Melina Sinadinou joins the cast of Beyond Paradise in its latest season, bringing fresh energy to the hit crime drama. She plays Zoe Williams, the teenage daughter of DS Esther Williams (Zahra Ahmadi), a role she first introduced in the 2023 Christmas special. A rising talent, Sinadinou has a background in theatre and short films, making her transition to television an exciting development. Her character adds a new dynamic to the show, offering a fresh perspective beyond the police force. Fans can look forward to seeing how Zoe's presence influences the unfolding mysteries in Shipton Abbott.

Hi Melina! Thanks for chatting with us today. Congratulations on your role in Beyond Paradise What inspired you to audition for the show?

Hey! Thank you so much. I’m excited to get to chat about the show. I was coming up to my last few weeks at drama school when I got the tape through, I was so eager to be on a set and learn. I remember reading the description for Zoe and I loved how vibrant and headstrong she was at 16, she’s got so much energy and has a lot of time to give to people, I really loved that about her. I watched Season 1 as it had just recently been released and it was clear watching the show that it was so much fun to work on and I wanted to be a part of it.

How does Beyond Paradise differ from other projects you’ve worked on?

It’s honestly the best thing that every project you’re going to do is so individual and will require different preparation and teach you different lessons. With Beyond Paradise, it’s lovely to get to work on a show for a good chunk of time and grow up with the character and also influence that growth. It feels like second nature now playing her and I think that's something you get, when you get to come back to a role. Getting to come back for season 3 and seeing the cast and crew again, there’s a proper family atmosphere on set.

What do you hope audiences take away from the series?

Joyyyy!!! It’s good to just be able to escape into something. I think that’s the main take away I just want people to enjoy it and find comfort in it! 

Can you share any behind-the-scenes challenges or interesting moments during production?

I think for season three it was so nice not to be as nervous. I was really nervous in season two as it was my first time on set and the cast really took me in and taught me a lot. Getting to go back a second time, I felt like I could play a lot more as I had really found my feet. I think also finding things to do when you’re waiting on set is always a fun challenge. I tried to knit a scarf and it has like fifty holes and it's sitting at the bottom of my drawer, but I loved trying to find ways to stay active in between takes. 

How did you approach the character of Zoe? Did you draw on any real-life influences or inspirations?

The working at a coffee shop definitely came naturally haha! For Zoe it felt really instinctual and playful. I had to work on the accent and that was definitely a challenge to not overdo it. Zoe’s 18 now and in that period it’s a lot of figuring out what she wants to do next and I’ve definitely been there. Most of the time for me it was just remembering what it felt like to be at these different points in your life and trying to be truthful with that.

What has the audience response been like?

Amazing! It was so nice to hear how positive the response has been and especially when people share specific moments that they really loved!

Are there any hints or teases you can share about what’s next for Beyond Paradise?

There are so many exciting things packed into season three! There’s some really cool mysteries and a lot of really beautiful storylines woven in! 

Beyond Paradise returns to BBC One and iPlayer from Friday 28th March at 8pm