elix Mallard has been patiently waiting for years for the right project to bring him home to Australia. The star of Netflix’s hit series Ginny & Georgia — an angsty, coming-of-age drama that is filmed in Toronto, and in which Mallard plays the
complicated guy next door — he’d had several conversations with his agent about finding the right local opportunity. Because Mallard didn’t want just any project to bring him home to Oz; he wanted it to mean something.
And then, along came Goolagong, a three-part mini-series based on the inspiring true-life story of world champion tennis player Evonne Goolagong Cawley, streaming now on ABC iview. Mallard plays Evonne’s husband, Roger Cawley, the steadfast backbone to his wife as she fought her way to rank number one in the world. “There couldn’t be anything better to take me home than an Indigenous story about female empowerment, about sports,” Mallard tells me after a long day on our ELLE Man set. “Frankly, this story should have been told 20, 30 years ago. But for it to be told now is so important. The power that Evonne had when she was on the court and the influence she has within our culture deserves a spotlight.”
Ahead, Mallard talks all things Goolagong, and the women — both on- and off-screen — who have played the most formative roles in his life.
ELLE: You play Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s husband, Roger, in the new series. In the research stages for the role, what did you learn about him? What is he like?
FELIX MALLARD: He’s such a selfless, sweet, virtuous, smart man. Roger and Evonne have been married for 50 years and they still flirt like teenagers. The love that they have for each other is so incredibly inspiring and not something you see that often. What they came up against for Evonne to be the champion that she was required Roger to be a complete support, which is exactly the kind of man that we need to represent on-screen and hopefully see more of in the world. To be able to say, “Yes, you’re amazing. Let’s do this for the betterment of our family,” is incredible.
ELLE: And you met Roger, too.
FM: I remember I was sitting next to him on set. I looked at him, dressed as his 21-year-old self, and I was like, “Is this a bit surreal? Is this crazy?” And he turns to me and goes, “No, no, it’s lovely.” He is just an incredible human. That’s just who he is. He’s just got a real joy to him.
ELLE: What does it mean to you to come back home and bring a great Australian story to life?
FM: The series is such an important reflection on the strength of Australian women, and the strength in Evonne. It just felt endlessly rewarding to step onto set every day and to try to do that story justice. Wayne Blair is one of Australia’s best directors and [Whadjuk and Ballardong Noongar woman] Lila McGuire as Evonne is insane. I can’t wait for you all to see this series, and I really can’t wait to see where Lila goes from here. She’s astronomically talented.
ELLE: Let’s switch to Ginny & Georgia. Viewers have seen your character, Marcus, grow through some heavy emotional arcs. Which part of his journey has challenged you the most as an actor?
FM: Exploring Marcus’ battles with his mental health and how it affects his relationships is probably the biggest challenge for me. I want to do it justice without it feeling condescending to anyone who’s going through something similar. Just to make it feel validating is the challenge and I think you obviously want to treat it with a lot of love and care. Trying to go into the depression and the alcoholism and trying to treat it with respect and love and not trivialise it at all [is hard].
ELLE: Has playing Marcus changed your perspective on mental health representation in television?
FM: It hasn’t necessarily changed my mind, but it’s certainly reaffirmed the fact that the more mental health storylines we see online and on-screen, the more positive change hopefully can be effected. We can’t make change unless we see it, really.
ELLE: Jonathan Anderson has made a huge splash at Dior. His first men’s collection consisted of waistcoats, capes, the Bar Jacket and oversized cargo shorts. You wore the collection today for this shoot. What were your first impressions?
FM: I loved it. It has a real sense of play about it. He wanted to take all these things from 18th-century formalwear and then branch them into the 21st century. To me, it was kind of making a comment on class — pulling these upper-class clothes and pairing them with jeans. It felt like he was trying to encourage people to play and to dress up to create their own characters. I really liked it. I thought it was really inspiring.
ELLE: There is an element of this collection that, I think, really suits the Australian man. Do you agree?
FM: Yes, but with some caveats. I think Australian men like to be bold. There’s a sense of humour attached to the way the Australian man expresses himself, and I think depending on what city you’re in, you could wear those clothes a little bit more accessibly than some others. Especially the big cargo shorts, and the kind of flare that comes with these clothes. I think there’s a way you could really rock it in Australia, but you’d have to be confident with it. They’re big statement pieces.
ELLE: What does your grooming routine look like?
