Inessa Tan, 17, from Roxburgh Park, has leapt into the limelight with her role as Meesha Rai on Nickelodeon’s Rock Island Mysteries.
The show is currently airing its second season.
For Inessa, the journey to stardom was a whirlwind. Initially pursuing her passion for singing, dancing, and musical theater, Inessa’s life took a dramatic turn during the COVID pandemic.
She decided to enroll in online acting classes at Dan Hamill Performance Coaching Studio, and her talent soon caught the eye of casting director David Newman from McSweeney Newman Casting Agency.
As fate would have it, David was scouting for fresh talent for Rock Island Mysteries. Inessa’s audition stood out, and within four short weeks, she found herself on a plane to Queensland for an extraordinary six-month adventure, which included kayaking, rope swings, time-traveling, character transformations, and unforgettable on-set experiences.
Reflecting on her journey, Inessa expressed her excitement and pride in being part of Rock Island Mysteries and says she still has to pinch herself when she watches the show.
“It feels unreal to see myself on the screen,” she said.
“When I watch the show, I focus on the end result – exciting and entertaining adventures of five friends. It is easy to forget that it is actually hard work to get there, we worked full-time Monday to Friday, and often we had to be on location by 6am.”
She emphasised her gratitude for the role she has been afforded, saying she was, “an ordinary girl, from an ordinary family, who got an extraordinary opportunity!“
For those eager to catch Inessa in action, Rock Island Mysteries Season 2 continues airing Monday to Thursday at 5.05 pm on Nickelodeon (channel 13) and 10 Play.
Gerald Lynch
