The Block star joins cast of major Aussie drama series: 'Career highlight'

Actress and reality star Sharon Johal is returning to the silver screen following her controversial portrayal on last year’s season of The Block.

The 35-year-old, whose previous acting credits include Neighbours and Shantaram, is set to star in the highly-anticipated second season of the award-winning series, The Twelve.

The courtroom drama follows 12 ordinary Australians who become jurors for a controversial murder trial while struggling with their own realities and personal difficulties.

The show is currently filming across Perth and regional Western Australia and, according to Screenwest, will be the state’s biggest-ever production with one of the largest ensembles of any series produced in Australia.

Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor Sam Neill will return for season two as Brett Colby SC and will be joined by Frances O’Connor as Meredith Nelson-Moore SC.

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Sharon took to Instagram following the announcement on Thursday to say that she feels “so incredibly grateful” to be a part of the cast.

"I am so so incredibly excited to introduce my character to you all and I can honestly say from the heart that I’ve been working on one of the best sets I’ve ever worked on over the last few months with the best bunch of people, actors, directors and crew in the biggest production ever to hit Western Australia,” she wrote.

“There are so many full circle moments that are happening all around me in so many magical ways experiencing Perth for the first time that tell me with complete certainty that this is EXACTLY where I need to be. This is an absolute career highlight and an experience I already know I will hold in my heart forever.

“Ps Dad knows this is a big deal because I’m working with the guy from Jurassic Park! As an immigrant family’s kid, this is a big deal, yo.”

Season two of The Twelve will also star Tasma Walton, Kris McQuade, Amy Mathews, Erroll Shand, Fayssal Bazzi, Josh McKenzie, Anthony Brandon Wong, Stefanie Caccamo, Luke Pegler, Adriano Cappelletta, Nelson Baker, Greg McNeill, Suesha Rana, Brad Francis, Keith Robinson and Isabelle Bäsén.

BINGE’s executive director Alison Hurbert-Burns said in a statement: “The cameras are rolling in WA on this multi-award winning BINGE original The Twelve. To have Sam Neill return, and to welcome Frances O’Connor, as part of a large and diverse ensemble cast featuring many local creatives and talent, is exciting.

“We have wanted to produce in WA for a long time, so it’s great to be here creating the next instalment of the award-winning The Twelve, with over 150 West Australian cast and crew, and hundreds of extras, helping to make it happen.”

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