FM: It depends. If I’m at work, I’ll wash off all my makeup, get a good cleanser, and then I’ll chuck on some Dior toner, serum and moisturiser to make sure my skin is hydrated. In Toronto, it’s so dry and cold — I like to take a little bit of care with that. I put some gel in my hair, put some Sauvage on and I’m done.
ELLE: Do you have any stereotypically male habits that you’re courageous enough to confess?
FM: It takes a lot for me to make a bed. I’ve got to get it looking like a bomb site for me to think I should probably make the bed.
ELLE: What is your drink of choice when you’re at a bar?
FM: I like a good old fashioned. If I’m with some more excitable friends, probably an espresso martini. Can’t go wrong.
ELLE: Who is the woman in your life who taught you the most about women?
FM: My sister refuses to listen to any male music artist. She’s staunchly feminist. She’s very much a good barometer on the feminine experience and wanting to do the right thing and understand people a little more.
ELLE: Do you have a formative female movie character who sticks out in your memory?
FM: Frances McDormand has always been a huge inspiration, but Kate Winslet is my favourite actor. She’s incredible in everything she’s done, and she’s managed to hold onto her integrity and continue being the strongest performer I’ve ever seen on-screen. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Titanic or Mare of Easttown, she puts in 150 per cent and has a real sense of humour about herself, which makes everything she does that much more poignant. It’s beautiful to watch.
ELLE: What’s something you envy about women?
FM: You guys have your shit together. You have an immense amount of empathy and an immense amount of understanding for the rest of the world. You carry the world on your shoulders. I envy your graciousness, selflessness and everything that comes with them. Facing the patriarchy and finding yourselves within the system … I don’t know where this added empathy or organisation comes from, whether it’s by virtue or survival, but either way, the qualities that women have are magic.
ELLE: Lastly, what’s the pipedream?
FM: I just want more joy in my life, less chaos, telling cool stories and being close to family. That’s kind of all that matters. If I can keep doing that, then I’m stoked.
Goolagong is now streaming on ABC iview.
F
Photographed by Ted Belton
Styled by Nadia Pizzimenti
Words by Jessica Bailey
IN OUR FIRST 'ELLE MAN' PROFILE FOR 2026, AUSTRALIAN ACTOR FELIX MALLARD TALKS BRINGING TO LIFE ONE OF OUR COUNTRY’S MOST POIGNANT STORIES
GAME.
SET.
FELIX.
Felix Mallard wears Dior waistcoat, $8400, shirt, $2250, and neckband, price on application (all worn throughout). FRAGRANCE NOTE Dior Sauvage Elixir, 60ml, $260.
Dior jumper, $3900, pants, $2050, and neckband, price on application.
GROOMING NOTE Dior Sauvage The Toner, $104, and The Serum, $150.
Dior coat, $15,000, waistcoat, $24,000, shirt, pants and shoes (worn throughout), all price on application.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY TED BELTON
STYLED BY NADIA PIZZIMENTI
WORDS BY JESSICA BAILEY
GROOMING BY ASHLEY READINGS AT CADRE ARTIST MANAGEMENT USING DIOR BEAUTY
SET DESIGN BY CHIARA PURDY AT CADRE ARTIST MANAGEMENT
CREATIVE PRODUCTION BY OLIVIA LEBLANC
PRODUCTION BY ANDREW MCGRATH AT KZM AGENCY
NADIA PIZZIMENTI IS REPRESENTED BY P1M
Wearing DIOR.
This story appears in the january 2026 Issue of
“THERE COULDN’T BE ANYTHING BETTER THAN AN INDIGENOUS STORY ABOUT FEMALE EMPOWERMENT”
– FELIX MALLARD
Dior jacket, $8100, pants, $1900, and shoes, price on application.
Dior jumper, $3900, pants, $2050, and neckband, price on application.
Dior pants, $3900, and shoes, price on application.
Dior waistcoat, $8400, jumper, $8400, jeans, $2250, neckband and shoes, both price on application. GROOMING NOTE Dior Sauvage The Toner, $104, and The Serum, $150. FRAGRANCE NOTE Dior Sauvage Elixir, 60ml, $260.
LEFT Dior jacket, $6400, jeans, $2600, shirt and bow tie, both price on application. RIGHT Dior jacket, $3200, jumper, $2250, shorts, neckband, scarf, socks and shoes, all price on application.
