'Did not expect that': How one phone call changed McLeod's Daughters star Simmone Jade Mackinnon's life forever

EXCLUSIVE: Back to Drovers Run is a brand new weekly video series exclusively on nine.com.au. Each week, Simmone Jade Mackinnon will be reflecting on her role as Stevie Hall in the beloved Aussie series McLeod's Daughters.

Watch episode one in the video above.

It's been 23 years since McLeod's Daughters premiered to the nation, and for actress Simmone Jade Mackinnon it was the start of a journey she'll never forget.

But if it wasn't for one phone call from her mother, it's an experience that might never have taken place at all.

Stream every episode ever of McLeod's Daughters for free on 9Now.

McLeod's Daughters originally starred Lisa Chappell and Bridie Carter as Claire and Tess, two sisters reunited after 20 years of separation upon inheriting their family's cattle station in Drovers Run.

READ MORE: 'Where they put Claire's coffin': McLeod's Daughters superfan documents stay at Drovers Run homestead

"I was actually in America when McLeod's first started airing," Simmone recalled in our exclusive video.

"My mum called me at the beginning when it first started airing and said, 'Simmone, there's a TV show called McLeod's Daughters. You gotta come home. You gotta be on that'.

"I was like, 'If only it worked that way, Mum. It doesn't happen like that. That sounds cool, though.'"

But when Simmone did return home, the story of how she bagged the role of Stevie is incredible to say the least. "I didn't expect that," she proclaimed.

Watch the video above to hear the full story of how Simmone came to be Stevie, going on to play the beloved character for five years.

Simmone will be sharing more stories about her time on McLeod's Daughters next week - join us then for Back to Drovers Run.

Stream every episode ever of McLeod's Daughters for free on 9Now.