Leah Purcell, AM, is an internationally acclaimed Actor, Director, Producer and Writer on stage and screen and a proud Goa-Gunggari-Wakka Wakka Murri woman from Queensland, Australia.

Leah stars opposite Sigourney Weaver in the recent Amazon Prime Video limited series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Amazon Studios/Endeavor Content/Made Up Stories). She also stars in both the drama series High Country (Curio Pictures/Foxtel/Binge), and the feature film Shayda (Executive Producer, Cate Blanchett) which had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. As one of Australia’s most in demand actors, Leah has appeared in films such as The Last Cab to Darwin, Lantana, Jindabyne and The Proposition and in TV series such as Wentworth, Police Rescue, Redfern Now and Janet King.

Leah’s debut feature film, The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, had its world premiere screening in competition at SxSW 2021 and was released theatrically in the US by Samuel Goldwyn Films. Based on her multi-award winning play The Drover’s Wife, Leah produced, directed, wrote and stars in the film, winning the 2022 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Award for Best Lead Actress in Film, 2022 Australian Directors’ Guild Award for Best Direction in a Feature Film, 2023 Film Critics Circle of Australia Award (FCCA) for Best Actress, 2021 Asia Pacific Screen Award Grand Jury Prize and 2021 Australian Screen Industry Network Award (ASIN) for Best Writer/Screenplay.

Leah also directed 2 chapters of the recent anthology feature film Here Out West which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in 2021.

The Drover’s Wife play premiered at Belvoir in 2016 and swept the awards season winning Best New Australian Work, Best Play, Best Direction and Best Sound Design at the 2016 Sydney Theatre Awards and Best New Australian Work, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Play at the 2017 Helpmann Awards. The script was awarded Best Stage Play, the David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Writing and the Major Award at the 2017 Australian Writers’ Guild Awards. Leah has also adapted the story into a novel of the same name which was published by Penguin Random House in 2019 and has recently been translated and released in China.

Leah has also worked extensively as a TV director and writer, setting up My Life Is Murder (Network Ten/CJZ) starring Lucy Lawless. She was also the set-up director on the hit series Secret Daughter (Seven Network/Screentime) and directed 5 episodes of the critically acclaimed genre series Cleverman (ABC/Goalpost) which was broadcast in the US on Sundance TV and in the UK on BBC3 and directed 2 episodes of the critically acclaimed series Redfern Now for ABC and has written 2 episodes on the  AACTA Award winning series, The Twelve (Warner Bros International Television), Redfern Now, Love Child and Ready For This.

Film

LUNA & THE BRAIN TUNA (Short)
Role: Fisherwoman Jane. Dir: Aaron Lucas, Cosmic Scream Pty Ltd | 2024
SHAYDA
Role: Joyce. Dir: Noora Niasari, Origma Productions Pty Ltd 2022
THE DROVER’S WIFE THE LEGEND OF MOLLY JOHNSON
Role: Molly Johnson. Dir: Leah Purcell, Bunya Productions 2020
THE LAST CAB TO DARWIN
Role: Sonya. Dir: Jeremy Sims, Last Cab Productions 2015
THE DARKSIDE
Role: Brenda. Dir: Warwick Thornton. The Darkside Project P/L 2013
MY MISTRESS
Role: Audrey. Dir: Stephen Lance, Mini Studios 2014
SHE. SAY (Short)
Role: Lead. Dir: Leah Purcell, premiered at Sydney Film Festival 2012
TOMORROW
Role: Laura. Dir: Simon Portus. Swing Wing P/L 2009
JINDABYNE
Role: Carmel (Main cast). Dir: Ray Lawrence, April Films 2006
THE PROPOSITION
Role: Queenie (Main cast). Dir: John Hillcoat, Producer: Robert Jones 2005
PREJUDICE
Role: Leah. Dir: Nathan Ramsay, Tropfest Film 2005
SOMERSAULT **Winner, AFI Best Film Award 2004
Role: Diane. Dir: Cate Shortland, Producer: Jan Chapman 2004
LENNIE CAHILL SHOOTS THROUGH
Role: Dr Sarah Lancaster. Dir: Paul Oliver, Producer: Charlie Doane 2003
BEGINNINGS *Winner, Dendy Short Film Award 2002
Role: Constable. Dir: Husein Alicajic, Sydney Film Festival 2002
LANTANA **Winner, AFI Best Film Award 2001
Role: Detective Claudia Weiss (Leading role). Dir: Ray Lawrence, Jan Chapman Productions 2001
SOMEWHERE IN THE DARKNESS
Role: Lulu. Dir: Paul Fenech, Livewire Films 1999
BOX (Short)
Role: Anna (lead role). Dir: Catriona McKenzie, ABC TV 1997
PATHOLOGY MAN (Short)
Role: Leigh Sherrie. Dir: Paul Fenech