“I JUST WANT TO TELL COOL STORIES AND BE CLOSE TO FAMILY. THAT’S KIND OF ALL THAT MATTERS”
– FELIX MALLARD
elix Mallard has been patiently waiting for years for the right project to bring him home to Australia. The star of Netflix’s hit series Ginny & Georgia — an
an angsty, coming-of-age drama that is filmed in Toronto, and in which Mallard plays the complicated guy next door — he’d had several conversations with his agent about finding the right local opportunity. Because Mallard didn’t want just any project to bring him home to Oz; he wanted it to mean something.
And then, along came Goolagong, a three-part mini-series based on the inspiring true-life story of world champion tennis player Evonne Goolagong Cawley, streaming now on ABC iview. Mallard plays Evonne’s husband, Roger Cawley, the steadfast backbone to his wife as she fought her way to rank number one in the world. “There couldn’t be anything better to take me home than an Indigenous story about female empowerment, about sports,” Mallard tells me after a long day on our ELLE Man set. “Frankly, this story should have been told 20, 30 years ago. But for it to be told now is so important. The power that Evonne had when she was on the court and the influence she has within our culture deserves a spotlight.”
Ahead, Mallard talks all things Goolagong, and the women — both on- and off-screen — who have played the most formative roles in his life.
F
IN OUR FIRST 'ELLE MAN' PROFILE FOR 2026, AUSTRALIAN ACTOR FELIX MALLARD TALKS BRINGING TO LIFE ONE OF OUR COUNTRY’S MOST POIGNANT STORIES
Felix Mallard wears Dior waistcoat, $8400, shirt, $2250, and neckband, price on application (all worn throughout). FRAGRANCE NOTE Dior Sauvage Elixir, 60ml, $260.
Photographed by Ted Belton. Styled by Nadia Pizzimenti. Words by Jessica Bailey
Dior coat, $15,000, waistcoat, $24,000, shirt, pants and shoes (worn throughout), all price on application.
ELLE: You play Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s husband, Roger, in the new series. In the research stages for the role, what did you learn about him? What is he like?
FELIX MALLARD: He’s such a selfless, sweet, virtuous, smart man. Roger and Evonne have been married for 50 years and they still flirt like teenagers. The love that they have for each other is so incredibly inspiring and not something you see that often. What they came up against for Evonne to be the champion that she was required Roger to be a complete support, which is exactly the kind of man that we need to represent on-screen and hopefully see more of in the world. To be able to say, “Yes, you’re amazing. Let’s do this for the betterment of our family,” is incredible.
ELLE: And you met Roger, too.
FM: I remember I was sitting next to him on set. I looked at him, dressed as his 21-year-old self, and I was like, “Is this a bit surreal? Is this crazy?” And he turns to me and goes, “No, no, it’s lovely.” He is just an incredible human. That’s just who he is. He’s just got a real joy to him.
Dior jumper, $3900, pants, $2050, and neckband, price on application.
GROOMING NOTE Dior Sauvage The Toner, $104, and The Serum, $150.
Dior waistcoat, $8400, jumper, $8400, jeans, $2250, neckband and shoes, both price on application. GROOMING NOTE Dior Sauvage The Toner, $104, and The Serum, $150. FRAGRANCE NOTE Dior Sauvage Elixir, 60ml, $260.
“THERE COULDN’T BE ANYTHING BETTER THAN AN INDIGENOUS STORY ABOUT FEMALE EMPOWERMENT”
– FELIX MALLARD
“I JUST WANT TO TELL COOL STORIES AND BE CLOSE TO FAMILY. THAT’S KIND OF ALL THAT MATTERS”
– FELIX MALLARD
ELLE: What does it mean to you to come back home and bring a great Australian story to life?
FM: The series is such an important reflection on the strength of Australian women, and the strength in Evonne. It just felt endlessly rewarding to step onto set every day and to try to do that story justice. Wayne Blair is one of Australia’s best directors and [Whadjuk and Ballardong Noongar woman] Lila McGuire as Evonne is insane. I can’t wait for you all to see this series, and I really can’t wait to see where Lila goes from here. She’s astronomically talented.
ELLE: Let’s switch to Ginny & Georgia. Viewers have seen your character, Marcus, grow through some heavy emotional arcs. Which part of his journey has challenged you the most as an actor?
FM: Exploring Marcus’ battles with his mental health and how it affects his relationships is probably the biggest challenge for me. I want to do it justice without it feeling condescending to anyone who’s going through something similar. Just to make it feel validating is the challenge and I think you obviously want to treat it with a lot of love and care. Trying to go into the depression and the alcoholism and trying to treat it with respect and love and not trivialise it at all [is hard].
