''This Is Not My Life'' is a New Zealand television

mystery Mystery, The Mystery, Mysteries or The Mysteries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters *Mystery, a cat character in ''Emily the Strange'' Films * ''Mystery'' (2012 film), a 2012 Chinese drama film * ''Mystery'' ( ...

- thriller which originally aired from 29 July to 14 October 2010 on

Television New Zealand , type = Crown entity , industry = Broadcast television , num_locations = New Zealand , location = Auckland, New Zealand , area_served = Nationally (New Zealand) and some Pacific Island nations such as the Cook Islands, Fiji, and the Solom ...

's TV One.

Plot

Set in the 2020s, the show centres on Alec Ross (

Charles Mesure Charles William David Mesure (born 12 August 1970) is an English Australian actor known for his work in Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America. Birth and education Mesure was born in Somerset, England. When he was five, his fami ...

) who awakes one morning to find that he doesn't know who or where he is and doesn't recognise his wife or children. The story is set in the fictional town of Waimoana.

Production

The series is written by

Rachel Lang Rachel Lang is a New Zealand television screenwriter, executive producer and actor. She co-created the television series '' Outrageous Fortune, Go Girls, This Is Not My Life, Mercy Peak, Nothing Trivial, The Blue Rose'', and ''Filthy Rich''. Sh ...

and Gavin Strawhan and directed by Rob Sarkies and Peter Salmon. Thirteen episodes have been produced. Though the show only lasted one season, it was announced in 2011 that American network

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

had purchased the series to adapt for an American audience.

Cast and characters

Main

as Alec Ross, Alec wakes one morning to find himself in a life he doesn't believe is his. He sets out on a mission to find the truth of where he comes from and what the real truth is behind Waimoana. *

Tandi Wright Tandi Wright (born 4 May 1966) is a New Zealand actress. She first gained recognition for portraying Nurse Caroline Buxton on the long running New Zealand soap opera ''Shortland Street''. She is best known for her roles as Fenn Partington on ''S ...

as Callie Ross, Callie is Alec's wife and mother to his two children. Her greatest desire is to have the perfect family and will do almost anything it takes to keep it. *

Miriama McDowell Miriama McDowell is a New Zealand actor, director and playwright. She is a graduate of Toi Whakaari. McDowell has a long association with Massive Theatre Company in Auckland, and has both acted and directed for the Pop-up Globe, including direc ...

as Jessica Wilmott, Jessica works as a cleaner at Waimoana Water. She befriends Alec and becomes his ally in digging the secrets from Waimoana. *

Tania Nolan Tania Nolan (born 19 August 1983) is an actress from Rakaia, Canterbury, New Zealand. She is best known for her roles as Isobel Jones in the New Zealand television series ''The Hothouse'' (2007) and Angelina Caulfield in the comedy/drama series ' ...

as Dr Natasha Collins, Natasha is Alec's family's doctor at Waimoana's Wellness Clinic. She has some limited knowledge of the goings-on in Waimoana. * Steven A Davis as Gordy Leach, Gordy works for the surveillance company who makes sure everything in Waimoana stays safe. He has a deep-set desire to be a knight in shining armour.

Recurring

John Bach John Bach (born 5 June 1946) is a British-born New Zealand actor who has acted on stage, television and film over a period of more than four decades. Though born in the United Kingdom, he has spent most of his career living and working in New Z ...

as Harry Sheridan, A Waimoana executive who Alec has vague memories of from before his current life. Alec believes that he has something crucial to do with the mystery. *

Joel Tobeck Joel Tobeck (born 2 June 1971 in Auckland, New Zealand) is an actor known for his roles in the television series ''Tangle'', ''The Doctor Blake Mysteries'', ''Xena Warrior Princess'', ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'', and '' Young Hercules'' ...

as Richard Foster, He runs the Waimoana surveillance team and it is his job to make sure nothing is out of place. It is no surprise then that Alec Ross very quickly catches his attention. * Peter Muller as Stephen Lovritch, Alec's boss at Waimoana Water. * Katherine Kennard as Hope Lovritch, Stephen's wife. In the past she has had an affair with Alec. *

Alison Bruce Alison Bruce (born 1962) is a New Zealand television and film actress, who starred in the 1999 feature ''Magik and Rose''. She also appeared in the teen series ''Being Eve'', '' Xena: Warrior Princess'' and had a recurring role as Simula in '' ...

as Jude, Alec's PA at Waimoana Water. She finds herself often holding the fort whenever he steps out for golf or on his own errands. * Ariana Brunet as Becky Ross, Alec's young daughter, she is often plagued with nightmares of a green door and a 'bad man' called Harry. * Tom Cameron as Christian Ross, Alec's teenage son and who having a secret relationship with Paige. * Alexandra Foster as Paige Lovritch, Stephen and Hope's teenage daughter, Paige's sexual relationship with Christian causes a lot of tension between Callie and Hope when it is discovered.

Guest

Matthew Sunderland Matthew Sunderland (born c. 1972) is a New Zealand actor, writer, and director. He performed the lead role of David Gray in the feature film Out of the Blue (2006 film), ''Out of the Blue'', based on the events of the Aramoana Massacre. At the New ...

as The Cleaner *

Simon Prast Simon Prast is a director and actor from Auckland, New Zealand. Prast was the founder of the Auckland Theatre Company and director of the first Auckland Festival AK03. Early life Prast grew up in Otara and Waikowhai, Auckland. He was educated at ...

as Mike

Episodes

Home media

The series was released on DVD on 29 June 2011.

References

External links

* *{{IMDb title, 1405466 2010 New Zealand television series debuts 2010 New Zealand television series endings Mystery television series New Zealand science fiction television series Television shows filmed in New Zealand Television shows funded by NZ on Air Television shows set in New Zealand TVNZ 1 original programming