Television

HIGH COUNTRY
Role: Andrea Whitford. Dir: Beck Cole & Kevin Carlin, Curio Pictures | Binge, 2023
LOOKING BLACK  (Documentary)
Role: Herself. ABC, 2022
THE LOST FLOWERS OF ALICE HART
Role: Twig. Dir: Gwendyn Ivin, Made Up Stories & Endeavor Content | Amazon Studios, 2022
WENTWORTH (Series 8)
Role: Rita Connors. Dir: Various, Fremantle Media | Foxtel, 2020
WENTWORTH (Series 7)
Role: Rita Connors. Dir: Various, Fremantle Media | Foxtel, 2019
WENTWORTH (Series 6)
Role: Rita Connors. Dir: Various, Fremantle Media | Foxtel, 2018
BLACK COMEDY (Series 3)
Role: Guest Cast. Dir: Beck Cole & Steven McGregor, Scarlett Pictures | ABC, 2018
BLACK COMEDY (Series 2)
Role: Detective Graham (SCU) & Aunty Mary (The Elders). Dir: Beck Cole & Erica Glynn, Scarlett Pictures / ABC 2017
JANET KING (Series 2)
Role: Heather (main cast). Dir: Peter Andrikidis, Screentime / ABC 2016
LOVE CHILD (Series 3)
Role: Daisy. Dir: Geoff Bennett & Grant Brown, Playmaker / Nine Network 2016
CLEVERMAN
Role: Helen. Goalpost Pictures / ABC 2016
MARY: THE MAKING OF A PRINCESS (Telemovie)
Role: Toni Klan. Dir: Jennifer Leacey, Fremantle Media 2015
HOUSE OF HANCOCK
Role: Hilde Kickett. Dir. Mark Joffe, CJZ / Arresting Television / Nine Network 2015
LOVE CHILD (Series 2)
Role: Daisy. Dir: Lynn-Maree Danzey, Playmaker / Nine Network 2015
THE AGONY OF MODERN MANNERS
Guest interviewee. Highwire Films / ABC 2014
REDFERN NOW (Series 2) “Pokies”
Role: Grace. Dir: Beck Cole, Blackfella Films / ABC 2013
REDFERN NOW (Series 1) “Family”
Role: Grace (Lead). Dir: Catriona McKenzie, Blackfella Films / ABC 2012
MY PLACE
Role: Ellen. Dir: Shawn Seet, Little Leaf Pictures 2009
McLEODS DAUGHTERS
Role: Terri Barker (Lead guest). Dir: Arnie Custo, Millennium 2008
LOVE MY WAY (Series 3)
Role: Caroline (semi regular). Dir: Shirley Barrett & Ian Watson, Southern Star 2007
STARTER WIFE
Role: Hannah Sprints. Dir: Jon Avnet, NBC / Hay Pop Pty Ltd 2007
BAD COP, BAD COP (Series 1)
Role: Lorraine Simpson. Dir: Cate Shortland, Southern Star 2002
BEASTMASTER (Series 3)
Role: The Black Apparition. Dir: Colin Budds, Coote Hayes Productions 2001
BEASTMASTER (Series 2)
Role: The Black Apparition. Dir: Colin Budds, Coote Hayes Productions 2001
THE LOST WORLD (Series 2)
Role: Witch Doctor. Dir: Colin Budds, Telescene Film Group Productions 2001
BEASTMASTER (Series 1)
Role: The Black Apparition. Dir: Ian Gilmour & Pino Amenta, Coote Hayes Productions 2000
WATER RATS (Series 3)
Role: Sarah Lane. Dir: Chris Martin-Jones, Southern Star 1998
FALLEN ANGELS (Series 1)
Role: Sharon Walker (lead). Dir: Various, ABC TV 1997
GP (Series 8)
Role: Donna. Dir: Tony Tilse, Roadshow Coote & Carroll, 1996
POLICE RESCUE (Series 5)
Role: Constable Tracy Davis (Main cast). Dir: Various, Southern Star 1996