ELLE: Has playing Marcus changed your perspective on mental health representation in television?
FM: It hasn’t necessarily changed my mind, but it’s certainly reaffirmed the fact that the more mental health storylines we see online and on-screen, the more positive change hopefully can be effected. We can’t make change unless we see it, really.
ELLE: Jonathan Anderson has made a huge splash at Dior. His first men’s collection consisted of waistcoats, capes, the Bar Jacket and oversized cargo shorts. You wore the collection today for this shoot. What were your first impressions?
FM: I loved it. It has a real sense of play about it. He wanted to take all these things from 18th-century formalwear and then branch them into the 21st century. To me, it was kind of making a comment on class — pulling these upper-class clothes and pairing them with jeans. It felt like he was trying to encourage people to play and to dress up to create their own characters. I really liked it. I thought it was really inspiring.
ELLE: There is an element of this collection that, I think, really suits the Australian man. Do you agree?
FM: Yes, but with some caveats. I think Australian men like to be bold. There’s a sense of humour attached to the way the Australian man expresses himself, and I think depending on what city you’re in, you could wear those clothes a little bit more accessibly than some others. Especially the big cargo shorts, and the kind of flare that comes with these clothes. I think there’s a way you could really rock it in Australia, but you’d have to be confident with it. They’re big statement pieces.
ELLE: What does your grooming routine look like?
FM: It depends. If I’m at work, I’ll wash off all my makeup, get a good cleanser, and then I’ll chuck on some Dior toner, serum and moisturiser to make sure my skin is hydrated. In Toronto, it’s so dry and cold — I like to take a little bit of care with that. I put some gel in my hair, put some Sauvage on and I’m done.
ELLE: Do you have any stereotypically male habits that you’re courageous enough to confess?
FM: It takes a lot for me to make a bed. I’ve got to get it looking like a bomb site for me to think I should probably make the bed.
ELLE: What is your drink of choice when you’re at a bar?
FM: I like a good old fashioned. If I’m with some more excitable friends, probably an espresso martini. Can’t go wrong.
ELLE: Who is the woman in your life who taught you the most about women?
FM: My sister refuses to listen to any male music artist. She’s staunchly feminist. She’s very much a good barometer on the feminine experience and wanting to do the right thing and understand people a little more.
ELLE: Do you have a formative female movie character who sticks out in your memory?
FM: Frances McDormand has always been a huge inspiration, but Kate Winslet is my favourite actor. She’s incredible in everything she’s done, and she’s managed to hold onto her integrity and continue being the strongest performer I’ve ever seen on-screen. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Titanic or Mare of Easttown, she puts in 150 per cent and has a real sense of humour about herself, which makes everything she does that much more poignant. It’s beautiful to watch.
ELLE: What’s something you envy about women?
FM: You guys have your shit together. You have an immense amount of empathy and an immense amount of understanding for the rest of the world. You carry the world on your shoulders. I envy your graciousness, selflessness and everything that comes with them. Facing the patriarchy and finding yourselves within the system … I don’t know where this added empathy or organisation comes from, whether it’s by virtue or survival, but either way, the qualities that women have are magic.
ELLE: Lastly, what’s the pipedream?
FM: I just want more joy in my life, less chaos, telling cool stories and being close to family. That’s kind of all that matters. If I can keep doing that, then I’m stoked.
Goolagong is now streaming on ABC iview.
Wearing DIOR.
This story appears in the january 2026 Issue of
PHOTOGRAPHED BY TED BELTON
STYLED BY NADIA PIZZIMENTI
WORDS BY JESSICA BAILEY
GROOMING BY ASHLEY READINGS AT CADRE ARTIST MANAGEMENT USING DIOR BEAUTY
SET DESIGN BY CHIARA PURDY AT CADRE ARTIST MANAGEMENT
CREATIVE PRODUCTION BY OLIVIA LEBLANC
PRODUCTION BY ANDREW MCGRATH AT KZM AGENCY
NADIA PIZZIMENTI IS REPRESENTED BY P1M
GAME.
SET.
FELIX.
Dior jacket, $8100, pants, $1900, and shoes, price on application.
LEFT Dior jacket, $6400, jeans, $2600, shirt and bow tie, both price on application. RIGHT Dior jacket, $3200, jumper, $2250, shorts, neckband, scarf, socks and shoes, all price on application.
Dior jumper, $3900, pants, $2050, and neckband, price on application.
Dior pants, $3900, and shoes, price on application.