Alyssa McClelland is a globally recognized director of film, television, and commercials, with a distinguished career spanning multiple platforms and genres.
Currently, she serves as the setup Director and Executive Producer on the Netflix adaptation of the renowned Australian novel, My Brilliant Career.
Prior to this, McClelland directed all six episodes of the hit BBC comedy, Amandaland, the new spin-off of Motherland, which received widespread critical acclaim and has already been renewed for a second season. The Times praised the show as "a spin-off that punches above its weight: it is lovely, life-affirming escapism," while the BBC described it as "Amandaland: the Mother of all comedies."
McClelland was also the setup Director of Everything Now, starring Sophie Wilde and Stephen Fry, for Left Bank Pictures, and directed several episodes and the finale of the International Emmy award-winning Sex Education for Eleven Film. Both shows were distributed globally by Netflix.
Her impressive filmography includes writing and directing the short film, Second Best, which enjoyed an international run and won numerous awards, including the Australian Directors Guild Award for Best Direction in a Short Film, as well as best short film at Flickerfest, the Milan International Film Festival, and the Sydney Film Festival. She also directed, produced, and co-wrote two seasons of the cult web series, One Step Closer to Home, for Funny or Die.
In the realm of commercials, McClelland has directed international campaigns for prominent brands such as Apple, Google, Bumble, and Air New Zealand. Her work has garnered prestigious awards, including the coveted Black Pencil at the D&AD Awards and the award for Direction at the London International Awards.
McClelland's academic background includes studying Media Arts and Production at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS),majoring in Directing. She was awarded a scholarship from the Australian Theatre for Young People, which enabled her to study at the Atlantic Theater Company in New York, where she honed her skills in the Practical Aesthetics technique developed by David Mamet and William H. Macy. Additionally, she was the recipient of the InStyle Magazine Woman of Style Scholarship for her outstanding work as a filmmaker in Australia.
As of April 2025, McClelland's impressive portfolio and numerous accolades solidify her position as a respected and accomplished director in the industry.