Online

KRYSTAL KLAIRVOYANT
Role: Deborah. Dir: Erin Good, Example Content 2022

Theatre

THE DROVER’S WIFE
Role: Lead. Dir: Leticia Cáceres, Company B Belvoir 2016
RADIANCE
Role: Cressey. Dir: Leah Purcell, Company B Belvoir 2015
DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN
Role: Ruby. Co-writer & Dir: Leah Purcell, Downstairs Belvoir 2012
THE DARK ROOM
Role: Anni. Dir. Leticia Cáceres, Company B Belvoir 2011
BLOOD WEDDING
Role: The Mother. Dir: Ian Sinclair, Sydney Theatre Co. 2011
THE STORY OF MIRACLES AT COOKIES TABLE
Role: Annie (Lead role). Dir: Leah Purcell, QPAC 2010
KING LEAR
Role: Regan. Dir: Marion Potts, Bell Shakespeare Company 2010
WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING
Role: Gabrielle Law. Dir: Michael Attenborough, Almeida Theatre London 2009
AN OAK TREE (Opening night)
Role: The other person. Dir: Tanya Goldberg, Downstairs Belvoir 2008
THE STORY OF MIRACLES AT COOKIE’S TABLE
Role:  Annie (Lead role). Dir: Marion Potts, Griffin Theatre Co 2007
PARRAMATTA GIRLS
Role: Marlene. Dir: Wesley Enoch, Company B Belvoir Street Theatre 2007
THE GOOD BODY
One Woman Show. Dir: Caroline Stacey, Adrian Bohm Presents, for Adelaide Fringe Festival 2006
STICKYBRICKS
Role: Various. Dir: Scott Rankin, Big hART / Sydney Festival 2006
STUFF HAPPENS
Role: Dr Condeleeza Rice. Dir: Neil Armfield, Company B & Comedy Theatre, Melb 2005
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
Benefit Performance. World V Day, NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney, Australia 2005
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
Main cast. Dir: Leah Purcell, Harold Blair Theatre, Cherbourg, Qld 2004
BOX THE PONY
Role: Leah/Steff. Dir: Sean Mee. Theatre Row, Broadway, New York, USA
BEASTY GIRL: The Secret Life of Errol Flynn
Role: Errol Flynn. Dir: Scott Rankin, Melb Int Arts 2003
BLACK CHICKS TALKING
Role: Elizabeth. Dir: Leah Purcell & Sean Mee. Perth Int Arts Festival 2003
BLACK CHICKS TALKING
Role: Elizabeth. Dir: Leah Purcell & Sean Mee. Playhouse, Syd Opera House Festival 2003
BLACK CHICKS TALKING
Role: Elizabeth. Dir: Leah Purcell & Sean Mee. World Premiere, QLD Perf Arts Centre 2002
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
Cast: Leah Purcell, Judy Nunn & Denise Roberts. NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney
NOWHERE
Role: Vonnie. Dir: Aubrey Mellor, Beckett Theatre, Malthouse. Melbourne International Arts Fest 2001
BOX THE PONY
Role: Leah/Steff. Dir: Sean Mee, Barbican Centre BITE: Arts Fest London 2000
BOX THE PONY
Role: Leah/Steff. Dir: Sean Mee, Playhouse, SOH, Message Sticks Festival 2000
BOX THE PONY
Role: Leah/Steff. Dir: Sean Mee, Cremorne Theatre, QLD Perf Arts Centre 2000
BOX THE PONY
Role: Leah/Steff. Dir: Sean Mee, Company B, Belvoir St. Theatre, Sydney 1999
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
Cast: Leah Purcell, Tracey Mann & Brooke Satchwell. Valhalla Cinema, Syd
THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO
Role: Suzanne (lead). Dir: Neil Armfield, Drama Theatre, SOH Olympic Arts Fest 1998
BOX THE PONY
Role: Leah/Steff. Dir: Sean Mee, VIC Arts Centre, Melb Int Arts Festival 1998
BOX THE PONY
Role: Leah/Steff. Dir: Sean Mee, Barracks, Edinburgh Arts Festival, UK
BOX THE PONY
Role: Leah/Steff. Dir: Sean Mee, Civic Theatre, Perth Int Arts Festival
THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO
Role: Suzanne. Dir: Neil Armfield, Optus Playhouse, QLD PerfArts Centre 1998
BOX THE PONY
Role: Leah/Steff. Dir: Sean Mee, Odeon Theatre, Adelaide Int Arts Fest
BOX THE PONY
Role: Leah/Steff. Dir: Sean Mee, *World Premiere, Syd Opera House, Festival of Dreaming 1997
STATION 2:  Eye of Another
Role: Lucy (Lead role), Odeon Theatre, Adelaide International Arts Festival 1996
LOW
Role: Emma, Dir: Sean Mee, Writer: Daniel Keene, La Boite Theatre 1994
BRAN NUE DAE
Role: Marijuana Annie (Leading role), Dir: Andrew Ross, National Tour Australia 1993

