Leslie Massey
While the popular HBO series Big Little Lies was not filmed in Australia, the country did get to premiere the series before the United Kingdom and Ireland. The series is based on Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name, which was originally set in a fictional Australian town. However, showrunner David E. Kelley decided to shift the setting to California's Monterey Peninsula for the television series. The series was filmed in various locations in California, including Los Angeles, Malibu, and Monterey, which is known for its celebrity inhabitants and incredible coastline.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location in the book | Fictional Australian town |
| Location in the TV series | Monterey, California |
| Locations in California | Los Angeles, Carmel River State Beach, Topanga, Malibu, Pasadena |
| Beaches in California | Del Monte Beach, Carmel Beach, Broad Beach, Garrapata State Park Beach, Broad Beach |
| Bridges in California | Bixby Bridge |
| Other locations in California | Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey City Hall, Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey Airport, Cypress Community Hospital, Ocean View Boulevard, Lovers Point Park, Paluca Trattoria |
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What You'll Learn
The show was filmed in California, not Australia
While the book on which Big Little Lies is based was set in a fictional Australian town, the show was filmed in California, specifically in Monterey. The Californian coast plays a starring role in the show, with its beaches and boulevards providing the backdrop for many scenes.
The show's filming locations include the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Del Monte Beach, the airport, and the Cypress Community Hospital. The Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, which is part of California's famous Highway 1, also features prominently in the show's opening credits.
Other filming locations include the Garrapata State Park and Beach in Big Sur, where scenes of crashing waves and misty shores were shot, and the Old Fisherman's Wharf, where an Italian restaurant served as the inspiration for the cafe where the show's characters often gathered.
The houses of the main characters also play an important role in defining their socioeconomic status. Only Celeste and Perry's mansion is actually located in the Monterey area, while Madeline and Ed Mackenzie's beach-side villa is located in Malibu.
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Monterey is the main filming location
The Bixby Bridge, part of California's famous Highway 1 drive, features in the show's opening credits. The Garrapata State Park and Beach in Big Sur is also used for filming, with its beach, waves and cliffs providing a backdrop for the show's characters.
In Monterey, the beachside scenes are filmed at Del Monte Beach, part of Monterey State Beach. The beach is popular with locals for swimming, sunbathing and surfing, and is also used for jogging scenes. The Monterey Bay Aquarium, famed for its jellyfish and great white sharks, is another filming location, as is the Old Fisherman's Wharf, where the fictional Blue Blues cafe is located.
Monterey Regional Airport, Lovers Point Park, and the Cypress Community Hospital also feature in the show.
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Bixby Bridge features in the opening credits
The Bixby Bridge is a prominent feature in the opening credits of the HBO television series Big Little Lies. The bridge is located on the Pacific Coast Highway in California, about 30 minutes south of Monterey, where the series is primarily set.
The Bixby Bridge is not the only Californian landmark to be featured in the show. The Monterey Bay Aquarium, for example, made an appearance in the original trailer and throughout Season 1. The series also features the colourful historic buildings of Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey City Hall, Del Monte Beach, the airport, and the Cypress Community Hospital.
The houses of the main characters, which play an important role in defining their socioeconomic status, are also located in California. Only Celeste and Perry's mansion, played by Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgård, is actually located in the Monterey area. The house of Madeline and Ed Mackenzie, played by Reese Witherspoon and Adam Scott, is located on Broad Beach Road in Malibu.
While the series is set in California, the book on which it is based was set in a fictional Australian town. Showrunner David E. Kelley made the decision to shift the setting to Monterey, known for its laid-back small-town charm and spectacular Pacific seascapes.
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Del Monte Beach is a popular filming spot
In Big Little Lies, Del Monte Beach is where several scenes were filmed, including running-on-the-beach scenes and Jane's flashback scenes. The beach is also where the characters Celeste, Jane, and Madeline were often seen jogging along the shore. The beach provides a stunning natural backdrop of sea and sky, making it a perfect location for filming.
Del Monte Beach is just a few feet away from Fisherman's Wharf, another popular filming location. The wharf is home to an Italian restaurant, Paluca Trattoria, which inspired the cafe Blue Blues in the show, where the characters often gathered to drink coffee and argue. The wharf also offers a beautiful view of the ocean and is a great spot for kayaking and other water sports.
The Monterey Peninsula, where Del Monte Beach is located, has been described as a "hypnotic beauty" by showrunner David E. Kelley. The area offers a combination of laid-back small-town charm and spectacular Pacific seascapes. The peninsula includes the cities of Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove, and has been featured in many films and TV shows, including Big Little Lies.
Overall, Del Monte Beach is a popular filming spot that has attracted many productions, including Big Little Lies, due to its beautiful scenery and convenient location. The beach offers a stunning backdrop for filming and is a favourite among locals and visitors alike.
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The Monterey Bay Aquarium was used for indoor scenes
The popular HBO series Big Little Lies was filmed in Monterey, California. The Monterey Bay Aquarium, with its famous jellyfish and great white sharks, was used for several indoor scenes in the show. The aquarium is sited close to Lovers Point, and the two are connected by Ocean View Boulevard, which provided a superb natural backdrop for the series. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is also featured in the show's opening credits, along with the Bixby Bridge, which is located on the Big Sur coastline.
The series is based on Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name, which was originally set in a fictional Australian town. However, showrunner David E. Kelley decided to shift the setting to Monterey for the television series. Kelley described Monterey as having a "hypnotic beauty" that would draw in viewers and make them want to visit.
In addition to the aquarium, other filming locations in Monterey included Del Monte Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey City Hall, the airport, and the Cypress Community Hospital. The houses of the main characters also played an important role in defining their socioeconomic status, with only Celeste and Perry's mansion actually located in the Monterey area.
Overall, the picturesque setting of Monterey and its surrounding areas provided a stunning backdrop for the intense and dramatic scenes of Big Little Lies.
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Frequently asked questions
The series was filmed in California, in locations including Los Angeles, Carmel River State Beach, and the Monterey Peninsula.
No, despite the book being set in a fictional Australian town, the series was filmed in California.
Some filming locations in California include the Bixby Bridge, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Del Monte Beach.
Some filming locations in Monterey include the Bay Aquarium, Del Monte Beach, Monterey City Hall, and the Cypress Community Hospital.
The name of the town in the series is Monterey.
