Before we even got to The Last Frontier, Simone Kessell and I were already bonding over hair and aging. “Your hair looks good,” she said with a laugh. “Oh, thank you. I try,” I told her — and then she added, “It’s the same!”
It set the tone for what would be a delightful conversation about strong women, friendship, and survival in one of television’s wildest new dramas.
Simone plays Sarah Remnick, the heart of the chaos surrounding the small-town disaster that propels The Last Frontier. She’s the calm in the storm, the voice of reason, and the emotional tether holding everything together while her husband Frank (Jason Clarke) tries to make sense of an unraveling world.
“I like that — the fear and the fortitude,” Simone said, pausing thoughtfully.
“Her fear comes out in worrying about her son, Luke, and then her husband. We find out later in the season that the worst, most traumatic experience has happened to them as a family. She’s thin-skinned and broken, but she’s surviving because she has no other choice.”
The Heart of the Storm
For Simone, Sarah is more than just the supportive spouse — she’s the show’s grounding force.
“The relationship between Frank and Sarah is the heart of the show so that the chaos makes sense,” she said. “If we don’t believe him as a husband and father, we’re not going to believe everything else.”
That believability comes easy when your on-screen partner is also one of your closest friends. “I’ve known Jason for 25 years,” she revealed.
“We grew up in the same acting circles in Sydney. His wife is one of my best friends. We’d never worked together before, but it just fell beautifully into place. I think that’s what you’re seeing — because it’s real. We are just very dear friends.”
That real-life chemistry helped bring depth and ease to their fictional marriage. “I believe they are husband and wife,” she said. “I believe they’re best friends and love each other dearly. I think we need to see more real couples like that on our screens.”
Fearless and Proactive
Sarah isn’t just the emotional anchor — she’s also a fighter. “I liked when I got into the elements,” Simone said, recalling the sequences that pushed Sarah to her limits.
“She’s gung-ho and tenacious. She takes things into her own hands — she’s strong, proactive, and that’s what I admire in women.”
That authenticity came at a cost, though. “It brings reality to it,” she said of shooting in the freezing cold.
“You can act cold, or you can be cold. There was one scene where I literally couldn’t move my face. Canadians were like, ‘Suck it up,’ but they told us not to touch our eyelashes or they’d snap off!”
When the Cup Overflows
Simone has made a career out of playing complex, layered women, and she knows exactly why she’s drawn to them.
“I want to challenge myself,” she said. “I want to play characters I want to watch. I made a promise to myself I wouldn’t do things I wouldn’t personally enjoy. I’m a fan of strong females on screen.”
Her analogy for Sarah’s emotional journey might be one of the most memorable insights I’ve ever heard.
“A friend of mine worked in the ER and said there are two types of women — the ones with cups that have holes in the bottom, and the ones whose cups brim over. Sarah’s cup is to the brim, and she’s just keeping her head above water.”
Despite the heavy themes, Kessell sees The Last Frontier as a thrilling ride. “It’s pure entertainment,” she said. “It’s a cinematic ride. It was such a joy making it.”
Don’t miss our review of The Last Frontier series premiere, and be sure to keep an eye out for more interviews!
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Simone Kessell on Fear, Fortitude, and Friendship in The Last Frontier
Simone Kessell opens up about friendship, fear, and what it took to bring heart and humanity to The Last Frontier’s chaos.
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Jason Clarke on Old-School Heroes and Moral Gray Zones in The Last Frontier
Jason Clarke talks about Frank Remnick’s old-school grit, the epic Alaskan shoot, and why The Last Frontier feels like ten little movies rolled into one.
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The Last Frontier Season Premiere Brings Bonkers Action and Glorious Madness to the Alaska Tundra
A plane crash, CIA secrets, and pure Alaskan chaos — The Last Frontier premiere is bonkers, bloody, and it’s totally worth freezing for it.
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