
It’s rare that a TV show is able to deliver a knock-out punch both in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes, but that’s exactly what new SBS series On the Ropes has been able to achieve.
Not only do the storylines in the series feature a diverse cast of well-written female characters, but the production team behind the series is also predominantly female-driven, two things that can often be a rarity in the world of Australian television.
On The Ropes explores the complexities and realities of life for a migrant family living in the western suburbs of Sydney, while also expertly delving into the deep-seated culture of misogyny that can be found in the sporting world.
We see this world through the eyes of Amirah (played by Nicole Chamoun, best known for her roles in Safe Harbour, Romper Stomper), a young woman who is desperate to walk her own path.
While working in her family’s gym alongside her two brothers Amirah negotiates a professional debut match for her fighter Jess O’Connor (Keisha Castle-Hughes), despite the fact that her conservative family want her to concentrate on her university studies and stay away from the male focused world of boxing.
When her plan to become a professional trainer is discovered by her family, her father is furious that she has gone behind his back and threatens to cut her off.
For actress Nicole Chamoun, the plight of her character Amirah was one that she deeply related to while also representing the kind of person she aspires to be.