Debra is an AACTA and Logie Award-winning actor, who graduated from NIDA in 1977 and holds a degree in Dramatic Art – her classmates included Mel Gibson and Judy Davis. Debra has worked successfully in theatre, film and television since.

The highlights of her extensive television work include the lead role of Pat in two seasons of the ground-breaking ABC comedy series The Fast Lane written by John Clark and Andrew Knight, the long-running role of kindly foster mother Pippa in the hugely popular series Home and Away, and the role of Rose in all four seasons of Josh Thomas’ critically acclaimed series Please Like Me. Debra was awarded the 2015 AACTA Award (Australian Academy award) for Best Performance in a Television Comedy and the 2017 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role in Please Like Me.

Debra’s other TV work includes roles on Class of ’07, Five Bedrooms (Series 3), Fisk, Neighbours, Get Krack!n (Series 2), Rosehaven (Series 3), True Story With Hamish & Andy, The Doctor Blake Mysteries (Season 4), Wentworth (Series 4), House Husbands (Series 4), and Hell’s Kitchen Australia where she put her cooking skills to the test as a contestant and eventual winner.

Debra’s film highlights include the highly enjoyable experiences of working with Tom Conti in Two Brothers Running, with Meryl Streep in Evil Angels (aka A Cry in the Dark) and the highly regarded The Jammed.

Debra’s theatre credits include the role of M’Lynn in the 2009 Australian tour of Steel Magnolias; the title role in the 2010 national tour of Driving Miss Daisy and Letitia Blacklock in the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane 2013/14 seasons of A Murder Is Announced. More recently she has been playing Professor McGonagall in the Australian production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Debra has also been teaching vocal communication skills to women in the workplace – a role she is finding incredibly satisfying.

Debra married her Home and Away co-star Dennis Coard in 1992; they have two beautiful children, Grace and William, and live in rural bliss east of Melbourne.

Awards

Most Outstanding Supporting Actress – Please Like Me, TV Week Logie Awards 2017
Best Performance in a Television Comedy – Please Like Me Series Two, AACTA Awards 2015

Television

SILVER
Role: Denise. Dir: Ben Young. Easy Tiger Productions Pty Ltd | Stan, 2024
GOOD COP BAD COP
Role: Patricia. Dir: Various. Jungle Entertainment | Stan, 2024
DARBY AND JOAN (Series 2)
Role: Anna Bairnsdale. Dir: Various. CJZ | Acorn Media, 2024
IM A CELEBRITY…GET ME OUT OF HERE!
Herself. Paramount | Ten Network, 2023
HUMAN ERROR
Role: Camille.  Dir. Fiona Banks, Roadshow Rough Diamond, Nine Network 2023
FIVE BEDROOMS (Series 4)
Role: Pam Fitzsimons.  Dir. Peter Templeman, Hoodlum / Paramount+ 2023
CLASS OF ’07
Role: Sister Bicky. Dir: Kacie Anning, Matchbox /Amazon 2023
FIVE BEDROOMS (Series 3)
Role: Pam Fitzsimons. Dir: Craig Irvin & Peter Templeman, Hoodlum / Network 10 2022
FISK
Role: May. Dir: Kitty Flanagan & Tom Peterson, Entitled Productions 2020
NEIGHBOURS
Role: Liz Conway. Dir: Various, Network TEN 2018-2019
GET KRACK!N (Series 2)
Role: Tikki Cheeseman. Dir: Hayden Guppy, Get Krack!n Series Two Pty Ltd 2019
ROSEHAVEN (Series 3)
Role: Sandra. Dir: Jonathan Brough & Shaun Wilson, Rosehaven Series 3 P/L 2019
TRUE STORY WITH HAMISH & ANDY (Season 2)
Role: Aunt Beth Dir: Various. True Story Season 2 Pty Ltd 2018
PLAY SCHOOL STORY TIME
Guest Reader / Presenter. Dir: Karin Fitzhardinge, ABC TV 2017
HELL’S KITCHEN AUSTRALIA
Contestant. Seven Network 2017
PLEASE LIKE ME (Series 4)
Role: Rose. Dir: Matthew Saville, Pigeon Fancier / John & Josh Pty Ltd 2016
THE DOCTOR BLAKE MYSTERIES (Season 4)
Role: Mrs Gilmore. Dir: Fiona Banks, January Productions Pty Ltd 2015
WENTWORTH (Series 4)
Role: Faith Proctor. Dir: Various, Fremantle Media Australia Pty Ltd 2015
PLEASE LIKE ME (Series 3)
Role: Rose. Dir: Matthew Saville, Pigeon Fancier / John & Josh Pty Ltd 2015
HOUSE HUSBANDS (Series 4)
Role: Judge Allison Kummerow. Dir: Various, Playmaker HH4 SPV Pty Ltd 2015
PLEASE LIKE ME (Series 2)
Role: Rose. Dir: Matthew Saville, Pigeon Fancier / John & Josh Pty Ltd 2014
IT’S A DATE
Guest. Dir: Jonathan Brough/ Peter Helliar, Princess Pictures, 2013
PLEASE LIKE ME
Role: Rose. Dir: Matthew Saville, Pigeon Fancier / John & Josh Pty Ltd 2012
MISS FISHER’S MURDER MYSTERIES
Role: Mrs Mobbs. Dir: David Caesar, ABC TV, 2011
HOME AND AWAY
Role: Pippa Ross. Dir: Various, Seven Network, 2007-2008
BLUE HEELERS
Role: Rev. Grace Curtis. Dir: Various, Seven Network, 2001
HOME AND AWAY
Role: Pippa Ross. Dir: Various, Seven Network, 1990-1998
THE FAST LANE
Role: Pat. Dir: Various, ABC Melbourne, 1985-1987
PRISONER
Role: Daphne Graham. Dir: Various, Grundy TV; 1985
THE LAST OUTLAW
Role: Maggie Kelly. Dir: George Miller and Kevin Dobson, Seven Network; 1980

