Evonne Goolagong’s Remarkable Life Finds a Powerful New Voice on Screen
Right now, there’s a beautiful and deeply moving story being told about one of Australia’s greatest sporting icons, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and it’s finally being brought to life on screen. Her extraordinary journey has been immortalised in a new ABC drama series, and it’s already being described as something far more meaningful than a typical sports biopic.
At the heart of the series is actor Lila McGuire, who steps into the role of the world tennis champion. What makes this even more striking is that McGuire had never played tennis before being cast. The preparation was intense and, by her own words, daunting. Training was done multiple times a week with tennis coaches and personal trainers, and support came from dieticians and physiotherapists. Still, it was said that her background as a Noongar dancer became one of her greatest strengths, helping her embody Evonne’s movement, rhythm, and presence in a way that felt authentic rather than forced.
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The emotional weight of portraying a living legend was very real. McGuire has spoken openly about the pressure of playing someone so admired, while also reminding herself that Evonne was human first — a young Indigenous woman navigating a world that often wasn’t built for her. That perspective allowed the performance to feel grounded, relatable, and deeply personal.
The series itself moves between Evonne’s rise as a tennis superstar and her childhood in regional New South Wales, where she grew up as part of the only Indigenous family in her town. Her talent was discovered early, with hours spent hitting a ball against walls using improvised equipment. Those humble beginnings are treated with care, showing how resilience, family support, and belief played just as big a role as raw ability.
For Evonne Goolagong Cawley, seeing her life portrayed on screen has been described as strange but also a great honour. She has shared that she rarely watched herself play during her career, making this series the first time she has truly reflected on her own journey. More than accolades or trophies, her hope is that young viewers will see what’s possible. Her lifelong motto — dream, believe, learn, achieve — runs quietly but powerfully through the story.
Ultimately, this drama isn’t just about tennis. It’s about identity, culture, perseverance, and leaning on community. It tells the story of an incredible woman who changed Australian sport forever, while reminding us that no one achieves greatness alone.
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