father is away chasing crooks, Amir feels the need to step into his dad’s shoes. But will they fit a fourteen year old boy? |
AMIR MALIK is played by GEORGE FAYAD
Although George goes to a Christian High School, his best friend is a Muslim. ‘Everyone at school thinks it’s pretty cool that I got this part on EAST WEST 101, but especially my Islamic friend because he’s had anti-Islamic taunts thrown at him just like Amir.’ Learning Arabic was no problem as George’s parents are Lebanese and he already spoke Arabic. Top |
THE WRIGHT FAMILY - SENIOR DETECTIVE DEAKIN
 Deakin is Inspector Wright's father. He is a man with a big reputation, a former detective, who was known to get things done, who put the bad guys away, made society safe. When the tide of police ethics changed, Deakin was accused at the Royal Commission of verballing a suspect. Deakin doesn't lose sleep over this. Sure he encouraged a guilty man to confess. Now he's locked up. That's what he calls a good job, well done.
Deakin was a man who loved his job. Every day he'd get up excited about what the day might bring. He'd stay at work late, work through nights, and at some point he forgot he was a married man with a family. When his wife committed suicide, he handed over the responsibility of mothering his son, Craig, to his daughter. The tragedy is that when he lost his wife, he lost his desire to parent. Neither of his children have forgiven him - that's why Wright is using her mother's maiden name. She finds her brother a professional embarrassment. But when she realises Craig is in serious trouble, she enlists Deakin's help. Will Deakin come to his aid, or walk away?
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SENIOR DETECTIVE DEAKIN is played by RICHARD CARTER
Richard has had a long association with Knapman Wyld, having appeared in White Collar Blue and Wildside, along with many quality Australian television dramas. He has also been in a range of local and international films, the most recent being Happy Feet. Top |
THE WRIGHT FAMILY - CRAIG DEAKIN
Craig was just a small boy when his mother suicided. Patricia protected him and he idolised her. He was the athlete, the student with A grades, he was the one who was going to be a cop, just like his Dad. But somewhere in his teens, Craig was attracted to the bad boys in class. The reconteurs, the charismatic cheeky ones, the ones who were spirited, just like his father. And he wanted their approval. Because he never got it from his Dad. If he couldn't get Deakin's attention positively, he'd try another way. Walk the dark side of the law.
Craig is the high school dropout with big ambitions. Make money, live hard, die quick. Lately, he's been mixing with the wrong people. He's lost their money and they want it back. Bad.
This kid's a cocky smart arse, and a constant headache for his big responsible Police Chief sister. |
CRAIG DEAKIN is played by GYTON GRANTLEY
Gyton has a BA in drama from the Queensland University of Technology. Winner of the 2008 AFI Award for the Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama for his role in UNDERBELLY, he has appeared in several local films and television series. Top |
SPECIAL GUEST CAST - AKMAL FAHD
Michael Denkha plays Akmal Fahd, an international trader in illegal arms and a very dangerous man. He has links to insurgent  groups all over the world. He is a family man, but first and foremost Akmal is a businessman. And there's no business too dirty for him to get his hands on. Malik goes undercover inside his criminal empire to try and establish just who killed John Angleton and why.
Michael graduated from NIDA in 1995 and has appeared in WHITE COLLAR BLUE, WILDSIDE, ALL SAINTS, and more recently CHANDON PICTURES. |
SPECIAL GUEST CAST - SOPHIA ANGLETON
Alin Sumarwata plays Sophia Angleton, the widowof murdered NSO Agent, John Angleton. An NSO agent herself,Sophia teams up with Malik to unlock the mystery surrounding the death of her husband.Their shared determination to find his killer sees them growing too close for comfort. Alin has appeared in the films DEATH'S REQUIEM and DARK HORSE, and in the miniseries FALSE WITNESS. |
AMIN KHODER
 George Kanaan plays Amin Khoder. Khoder works as a simple cleaner, so how is he linked to Akmal Fahd's criminal empire? Unlocking Khoder's past provides the key to the mystery surrounding Angleton. But what terrible tragedy do they discover?
George has appeared on stage and on screen and is currently developing his own feature length screen play. |
MERE HAHUNGA
 Rena Owen plays Mere Hahunga, the grieving mother of a murdered paramedic, who just wants to give her son a proper Maori burial.
Rena is a well known and highly respected actress who has won several awards in Australia, New Zealand, the US and Europe. Probably best known for her role as Beth in ONCE WERE WARRIORS, Rena has also appeared in many national and international productions including STAR WARS Episode II, RAIN OF THE CHILDREN and A BEAUTIFUL LIFE. Top |
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