When a body is discovered in the sun-drenched olive groves of a Greek island, by-the-book Athens detective Helen Moustakas (Dora Chrysikou) is sent to investigate. Her path collides with Shirley Rangi (Emily Corcoran), a pragmatic New Zealand dairy farmer who received a cryptic postcard from their long-lost father just before the murder. Despite their clashing personalities—Helen’s city polish versus Shirley’s rural grit—the two half-sisters realize they are each other’s only link to both the killer and the missing man they desperately want to find. The Sunshine Murders Premieres September 4, 2025 | 8/7c on UPtv.

This charming and suspenseful procedural pairs Helen’s forensic expertise with Shirley’s unparalleled knowledge of human nature and the land. As they unravel a web of secrets in the seemingly idyllic village, they discover that their father’s disappearance is the key to a decade-old conspiracy. From bustling Athenian markets to quiet Kiwi farmlands, their investigation proves that some roots run deep, and the bonds of family can solve even the coldest case.

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The Sunshine Murders Full cast list

1. Dora Chrysikou as Helen Moustakas

Helen is a brilliant detective whose life is her career, her meticulous nature a shield against personal chaos. Chrysikou portrays her with a sharp, focused intensity that slowly softens as she’s forced to embrace Shirley’s unconventional methods. Her Athenian instincts are often confounded by the slow pace and deep-seated secrets of the island, forcing her to listen more than she interrogates.

Chrysikou’s performance shines in Helen’s emotional journey. Her quest for justice becomes deeply personal, transforming from a professional obligation into a familial mission. Her most defining moments come when she must choose between following police protocol and trusting her sister’s rural wisdom.

2. Emily Corcoran as Shirley Rangi

Shirley is a woman who can read the weather in the clouds and a lie in a person’s eyes. Corcoran brings a wonderful, grounded authenticity to the role, embodying a strength forged by years of hard work and solitude on the farm. Her intuitive, straight-talking approach constantly disrupts Helen’s structured world, but her profound empathy for the victims and their families often unlocks the emotional core of the case.

Corcoran makes Shirley the heart of the duo. Her vulnerability regarding her absent father contrasts with her formidable exterior, creating a relatable and compelling heroine. Her knowledge of soil, animal behavior, and human nature provides the unexpected keys to solving the most puzzling crimes.

3. Marina Sirtis as Alexa Moustakas

Alexa is Helen’s formidable mother, a retired judge who still wields considerable influence in Athens. Sirtis commands the screen with a regal, imposing presence, playing a woman whose high expectations have shaped Helen’s driven nature. She disapproves of the search for Helen’s father, fearing it will unearth a painful past she’d rather keep buried.

Sirtis adds layers of depth and conflict to Helen’s backstory. Alexa’s clandestine efforts to sabotage the investigation from afar create thrilling tension, forcing Helen to question how well she truly knows her own mother.

4. Christopher Sciueref as Captain Simos Spiteri

Captain Spiteri is the weary, cynical local police chief who views Helen’s arrival from Athens as a nuisance and an insult. Sciueref delivers a beautifully gruff performance, portraying a man more concerned with keeping the island’s peace and its tourist-friendly reputation than with solving a complicated murder.

Spiteri’s initial obstructionism makes him a frustrating foil, but Sciueref slowly reveals the character’s hidden decency and his own personal connection to the cold case that haunts the island. His reluctant alliance with the sisters becomes a highlight of the series.

5. Alexander Vlahos as Nick Georgiou

Nick is a charming, enigmatic local taverna owner who becomes both a potential suspect and a potential love interest for Helen. Vlahos infuses the character with a roguish appeal and a mysterious past, knowing everyone’s secrets but revealing none of his own. His sunny exterior masks a deep connection to the island’s darker history.

Vlahos’s chemistry with Chrysikou provides a compelling will-they-won’t-they dynamic. Nick’s loyalties are constantly in question, making him a wild card who could either be the sisters’ greatest ally or their most dangerous adversary.

6. Corinne Kempa as Beth Gaudion

Beth is Shirley’s no-nonsense best friend and neighbor back in New Zealand, who manages the farm via daily video calls filled with blunt advice and moral support. Kempa provides essential comic relief and a vital link to Shirley’s old life, offering a grounded perspective whenever the Greek drama becomes overwhelming.

Kempa’s performance is a delightful burst of Antipodean humor and heart. Beth’s remote assistance, from analyzing soil samples to profiling suspects based on livestock metaphors, is a recurring and beloved feature of the show’s unique charm.

7. Peter Andre as George Constantinos

George is a wealthy, charismatic hotel magnate and the island’s primary benefactor. Andre brings a smooth, polished menace to the role, presenting a man whose generous public persona hides a ruthless desire for control. His sprawling estate and influential friends make him untouchable, and a person of immediate interest to the sisters.

Andre’s natural charm makes George a fantastically ambiguous villain. His character forces Helen and Shirley to navigate the treacherous waters of power and privilege, where the rules of justice are often rewritten by those with the most money.

8. Stephanie Beacham as Lady Gloria Whitten-Soames

Lady Gloria is a sharp-witted, expatriate British aristocrat living on the island, who observes the entire community from her villa perch with a martini in hand. Beacham is impeccable, delivering withering one-liners and surprisingly astute observations that frequently point the sisters in the right direction.

Beacham steals every scene she’s in. Lady Gloria’s mysterious source of wealth and her own reasons for exile from England become a fascinating subplot, revealing that even the observers have their own secrets to hide.

9. Nina Wadia as Barbara Boxhall

Barbara is a relentlessly cheerful British tour guide who knows everyone and everything on the island—for a price. Wadia is hilarious and shrewd, creating a character who is the unofficial information broker for tourists and detectives alike. Her loyalty is to the drachma, not to any person.

Wadia’s comedic timing provides levity amidst the suspense. Barbara’s exaggerated tours, which hilariously rewrite the island’s history, often contain hidden clues that only Shirley’s intuitive ear can decipher.

10. Camilla Rutherford as Crystal Vale

Crystal is a glamorous, recently widowed vineyard owner who is at the center of the island’s social scene. Rutherford plays her with a delicate balance of grief and guile, making her a prime suspect in her husband’s mysterious death. Is she a vulnerable victim or a cunning manipulator?

Rutherford’s performance keeps the audience guessing. Crystal’s evolving relationship with Shirley, based on a shared understanding of running a demanding agricultural business, creates a complex and fascinating dynamic between the two women.

11. Ollie Roddy as Connor McLaughlin

Connor is a young, eager Irish backpacker working at Nick’s taverna for the summer. Roddy brings an infectious energy and a keen eye for detail, often noticing small clues that the professionals miss. His crush on Helen and his hero-worship of Shirley make him an eager, if unorthodox, assistant.

Roddy provides the perspective of an outsider looking in, much like the audience. His character’s journey from starry-eyed tourist to invested amateur sleuth mirrors the viewers’ own investment in solving the mysteries.