Heather Mitchell
Heather Mitchell | |
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Born | 1958 (age 65–66) |
Education | National Institute of Dramatic Art (BFA) |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1981–present |
Website | heathermitchell.com.au |
Heather Lee Mitchell AM (born 1958) is an Australian actress, appearing in Australian productions of stage, television and film. She is a graduate of NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art). She is best known for her leading role in the 1990s television show Spellbinder.
Early life
Mitchell attended Camden High School in Camden, New South Wales, between 1971 and 1976 and was school captain in her final year. She took the leading role of Judith Bliss in the 1976 school production of Noël Coward's Hay Fever.[citation needed]
Career
Television
Mitchell is, internationally, well known for her performance as Ashka in the Australian/Polish co-productions of Spellbinder (1995), and Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord (1997). The series was a popular children's fantasy program first broadcast in 1995.
Other television series include: the miniseries Bodyline (1984), Land of Hope (1986), Embassy (1992) and A Country Practice. In 1998, she starred in the miniseries drama The Day of the Roses, in which she played a victim of the 1977 Granville rail disaster. She has also appeared in episodes of Five Mile Creek (1984), Rake (2010), Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (2013), and Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries (2019). In 2021, she played Birdie in The Unusual Suspects.
In 2024 Mitchell was named as part of the cast for the series The Narrow Road to the Deep North.[1] She was also named for Paramount Plus series Fake.[2]
Stage
Mitchell is a foundation director and board member of the Sydney Theatre Company (STC).[3] She first appeared at the STC in 1981 performing scenes of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1 with Andrew Tighe for a workshop.[4] She has since appeared in dozens of productions for several Australian theatre companies and has contributed to Terence Crawford's 2005 book Trade Secrets: Australian Actors and Their Craft.[5][6]
In 2022, Mitchell was announced to play Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the theatre play RBG: Of Many, One.[7] In 2024, Mitchell would again play Ginsburg for the 2024 Black Swan State Theatre Company season.[8] Critics called Mitchell's performance as Ginsburg as a 'tour de force'.[9]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1981 | Hoodwink | Nurse 2 | Feature film |
1985 | I Can't Get Started | Jill | TV film |
1986 | Malcolm | Barmaid | Feature film |
1987 | The Place at the Coast | Margot Ryan | Feature film |
1988 | The Everlasting Secret Family | Wife | Feature film |
1989 | The Water Trolley | TV film | |
1991 | Proof | Mother | Feature film |
1994 | Muriel's Wedding | Bridal manageress #1 | Feature film |
1995 | Bathing Boxes | 1st woman | Short film |
1996 | Children of the Revolution | Mrs. Savage | Feature film |
1997 | Thank God He Met Lizzie | Melanie | Feature film |
1998 | A Little Bit of Soul | Grace Michael | TV film |
2000 | On the Beach | British anchorwoman | TV film |
The Love of Lionel's Life | Det Sgt | TV film | |
2002 | Black and White | Roma Chamberlain | Feature film |
2003 | Travelling Light | Betty Ferris | Feature film |
2004 | The Brush-Off | Fiona Lambert | TV film |
2005 | Hell Has Harbour Views | Anne | TV film |
Da Kath & Kim Code | Heather | TV film | |
2006 | The Society Murders | Sally Honan | TV film |
Irresistible | Rina | Feature film | |
Mohammad Hossain's Intensive Care | Herself – Narrator | Documentary film | |
2007 | Romulus, My Father | Television presenter | Feature film |
Rogue | Elizabeth | Feature film | |
2008 | Three Blind Mice | Kathy | Feature film |
Seize the Day | Valentine | Short film | |
Emerald Falls | Catherine Reid | TV film | |
2009 | A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne | June Dally-Watkins | TV film |
2010 | A Love Story | Julia | Short film |
The Wedding Party | Rose | Feature film | |
Griff the Invisible | Bronwyn | Feature film | |
2011 | The Moment | Narrator (voice) | Short film |
Afterglow | Kate Whitcomb | Short film | |
The Eye of the Storm | June | Feature film | |
Snobs | Mother | TV film | |
Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away | Rose McMillan | TV film | |
2012 | The Fort | Joanna | Short film |
Census | Sue | Short film | |
The Red Valentine | The Mother | Short film | |
Sanctuary | Aunty / Nurse | Short film | |
Jack Irish: Bad Debts | Mrs. Vane | TV film | |
2013 | Ravage | Clare | Short film |
The Great Gatsby | Daisy's Mother | Feature film | |
The Fragments | Heather | Short film | |
2014 | Maya the Bee | Thekla the Spider / The Nurse (voice) | Animated feature film |
Love Is Now | Evelyn | Feature film | |
2015 | Drown | Helen | Feature film |
2016 | Unified | Janet Boyce | Short film |
2017 | Lets Get Marriage Equality in Australia | Herself | Short film |
2018 | Riot | Joan / Checkerboard Interviewer | TV film |
Dots | The Lady | Short film | |
Loud Thoughts | Valerie | Short film | |
Pimped | Sophia Hanson | Feature film | |
2019 | Palm Beach | Eva | Feature film |
2021 | Daddy's Perfect Little Girl | Fay Broward | TV film |
2022 | Bosch and Rockit | Wendy | Feature film |
Blaze | Jackie Stevens | Feature film | |
2023 | Jones Family Christmas | Heather Jones | TV film |
2024 | Ricky Stanicky | Leona | Feature film |
TBA† | Wedding of the Year | Eleanor | Pre-production |
† | Not yet released |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1981 | Cop Shop | Michelle Beasley | TV series, 1 episode |
1981 | Ratbags | Various characters | TV series, 1 episode |
1982 | A Country Practice | Peggy | TV series, 2 episodes |
1984 | Five Mile Creek | Jocelyn | TV series, 1 episode |
1984 | Bodyline | Edith Clarke | Miniseries |
1986 | Land of Hope | Helen Davies | Miniseries |
1986 | The Fast Lane | Eileen | TV series, 1 episode |
1989-95 | G.P. | Julia / Bianca Resteghini | TV series, 3 episodes |
1991 | Boys from the Bush | Joyce | TV series, 1 episode |
1992 | Embassy | Gillian | TV series, 1 episode |
1993 | Seven Deadly Sins | TV anthology series, 1 episode | |
A Country Practice | Dr. Simone Fox | TV series, 2 episodes | |
Clowning Around | Sarah Gunner | TV series, season 2 | |
1994 | The Ferals | Crystal | TV series, 1 episode |
Cody: A Family Affair | Inspector Genevieve Simmonds | TV film | |
Cody: The Tipof | Inspector Genevieve Simmonds | TV film | |
Cody: Bad Love | Inspector Genevieve Simmonds | TV film | |
1995 | Spellbinder | Ashka | TV series, 24 episodes |
1996 | Mercury | Erica Boyer | Miniseries, 1 episode |
1997 | Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord | Ashka | TV series |
1998 | FCTV | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
The Day of the Roses | Margaret Shuttler | Miniseries | |
Good Morning Australia | Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
2002 | All Saints | Louise Malloy | TV series, 1 episode |
2003 | Snobs | Mary | TV series, 1 episode |
2004 | Jessica | Ada Thomas | Miniseries |
2007 | Rain Shadow | Sarah Balfour | TV series - main role |
2008 | Blue Water High | Heather | TV series, 1 episode |
2009 | Rogue Nation | Elizabeth Macarthur | TV series, 1 episode |
Chandon Pictures | Agent | TV series, 1 episode | |
All Saints | Gemma McKenzie | TV series, 1 episode | |
2010 | Satisfaction | Georgia | TV series, 1 episode |
The Pacific | Mrs. Keller | Miniseries, 1 episode | |
Rake | Jan Chandler | TV series, 1 episode | |
2011 | Killing Time | Judge Hale | TV series, 2 episodes |
Crownies | Judge Walker | TV series, 8 episodes | |
Spirited | Helen Payne | TV series, 8 episodes | |
2012 | Dance Academy | Robyn | TV series, 1 episode |
Agony Aunts | Herself | TV series, 3 episodes | |
2013–18 | A Place to Call Home | Prudence Swanson | TV series, 22 episodes |
2013 | Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch War | Gretel Packer | Miniseries |
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Madame Fleuri | TV series, 1 episode | |
2014–2017 | Janet King | Justice Victoria Walker | TV series, 4 episodes |
2014–2017 | Starting From... Now! | Elizabeth Peters | TV series, 2 episodes |
2015 | Pypo | Web series, 1 episode | |
Shit Creek | Helen | Web series, 2 episodes | |
2016 | Molly | Pat Hatcher | Miniseries, 1 episode |
2017 | Newton's Law | Caroline Gale | TV series, 1 episode |
2018 | Away | Gwen | TV play |
2019 | Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries | Edwina Maddox | TV series, 1 episode |
Harrow | Louise Whitehall | TV series. 3 episodes | |
Reef Break | Maeve Devlin | TV series, 4 episodes | |
The Strange Chores | Inspector (voice) | TV series, 1 episode | |
