Jimi Bani

Jimi Bani

Jimi Bani is a 2007 graduate from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Before attending drama school, Jimi played a regular role in the SBS series R.A.N (Remote Area Nurse) shooting in northern Australia and since graduating Jimi has had many leading roles across theatre and television.

Theatrical plays include the lead role in Jandamarra (dir: Tom Gutteridge) for Black Swan Theatre Company, Romeo and Juliet (dir: Wayne Blair) for Sydney Theatre Company, Peter Pan (dir: Ralph Myers) and Yibiyung (dir: Wesley Enoch) for Belvoir Theatre, The Dragon (dir: Marion Potts) for Malthouse Theatre and Krakouer! (dir: Marcelle Schmitz) for Deckchair Theatre. He has also performed in the theatrical production of The Sapphires, for both Black Swan Theatre Company (dir: Wesley Enoch) and for Belvoir St Theatre (dir: Neil Armfield). Belvoir went on to tour the show to both London and Korea which Jimi was a part of.  Jimi performed the role of Edmund for Malthouse Theatre’s Shadow King, playing seasons across Australia and at the Barbican Theatre in London. In 2016 he was busy, performing in Title and Deed (Belvoir St Theatre), Storm Boy (STC) and Half & Half (Jute Theatre Co). Most recently he played Ejlert Lovborg in Hedda (QT) and Othello in Othello (QT).

In television, Jimi played a leading role in the ABC television series The Straits (dirs: Peter Andrikidis, Rowan Woods and Rachel Ward) for Matchbox Pictures. He then went on to play the title role in the telefeature Mabo (dir: Rachel Perkins) which screened on the ABC as well as having a special screening at the Sydney Film Festival in 2012. Most recently he has appeared in Blue Water Empire, Ready for This, Redfern Now, and the latest series of Black Comedy, currently available to watch on ABC iView.

Jimi received the 2013 Equity Ensemble Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television or Miniseries (Mabo) and the 2012 Deadly Award for Actor of the Year (Mabo and The Straits); and the 2012 BOFA Award for Best Actor (Mabo and The Straits). Jimi also has 6 acting nominations to his name – a 2017 National Dreamtime Award for Best Male Actor, 2014 Helpmann Award Nominee for Best Male Actor (Shadow King); 2012 Silver Logie nomination for Most Outstanding Actor in a Television Drama (Mabo); a 2012 AACTA nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama (Mabo); a 2009 Helpmann Nomination for Best Supporting Actor (Yibiyung) and a 2008 WA Equity Foundation Nomination for Best Newcomer (Jandamarra).

Jimi Bani

Television

BLACK SNOW
Role: Joe Baker. Dir: Sian Davies Matthew Saville, Goal Post Pictures / Stan 2022
BLACK COMEDY (Series 4)
Role: Officer Ed. Scarlett Picures / ABC 2020
BLUE WATER EMPIRE
Roles: Kebisu, Dupa, Wilfred Baira. Lonestar Productions / ABC 2019
BLACK COMEDY (Series 2)
Role: Regg & Uncle Jimmy. Dir: Various, Scarlett Pictures / ABC 2016
READY FOR THIS
Role: Nat Brockman. Dir: Daina Reid, Big Chance Films 2015
THE PEOPLE SPEAK
Contributing speaker. WTF Television
REDFERN NOW
Role: Peter Gibson. Dir: Wayne Blair, Blackfella Films 2012
MABO
Role: Koiki ‘Eddie’ Mabo (Lead). Dir: Rachel Perkins, Blackfella Films 2012
THE STRAITS
Role: Marou (Lead). Dir: Various, Bala Pictures / ABC 2012
R.A.N (Remote Area Nurses)
Role: Solomon Gaibui. Dir: David Caesar / Catriona McKenzie, SBS 2006

