The NCIS: Sydney Cast: 6 Stars Who Are Returning For Season 3 And Their Shocking Previous Roles

The global phenomenon of the NCIS franchise has officially gone Down Under, and the results are a massive hit. As of December 2025, the latest installment, NCIS: Sydney, has captivated audiences with its unique blend of American NCIS agents and Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers, leading to quick and decisive renewals for subsequent seasons. This Australian military police procedural is the first international spin-off in the franchise's history, and its success is largely attributed to the dynamic chemistry of its core ensemble cast.

This article provides the most up-to-date and current look at the powerhouse cast who have secured their return for the highly anticipated Season 3. From a DC superhero villain to an Australian soap opera legend, the biographies of these six main stars reveal a wealth of experience that makes the Sydney team a formidable on-screen unit.

The Full NCIS: Sydney Main Cast Biography & Filmography

The core team is composed of three American NCIS agents and three Australian Federal Police (AFP) personnel, creating the joint task force that investigates naval crimes in and around Sydney Harbour. Here is the complete list of the main cast members, their roles, and their most notable career highlights before joining the team.

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• Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey
  • Role: The NCIS Supervisory Special Agent-in-Charge, a sharp and driven American agent leading the joint task force.
  • Born: 19 September 1992 (English)
  • Notable Previous Roles: She is best known for her major role as Astra Logue in the CW science fiction series DC's Legends of Tomorrow, where she transitioned from a demon to a hero. She also appeared in the UK series Doctors.
• Todd Lasance as AFP Sergeant Jim "JD" Dempsey
  • Role: The AFP Liaison Officer and Second-in-Command, a charismatic and experienced Australian detective who often clashes with Mackey's American style.
  • Born: 18 February 1985 (Australian)
  • Notable Previous Roles: Lasance is a veteran of Australian television, famous for playing Aden Jefferies on the long-running soap opera Home and Away. Internationally, he is recognized for his role as Julian in the supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries.
• Sean Sagar as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson
  • Role: An NCIS Special Agent and Mackey's trusted second-in-command, a skilled investigator from the United States.
  • Born: 20 February 1990 (British)
  • Notable Previous Roles: Sagar is a British actor known for his work in both film and television. He had a prominent role in the popular Netflix series Fate: The Winx Saga and the Guy Ritchie film The Gentlemen (2019).
• Tuuli Narkle as AFP Constable Evie Cooper
  • Role: A young, ambitious AFP Liaison Officer and Junior Field Agent who brings local knowledge and a fresh perspective to the team.
  • Born: Western Australia (Australian)
  • Notable Previous Roles: Narkle is a proud Yued and Wiilman Noongar woman. She is critically acclaimed for her performance in the series Mystery Road: Origin, for which she won the 2022 AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama.
• Mavournee Hazel as AFP Forensic Scientist Bluebird "Blue" Gleeson
  • Role: The team's forensic scientist, known for her sharp wit and technical expertise in the lab.
  • Born: 20 March 1996 (Australian)
  • Notable Previous Roles: Hazel is widely recognized for her breakout role as Piper Willis on the beloved Australian soap opera Neighbours, where she was a main cast member from 2015 to 2019.
• William McInnes as AFP Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose
  • Role: The veteran forensic pathologist who provides the medical and autopsy reports, often serving as the team's dry-witted mentor figure.
  • Born: 1963 (Australian)
  • Notable Previous Roles: McInnes is one of Australia's most respected actors and a prolific author. He has starred in numerous Australian productions and is the author of thirteen books, including the best-selling memoir A Man's Gotta Have a Hobby.

The Dynamic Duo: Mackey and Dempsey’s Cross-Cultural Chemistry

The central tension and most compelling relationship in NCIS: Sydney is the partnership between NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann) and AFP Sergeant Jim "JD" Dempsey (Todd Lasance). This dynamic is the heart of the show, mirroring the classic "fish out of water" trope but with a modern, high-stakes twist.

Mackey, the American agent, represents the direct, by-the-book, and often aggressive style of US federal law enforcement. Her presence as the leader immediately establishes a hierarchy that challenges the local Australian team. JD, on the other hand, embodies the laid-back, yet deeply competent, Australian approach. He is fiercely protective of his team and his city, leading to immediate friction with Mackey.

The show cleverly uses this cross-cultural dynamic not just for conflict, but for humor and topical authority. The early episodes highlighted the "language barrier," with the cast needing to define and navigate Australian slang and terms for the American audience (and for Mackey herself). This attention to detail in merging the two distinct police procedural styles—NCIS's focus on naval crimes and the AFP's national jurisdiction—is what makes the spin-off feel fresh and unique within the established franchise.

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The Rise of the Ensemble: From DC Villain to Australian Icon

What gives the NCIS: Sydney cast its incredible depth is the diverse background of its actors. The show intentionally cast a mix of international and local talent to reflect the joint task force concept.

Olivia Swann's transition from playing a powerful magic-wielding character in the DC Universe to a grounded, no-nonsense Special Agent demonstrates her incredible range. Fans of DC's Legends of Tomorrow were thrilled to see her take the lead in a major procedural, bringing a strong, commanding presence to the role of Michelle Mackey.

Similarly, Todd Lasance’s history in Australian television, particularly his beloved role on Home and Away, makes him a familiar and comforting presence for the local audience, while his time on US shows like The Vampire Diaries gives him international recognition. This blend of star power ensures the show appeals to both the dedicated NCIS global fanbase and the Australian viewing public.

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The inclusion of award-winning Indigenous Australian actress Tuuli Narkle is also a significant highlight. Her performance in Mystery Road: Origin was critically acclaimed, and her role as Evie Cooper brings an important layer of authenticity and cultural depth to the AFP side of the team, especially when dealing with the vast and complex Australian landscape and its unique legal challenges.

What’s Next? The Future of NCIS: Sydney and Season 3 Updates

The success of the first season, which premiered on CBS and Paramount+ to strong ratings, quickly led to a Season 2 renewal, and the cast has now been confirmed to return for a third season, cementing its place as a successful international expansion of the NCIS universe.

The continuation of the series is a testament to the show's ability to maintain the familiar procedural elements of the NCIS format—complex cases, military ties, and forensic investigation—while injecting a distinctly Australian flavor. The show explores unique settings and circumstances, from crimes on naval ships in the Coral Sea to incidents involving international intelligence, all set against the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour.

The return of the entire main cast for Season 3 ensures continuity and allows for deeper exploration of the characters' backstories. Fans are eager to see how the personal and professional relationships between the NCIS and AFP teams continue to evolve. Will the cultural clashes subside, or will they become a permanent, humorous feature of the team's dynamic? With the solid foundation laid by the original cast, the future of the Australian spin-off looks bright, promising more thrilling cases and cross-continental cooperation.

Key Topical Entities and LSI Keywords:

• NCIS spin-off
• Australian Federal Police (AFP)
• Military police procedural
• Sydney Harbour
• NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson
• AFP Constable Evie Cooper
• Forensic Scientist Bluebird Gleeson
• Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose
• DC's Legends of Tomorrow
• Home and Away
• Mystery Road: Origin
• The Vampire Diaries
• Season 3 cast updates
• Australian slang and terms