Australian actor Cody Fern joins House of Cards for its final season

AUSTRALIAN actor Cody Fern is set to join the acclaimed drama House Of Cards for its sixth and final season.

Fern — who was awarded the Heath Ledger Scholarship in 2014 — will join the show as a series regular alongside fellow new cast members Diane Lane and Greg Kinnear.

The show is currently in production with Robin Wright replacing Oscar winner Kevin Spacey as the lead after he was fired following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Fern was most recently seen alongside Darren Criss in American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, where he starred as David Madson, the doomed ex of serial killer Andrew Cunanan.

He has also starred in The Tribes of Palos Verdes alongside Jennifer Garner.

Fern picked up the prestigious Heath Ledger Scholarship in 2014, which rewards up and coming Australian actors.

Upon receiving the award, Fern said, “Coming from a small town this wasn’t a possibility, it was a dream.”

The actor grew up in the small town of Southern Cross, which sits 370 kilometres east of Perth and has a population of 680.

After first pursuing a career in finance, Fern ditched that to follow his acting dreams, reportedly selling his possessions to fund acting classes.

The 29-year-old has quickly risen through the ranks after a star turn on stage in the Australian production of War Horse.

House of Cards recently resumed production on its sixth and final season after disgraced star Kevin Spacey was fired over sexual misconduct claims.

Netflix, which produces the show, cut ties with the star, cancelling a Gore Vidal biopic he was set to star in.

Robin Wright’s character Claire Underwood will be front and centre in the show’s final eight episodes after Netflix’s Chief Content Officer said that the finale will “bring closure” for fans of the political drama.