Film

RICKY STANICKY
Role: Mrs Levine. Dir: Peter Farrelly, Ricky Productions Pty Ltd / Amazon 2023
AND THOUGH THE MUSIC ENDED, WE DANCED ON THROUGH THE NIGHT (Short)
Role: Joanne. Dir: Nick Pollack, Buff Productions 2016
THE DEATH & LIFE OF OTTO BLOOM
Role: Nell Allen. Dir: Cris Jones, Otto Bloom Optimism Film Pty Ltd 2015
THE JAMMED
Role: Dimia Officer. Dir: Dee Maclachlan 2006
TWO BROTHERS RUNNING
Role: Anne. Dir: Ted Robinson 1987
EVIL ANGELS (A Cry In The Dark – Overseas Title)
Role: Sally Lowe. Dir: Fred Schepisi, Evil Angel Films Pty Ltd, 1987
SILVER CITY
Role: Helena. Dir: Sophia Turkiewicz Limelight Productions, 1983
FLUTE MAN
Role: Sally Cooper. Independent Productions 1982
BEFORE THE LIGHT IS OUT
Role: Carol. SIS Productions 1981

Stage

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Role: Ghost of Christmas Past. Dir: Jack Thorne | GWB Entertainment, 2023
ESCAPED ALONE
Role: Vi Dir: Anne-Louise Sarks | Melbourne Theatre Company, 2023
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Role: Ghost of Christmas Past. Dir: Matthew Warchus | GWB Entertainment, 2022
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD
Role: Performer. Dir: John Tiffany | Michael Cassel Group Pty Ltd, 2019
A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED
Role: Letitia Blacklock. Dir: Darren Yap | Australian Tour 2013-2015
DRIVING MISS DAISY
Role: Daisy Werthan. Dir: Dennis Moore | HIT Productions, 2010
STEEL MAGNOLIAS
Role: M’Lynn Eatenton. Dir: Darren Yap | Blackbird Productions, 2009
QUILTING THE ARMOUR
Role: Ellen Kelly. Glenrowan/Old Melbourne Gaol, 2005
SECOND CHILDHOOD
Hothouse Tour 2004
MEMORY OF WATER
Role: Vi. Dir: Julian Meyrick MTC, 2004
SYLVIA
Role: Kate. MTC 1998
BROTHERS KARAMAZOV
Role: Katarina. Dir: Bogdan Koca, Thalia, 1989
FIRST BORN TRILOGY – NO SUGAR
Role: Secretary-Missionary. Dir: Andrew Ross, Marli Biyol – Tour To London, 1988