2019, 2021 | Upright | Jen Flynn | TV series |
2020 | Grey Nomads | Ingrid | Web series |
The Secrets She Keeps | Jenny | Miniseries, 3 episodes | |
Operation Buffalo | Caroline Syddell | TV series, 2 episodes | |
2021 | Wakefield | Belle Knight | TV series, 2 episodes |
Homespun | Pamela Monterra | Miniseries | |
The Unusual Suspects | Birdie | Miniseries, 4 episodes | |
2022 | Darby and Joan | Rosemary | TV series, 3 episodes |
2022-23 | Love Me | Anita | Miniseries |
2023 | News Breakfast | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
Today Extra | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
Australian Story | Herself | l TV series, 1 episode | |
Gold Diggers | Colleen | TV series, 3 episodes | |
News Breakfast | Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
Luxury Escapes | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
2024 | Fake | TV series | |
The Narrow Road to the Deep North | Ella | TV series |
Stage
Year | Play | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | 1 Double-D | NIDA Theatre | |
1976 | Hay Fever | Judith Bliss | School production |
1978 | Gammer Gurton's Needle | NIDA Theatre | |
1979 | The Seagull | NIDA Theatre | |
1979 | Lower Depths | NIDA Theatre | |
1979 | The Caucasian Chalk Circle | Sydney Opera House | |
1979 | The Fire Raisers | NIDA Theatre | |
1979 | Beyond Mozambique | NIDA Theatre | |
1979 | Saved | Jane Street Theatre | |
1980 | The Women Pirates Ann Bonney and Mary Read | NIDA Theatre, University of Newcastle, Playhouse, Canberra | |
1980 | Strife | NIDA Theatre | |
1981 | Henry IV, Part 1 | Sydney Theatre Company workshop with Andrew Tighe | |
1981 | Roses in Due Season | Nimrod Theatre Company | |
1981 | Rare Words - Brave Deeds | Sydney Opera House) | |
1981 | The Revenger's Tragedy | Court Lady | Playhouse, Adelaide with State Theatre Company of South Australia |
1981 | No End of Blame | Playhouse, Adelaide | |
1982 | The Suicide | Nimrod Theatre Company | |
1982 | You Can't Take It with You | with Geoffrey Rush; written by George S. Kaufman, Moss Hart; at Sydney Opera House | |
1982 | Macbeth | Witch | with John Bell, Colin Friels, Hugo Weaving; directed by Richard Wherrett; at Sydney Opera House |
1982 | As You Desire Me [it] | with Peter Carroll, Hugo Weaving, Geoffrey Rush; written by Luigi Pirandello; at Sydney Opera House | |
1983 | The Fields of Heaven | with Lex Marinos: written by Dorothy Hewett; at Sydney Opera House | |
1983 | The Cherry Orchard | Vanya | with John Howard; written by Anton Chekhov |
1984 | The Lady from the Sea | Bolette | Playhouse, Adelaide with State Theatre Company of South Australia |
1984 | Private Lives | Amanda Prynne | Araluen Arts Centre & Playhouse, Adelaide with State Theatre Company of South Australia |
1985 | The Doll Trilogy: Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Kid Stakes & Other Times | Nancy | with Harold Hopkins; written by Ray Lawler; at Sydney Opera House & Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne |
1986 | No Worries | Wriiten by David Holman; adapted into a film in 1994; at Playhouse, Adelaide | |
1986 | She Stoops to Conquer | Kate Hardcastle | Playhouse, Melbourne |
1986 | Pravda | Rebecca Foley | Playbouse, Adelaide with State Theatre Company of South Australia |
1987 | Hamlet / Henry IV Part 1 | Sydney Theatre Company | |
1987 | No(h) Exit: No Exit, The Lady Aoi, Hanjo from Five Modern Noh Plays | Written by Jean-Paul Sartre & Yukio Mishima; at Wharf Theatre | |
1987 | Pericles | Wharf Theatre | |
1987 | Blood Relations | Cathy / Tessa | with John Wood; written by David Malouf; at Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company & Playhouse, Adelaide with State Theatre Company of South Australia |
1988 | 1841 | with Gillian Jones; written by Michael Gow; at Sydney Opera House & Playhouse, Adelaide | |
1989 | A Dream Play | directed by Göran Järvefelt; written by August Strindberg; at Playhouse, Adelaide & Sydney Opera House | |
1989 | Major Barbara | Playhouse Adelaide & Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane | |
1989 | All My Sons | directed by Gale Edwards; written by Arthur Miller; at Wharf Theatre | |
1989 | Ring Round the Moon | Playhouse, Adelaide | |
1990 | The Secret Rapture | Isobel Glass | with Hugo Weaving,Pamela Rabe; written by David Hare; at Wharf Theatre |
1990 | Burn This | with Richard Roxburgh; directed by Wayne Harrison: written by Lanford Wilson; at Wharf Theatre | |
