Aussie actress Stef Dawson is a rising star in Hollywood but came home to film a special TV project, Cleverman, which begins this week. Picture: Supplied

The talented Canberra native has been the talk of Tinseltown since starring in the hit The Hunger Games film franchise. And she has another four movies coming out this year including Nest, which co-stars Kelsey Grammer and former Twilight actor Kellan Lutz.

“It’s been amazing and is getting better all the time,” Dawson says. “Of course I miss Australia very much, but I’ve come back for work a bit lately and get to see family at the same time.”

She plays fiery red-headed “bad ass” Ash in Cleverman, ABC’s anticipated new high-concept fantasy drama, which is generating plenty of buzz overseas.

The series, which is part social statement and part sci-fi narrative with indigenous mythology woven in, will premiere in the US at the same time as in Australia.

“It’s a platform for telling 60,000-year-old stories from the Aboriginal Dreamtime, centred around the Cleverman … who was a person of power within a clan, a conduit between this world and the Dreaming,” Dawson explains.

Stef Dawson stars in thrilling new series Cleverman alongside Hunter Page-Lochard and Ryan Corr. Picture: Lisa TomasettiSource:Supplied

Some of those tales are ones that aren’t written down, but instead passed from generation to generation through word of mouth, she said.

“It’s people sitting down telling stories, for thousands of years, which is really special. The idea of the Cleverman in particular is fascinating and I don’t think many people would know much about it.”

The initial inspiration for this project came from creator Ryan Griffen’s desire to invent an indigenous super hero for his young son, Dawson says.

“But it’s also set in a dystopian world, where these (recently discovered) creatures known as the Hairies … are causing fear. It’s the idea of ‘the other’ and how we treat people we don’t understand.”

Cleverman tells the tale of a society living in fear, with the recently discovered subspecies known as the Hairies blamed for a spate of violent attacks. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

That particular element of the show is a powerful and universal topic to discuss at the moment, she says.

“It’s clever,” Dawson says. “No pun intended. But yes, it’s definitely poignant and it’s current, but then it’s about things that have happened again and again throughout history.”

Dawson is a big believer in the idea that “artists have a responsibility to hold a mirror up to society”.

“It’s something that resonates with me as an actress. It’s why I signed up to this crazy life in the first place, to be a voice for something and perhaps help create a change.”

Another current theme in the story is about government power — how authorities deal with the Hairies — and fear being used as a strategy to win votes, sway opinion and seize greater control.

“It’s quite scary — it comes back to the reality that people fear what they don’t understand. It creates hysteria sometimes.”

The idea for Cleverman came from series creator Ryan Griffen’s desire to invent an aboriginal superhero for his son Koen.Source:News Corp Australia

Not-so-subtle deeper meaning aside, Dawson says it’s also about compelling characters, played by an all-star cast including Ryan Corr, Frances O’Connor, Deborah Mailman, Rarriwuy Hicks, Jack Charles and Iain Glen.

“Yes, it’s about the potential for what humanity could become … but at its heart, it’s about family and love, strength against adversity, fighting for something, fighting for hope.”

There are some similarities between this world and the one in The Hunger Games, she agrees.

Dawson says that project, which she appeared in alongside Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, changed everything for her.

“In such a huge market, when eyes are upon you in such a big and beloved franchise … people start to know you exist and want to bring you in for more things,” she says.

There’s growing buzz globally for Cleverman, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

“I had a few other projects bubbling along in the midst of The Hunger Games so there’s definitely been a great momentum since.”

This year could be Dawson’s time to shine even brighter, with a string of roles about to “see the light of day”.

“There are four really cool movies all coming out this year. They’re all doing the film festival circuit now and each has picked up a few awards, so it’s really exciting.”

CLEVERMAN

THURSDAY JUNE 2, 9.30PM, ABC