Chelsie Preston Crayford on taking centre stage in new thriller A ...

EXCLUSIVE: Award-winning actress Chelsie Preston Crayford is currently taking the small screen by storm as she leads the cast in A Remarkable Place to Die. 

Stream the latest episodes of A Remarkable Place To Die on 9Now.

The gripping crime thriller sees Preston Crayford step into the shoes of Detective Sergeant Anaís Mallory, a character as sharp and layered as the stunning Queenstown backdrop in which the series is set.

Preston Crayford, who shot to fame as Tilly Devine in Underbelly: Razor, has carved out a stellar career with roles in The Code, M3GAN, and Dark City: The Cleaner. 

The actress brings her signature intensity to Mallory, a detective whose brilliance in the field is only matched by her complicated personal life.

Chelsie Preston Crayford plays Anaís Mallory in A Remarkable Place to Die. (Nine)

"She's a brilliant detective with some pretty serious trust issues, and for good reason," Preston Crayford said in an exclusive interview with 9Entertainment. 

Mallory is not your average small-town detective.

Driven by the mysterious death of her sister, Mallory returns to Queenstown to confront a tangled web of grief, estranged relationships and a past she can't quite leave behind.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about A Remarkable Place To Die, the gripping new crime drama

"At the beginning of the series, her relationship with her mother Veronica is… let's just say, not great," Preston Crayford explained.

A Remarkable Place to Die airs Sundays 8.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now. (Nine)

"They're both grieving in different ways, unable to provide the support the other needs."

Veronica is played by TV legend Rebecca Gibney. 

On working with Gibney, Preston Crayford beamed: "Rebecca is a powerhouse and so generous, she really took me under her wing.

"She staunchly champions the people she believes in."

While Mallory navigates her complicated family dynamics, she's also thrust into the social and professional intricacies of her hometown.

Rebecca Gibney plays Victoria. (Nine)

Her ex-fiancé is now married to one of her former close friends, and her role as a detective forces her to untangle the personal from the professional – a task easier said than done.

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

Filmed in the picturesque landscapes of Queenstown, A Remarkable Place to Die showcases a side of New Zealand rarely seen by international audiences. 

Preston Crayford didn't just stop at acting for the series, she also contributed to its writing.

"Our brilliant writer John Banas was very collaborative and encouraged me to make Anaís my own," she revealed. 

"I'm a writer and filmmaker as well as an actor, and working with Screentime is wonderful because they have a real 'best idea wins' approach. That kind of collaboration always makes things better."

Preston Crayford is excited for audiences to unravel the show's twists and turns.

"There's a scene at the end of Episode 4, but I can't give you any spoilers… you'll just have to watch!" she teases.

A Remarkable Place to Die airs Sundays 8.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Stream the latest episodes of A Remarkable Place To Die on 9Now.