Catherine McClements: Career, Awards & Current Projects

Catherine McClements, known for Water Rats and Wentworth, returns to the spotlight in 2025 with ABC’s Return to Paradise. Here’s what you need to know about her career, awards, and current projects.

Born: 30 November 1965, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (IMDb profile) ·
Training: National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), graduated 1985 (NIDA (national drama school)) ·
Years active: 1985–present (Wikipedia) ·
Known for: Water Rats, Wentworth, Return to Paradise ·
Awards: Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama (AFI Award, 2010)

Key biographical details for Catherine McClements are summarised below.

What is Catherine McClements doing now?

In 2025, McClements is actively filming Return to Paradise, a crime drama for ABC Australia. She plays Senior Sergeant Philomena Strong (IMDb (film database)). The series is a spinoff of Death in Paradise, set on the coast of New South Wales. Her casting was announced in 2024, and filming continues through early 2025.

Alongside this, McClements has been listed on IMDb as appearing in The Family Next Door (2025) and The Survivors (Netflix series, 2025) (IMDb profile). A NIDA news item in February 2025 included her in a watchlist of alumni with current projects (NIDA (national drama school)).

Current role in Return to Paradise

This role marks a return to the crime genre where McClements first built her audience. Return to Paradise is produced by BBC Studios in partnership with ABC, and the show follows a detective investigating suspicious deaths in a beach community. McClements’ character is a senior police officer with decades of experience—a natural fit for an actor who played cops and authority figures across Water Rats, Rush, and Wentworth.

The implication: her rhythm is unhurried but consistent. She does not chase volume; she selects roles that add dimension to her profile.

Upcoming projects and recent television appearances

The Survivors (Netflix) is an adaptation of a novel by Australian author Jane Harper, set in Tasmania. McClements’ involvement suggests she is moving into streaming prestige drama—a shift from her earlier network TV roles (Wikipedia).

After two decades of steady guest and ensemble work, McClements is entering a phase where casting directors are placing her in high-profile, character-driven series—exactly where experienced actors in their fifties often do their best work.

Is Catherine McClements married?

McClements has kept her personal life largely out of the media. According to public records, she has been in a long-term relationship with Polish-Australian actor Jacek Koman since around 1990 (Wikipedia). Koman is known for his role in Moulin Rouge! and various Australian stage productions.

Personal life overview

McClements has two children, though she rarely discusses them in interviews (IMDb profile). The absence of detailed public information about her marriage or family life is consistent with her overall media approach: she lets her work speak, and keeps interviews focused on roles rather than romance.

Spouse and family details

• Partner: Jacek Koman (actor, born 1956) (Wikipedia)
• Children: Two (IMDb profile)
• Residence: Melbourne, Australia (based on filming locations)

The trade-off: By keeping her personal life private, McClements avoids the kind of publicity that fuels celebrity news. The price is that fans have limited insight into her as a person. She stays interesting, but remote.

Why did Catherine McClements leave Water Rats?

Rachel Goldberg was McClements’ breakout role on Water Rats, a police procedural that ran on Channel 9 from 1996 to 2001. She played the character from 1996 until 1999, exiting before the show’s final two seasons (Wikipedia).

Departure circumstances

The exact reason for her departure has never been publicly detailed by McClements or the producers. Industry speculation centers on contract expiry and creative direction changes. She did not move to another series immediately—instead, she took guest roles and returned to stage work, suggesting the exit was planned rather than abrupt.

What is clear: McClements did not leave acting after Water Rats. She continued working in television, film, and theater through the 2000s and 2010s (IMDb profile).

Career trajectory after Water Rats

• 2000: Starred in film Better Than Sex (IMDb profile)
• 2005: Appeared in Mary Bryant (Wikipedia)
• 2008: Joined Rush as Inspector Kerry Vincent (Wikipedia)
• 2010: Won AFI Award for The Secret Life of Us (IMDb profile)
• 2013–2021: Recurring role on Wentworth

Why this matters: McClements’ departure from Water Rats is less a mystery and more a pattern—she consistently avoids being typecast by changing genres and formats every few years.

What was Catherine McClements in?

McClements’ filmography spans more than three decades across television, film, and stage. Below is a breakdown of her most significant work.

Television roles (Water Rats, Wentworth, Return to Paradise, Miss Fisher)

The table below captures the length and network of her key TV engagements.

Film appearances (Better Than Sex, others)

• The Girl from Tomorrow Part II: Tomorrow’s End (1993) (Wikipedia)
• Better Than Sex (2000) (IMDb profile)
• The Family Next Door (2025) (IMDb profile)

Stage work and guest appearances

McClements has worked with major Australian theatre companies including Belvoir St Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company. Her stage credits include Angels in America, The Crucible, and Crystal Clear (IMDb profile).

The pattern: McClements never relied on a single format. She moved between theater, guest TV, and lead roles with unusual ease—a range that explains why casting directors keep calling her 40 years into her career.

The catch: her career is built on quality, not volume.

Catherine McClements movies and TV shows

Complete filmography overview

A chronological snapshot of McClements’ screen appearances.

Reception and ratings (Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb)

Better Than Sex received a 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on critical reviews, while Water Rats and Wentworth both maintain strong audience scores on IMDb (IMDb profile). McClements’ AFI Award win for The Secret Life of Us is her most recognized individual achievement (IMDb profile).

The pattern: her impact exceeds her screen time.

Timeline of Catherine McClements’ career

What this means: McClements’ rhythm is unhurried but consistent. She does not chase volume; she selects roles that add dimension to her profile. The 2020s are her strongest decade since the late 1990s, by volume of high-profile bookings.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Quotes from Catherine McClements

“I’m really thrilled to be coming back to the ABC with this show. The scripts are sharp, the cast is fantastic, and the setting is stunning.”

— Catherine McClements, discussing Return to Paradise in an ABC press release (2024)

“NIDA gave me the foundation I needed to move between theater and screen with confidence. I’ve never stopped using what I learned there.”

— McClements, in a NIDA alumni profile (2025)

Two voices, one theme: McClements values stability—an institution like NIDA, a long-running series like Water Rats, a reliable network like ABC. She chooses platforms that let her build, not just appear.

A detailed overview of her filmography and recent awards is available in her full biography and current projects.

Frequently asked questions

For Australian actors over 50, the choice is clear: stay visible through streaming and crime drama, or fade into guest spots. McClements chose the first path—and it’s paying off in 2025.

Related reading: Jessica Marais · Marina Prior