1991 | Uncle Vanya | Yelena | Russell Street Theatre |
1991 | Morning Sacrifice | Miss Gwyn Carwithen | Russell Street Theatre |
1991 | Hay Fever | Myra Arundel | Playhouse, Melbourne |
1992 | The Homecoming | with Richard Roxburgh & Warren Mitchell; written by Harold Pinter; at The Wharf Theatre | |
1993 | Two Weeks with the Queen | directed by Wayne Harrison; at Playhouse, Adelaide | |
1993 | Coriolanus | with John Howard; at Sydney Opera House | |
1995 | Scenes from a Separation | Nina Moss | Fairfax Studio with Melbourne Theatre Company |
1997 | The Winter's Tale | Canberra Theatre, Sydney Opera House & Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne | |
1998 | A Delicate Balance | directed by Simon Phillips, with Michael Craig; written by Edward Albee; at Sydney Opera House | |
2000 | The White Devil | with Hugo Weaving, Angie Milliken; directed by Gale Edwards; written by John Webster; at Theatre Royal, Sydney | |
2001 | Bye Bye Birdie | Music: Charles Strouse, words: Lee Adams | |
2003 | The Real Thing | with Andrew Tighe; directed by Robyn Nevin; written by Tom Stoppard; at Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company | |
2007 | Self Esteem | with Toby Schmitz; written & directed by Brendan Cowell; at Wharf Theatre | |
2008 | Tender | Yvonne | The Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga & Stables Theatre, Belvoir Street Theatre |
2008 | Hamlet | Gertrude | with Brendan Cowell & Barry Otto; directed by Marion Potts; at Sydney Opera House & Playhouse, Melbourne |
2008 | Ghosts | Helene | Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide |
2010 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Titania | Sydney Symphony Orchestra[10] |
2010 | True West | Mom | directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman; written by Sam Shepard |
2011 | Neighbourhood Watch | Christina | with Robyn Nevin & Kris McQuade; directed by Simon Stone; written by Lally Katz; at Belvoir Street Theatre[11] |
2012 | Never Did Me Any Harm | with Marta Dusseldorp; directed by Kate Champion; devised by Force Majeure | |
2012 | Les Liaisons Dangereuses | Madame Volanges | with Hugo Weaving, Justine Clarke & Pamela Rabe; directed by Sam Strong; written by Christopher Hampton; at Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company |
2012 | Signs of Life | Georgie Jutland | Sydney Opera House |
2013 | The History Boys | Mrs Lintott | Sydney Opera House |
2013 | Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead | Gertrude | written by Tom Stoppard; at Sydney Theatre |
2014 | Strictly Ballroom | Shirley Hastings | written by Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce & Terry Johnson; at Sydney Lyric Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne & Lyric Theatre, Brisbane |
2016 | Hay Fever | Judith Bliss | written by Noël Coward; at Sydney Opera House |
2016 | The Hansard Monologues: Age of Entitlement | Seymour Centre, Bruce Gordon Theatre, Wollongong, Glen Street Theatre, Old Parliament House, Canberra | |
2017 | Away | Gwen | directed by Matthew Lutton; written by Michael Gow; at Sydney Opera House & Malthouse Theatre |
2017 | Cloud Nine | Edward / Betty | directed by Kip Williams; written by Caryl Churchill; at Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company [12] |
2017-18 | You Animal, You | Mum | Track 12 at Carriageworks |
2018 | Top Girls | Pope Joan / Louise | written by Caryl Churchill; at Sydney Opera House |
2018 | Still Point Turning: The Catherine McGregor Story | Cate McGregor | written by Priscilla Jackman; at Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company |
2018 | The Harp in the South, Part One and Part Two | Eny Kilker | directed by Kip Williams; written by Ruth Park & Kate Mulvany |
2019-20 | The Iliad - Out Loud | Belvoir Street Theatre, Scott Theatre, Adelaide | |
2020 | Escaped Alone | Belvoir Street Theatre | |
2020 | Away | Online (NSW / VIC) | |
2021 | Playing Beatie Bow | Granny | Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company |
2022-24 | RBG: Of Many, One | Ruth Bader Ginsburg | written by Suzie Miller; at Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company |
[13]
Awards and nominations
Year | Work | Award | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Afterglow (short film) | NYC International Film Festival Award for Best Lead Actress | Won | [14] |