Theatre

EVERY BRILLIANT THING
Role: Narrator Dir. Yasmin Gurreeboo, STCSA 2023
THE RETURN
Role: Warrior. Dir: Jason Tamiru, Matthew Lutton, Malthouse Theatre / Rising 2022
WHO’S AFRAID OF THE VIRGINIA WOOLF
Role: George. Dir: Margaret Harvey, State Theatre Company South Australia 2021
OTHLLO
Role: Othello. Dir: Jason Klarwein, Queensland Theatre 2021
HEDDA
Role: Ejlert Lovborg. Dir: Paige Rattray, Queensland Theatre 2018
MY NAME IS JIMI
Role: Jimi. Queensland Theatre, Belvoir St, Norther Peninsula Area Regional Council, Melbourne Festival 2017/2018
TITLE AND DEED
Role: Man. Dir: Jada Alberts, Company B 2016
SHADOW KING
Role: Edmund. Dir: Michael Kantor, Barbican Theatre London 2016
STORM BOY
Role: Fingerbone Bill. Dir: John Sheedy, Sydney Theatre Co 2015
SHADOW KING
Role; Edmund. Dir: Michael Kantor, Malthouse Theatre 2013
THE DRAGON
Role: Lancelot. Dir: Marion Potts, Malthouse Theatre 2013
HALF & HALF
Role: Co-Lead. Dir: Suellen Maunder, Co-produced by Jute Theatre Co & Lone Star Productions 2013
PETER PAN
Roles: John & Pirate. Dir: Ralph Myers, Company B 2012/2013
THE SAPPHIRES (Remount & London Tour)
Role: Jimmy. Dir. Neil Armfield, Company B 2011
THE SAPPHIRES (Korea Tour)
Role: Jimmy. Dir: Wesley Enoch, Black Swan Theatre Co 2010
THE SAPPHIRES
Role: Jimmy. Dir: Wesley Enoch, Black Swan Theatre Co 2010
KRAKOUER!
Role: Jimmy. Dir: Marcelle Schmitz, Deckchair Theatre WA 2010
YIBIYUNG
Role: Smiley. Dir: Wesley Enoch, Company B & Malthouse 2008
PLAYWRITING AUSTRALIA
Roles: Various. National Script Workshop, Canberra 2008
ROMEO AND JULIET
Role: Tybalt & Friar. Dir: Wayne Blair, Sydney Theatre / ED program 2008
JANDAMARRA
Role: Jandamarra. Dir: Tom Gutteridge, Black Swan Theatre Company 2008
UNAUSTRALIA
Role: Mannie. Dir: Andrew Lewis, WAAPA
LOVE & HUMAN REMAINS
Role: Robert. Dir: John Sheedy, WAAPA
THE COUNTRY REMAINS
Role: Mr Sparkish. Dir: Chris Edmund, WAAPA
THE WINTERS TALE
Role: Florizel. Dir: Leith McPherson, WAAPA
STORIES FROM SUBURBAN ROAD
Role: Tom. Dir: David Ryding, WAAPA
THREE SISTERS
Role: Chebutykin. Dir: Rhys McConnochie, WAAPA
DREAM PLAY
Role: Poet. Dir: Lisa Scott-Murphy, WAAPA

Film

A THIN BLACK LINE (Virtual Reality)
Role: Voice. Frog Hollow VR Pty Ltd

Awards / Nominations

THE NATIONAL DREAMTIME AWARDS Nominee – Best Male Actor (2017)
HELPMANN AWARDS Nominee – Best Male Actor in a supporting role for Shadow King (2014)
EQUITY ENSEMBLE AWARDS Winner – Outstanding performance by an ensemble in a telemovie or mini-series for Mabo (2013)
AACTA AWARDS Nominee – Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama for Mabo (2012)
BOFA AWARDS Winner – Best Actor for Mabo & The Straits (2012)
DEADLY AWARDS Winner – Male Actor of the Year for Mabo & The Straits (2012)
HELPMANN AWARDS Nominee – Best Supporting Actor for Yibiyung (2009)
WA EQUITY FOUNDATION Nominee – Best Newcomer (2008)

Training

Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts Drama course (WAAPA) – Graduated 2007

 

Media

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