2012 | The Red Valentine (short film) | NYC International Film Festival Award for Best Lead Actress | Won | [14] |
2014 | Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch War (for 'Part 1') | AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama | Nominated | [15] |
2014 | Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch War (for 'Part 1') | Equity Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries or Telemovie | Nominated | |
2019 | Significant Service to the Performing Arts, and to the Community | Member of the Order of Australia (AM) | Won | [14] |
2022 | Love Me | Silver Logie Award for Most Outstanding Supporting Actress | Won | |
2022 | Love Me | AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama | Nominated | |
2022 | Homespun | Septimus Award for Best Oceanian Actress | Nominated | |
2023 | RBG: Of Many, One (as Ruth Bader Ginsberg) | Sydney Theatre Award for Best Performer in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production | Won | [16] |
2024 | Love Me | AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama | Won | [17] |
Publications
- Heather Mitchell (2023) Everything and Nothing ISBN 9781761067303
Personal life
Mitchell met cinematographer Martin McGrath in 1989, they were engaged in the following year and married in February 1992.[18] The couple have two adult children and reside in Sydney.[18]
Mitchell was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day Honours for "significant service to the performing arts, and to the community."[19]
References
- ^ "Production begins on The Narrow Road to the Deep North | TV Tonight". 20 November 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "2024 Upfronts: 10 / Paramount+ | TV Tonight". 24 October 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Board and Staff", Sydney Theatre Company
- ^ "Archive: Heather Mitchell". STC Magazine. Sydney Theatre Company. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "Heather Mitchell". The Australian Live Performance Database. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ Crawford, Terence (2005). Trade Secrets: Australian Actors and Their Craft. Currency Press. ISBN 9780868197630.
- ^ Krasnostein, Sarah (17 April 2024). "The role of RBG was written for Heather Mitchell. It's easy to understand why". The Age. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "From oval to pool: Black Swan Theatre releases 2024 program". The West Australian. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ Brown, Phil (19 May 2024). "All the way with RBG: a one-woman tour de force". InReview. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Agony Aunts - ABC TV". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Neighbourhood Watch, productions". Belvoir. July–August 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ John McCallum (10 July 2017). "Politics of sexual identity disturbing in Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine". The Australian. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Heather Mitchell". Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ a b c "HEATHER MITCHELL AM" (PDF). Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "3rd AACTA Awards Ceremony Winners Announced" (PDF) (Press release). Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ Pitt, Helen (23 January 2023). "From Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Mary Poppins: Sydney Theatre Awards winners". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/02/aacta-awards-2024-winners.html [bare URL]
- ^ a b Abadee, Nicole (17 September 2021). "Two of Us with Actor Heather Mitchell and Cinematographer Martin McGrath". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ Stehle, Mark (25 January 2020). "Australia Day Honours 2020: Full list of recipients". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
External links
- Official website
- Heather Mitchell at IMDb
- "Heather Mitchell" by Melanie Tait, One Plus One, 3 October 2019, ABC News
- v
- t
- e
- Nadine Garner (2003)
- Amanda Harrison (2004)
- Amanda Muggleton (2005)
- Christen O'Leary (2006)
- Colleen Hewett (2007)
- Sharon Millerchip (2008)
- Nancye Hayes (2009)
- Christina O'Neill (2010)
- Esther Hannaford (2011)
- Nancye Hayes (2012)
- Helen Dallimore (2013)
- Heather Mitchell (2014)
- Kerrie Anne Greenland (2015)
- Elise McCann (2016)
- Robyn Nevin (2017)
- Amy Lehpamer (2018)
- Elaine Crombie (2019)