Writer

THE TWELVE
Episodes 3 & 7. Warner Bros. Entertainment / Foxtel 2022
THE DROVER’S WIFE
Screenplay. Bunya Productions 2020
THE DROVER’S WIFE
Novel. Penguin Randomhouse 2019
THE DROVER’S WIFE
Stage play. Belvoir Street Theatre 2016
READY FOR THIS
Television show. Blackfella Films 2015
REDFERN NOW (Series 2)
Episode: Consequences. Blackfella Films 2013
DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN
Stage play, Co-writer with Eamon Flack. Belvoir Street Downstairs Theatre 2012
SHE. SAY (Short)
Writer/Director. Premiered at Sydney Film Festival 2012
ACTOR ON A BOX – THE DREAMING
Writer. Sydney Theatre Comedy 2011
NETBALL
Feature film 2006
BLACK CHICKS TALKING
Stage play 2002
BLACK CHICKS TALKING
Book 2002
BLACK CHICKS TALKING
Documentary 2002
BOX THE PONY
Book
BOX THE PONY
Stage play, Co-writer with Scott Rankin 1997

Director

THE DROVER’S WIFE
Feature Film. Bunya Productions 2020
MY LIFE IS MURDER
TV series. CJZ & Network TEN 2019
CLEVERMAN (Series 2)
TV series. Goalpost Pictures / ABC Drama 2017
THE SECRET DAUGHTER (Series 1)
TV series. Seven Network, 2016
CLEVERMAN (Series 1)
TV series. Goalpost Pictures / ABC Drama 2016
RADIANCE
Play. Company B at Belvoir Theatre 2015
BROTHERS WRECK
Play. Company B at Belvoir Theatre 2014
REDFERN NOW (Series 2)
“Consequences.” Blackfella Films / ABC 2013
DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN
One woman show. Belvoir St Theatre 2012
REDFERN NOW (Series 1)
“Sweet Spot.” Blackfella Films / ABC 2012
SHE. SAY (Short)
Writer/Director. Premiered at Sydney Film Festival 2012
STOLEN
ACPA (Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts) at the Cremorne Theatre, QPAT 2011
THEATRE IN PRACTICE – STOLEN
Sydney Theatre Company
ACTOR ON A BOX – THE DREAMING
Sydney Theatre Company 2011
AUNTY MAGGIE AND THE WOMBA WOKGUN (Short)
Screen Australia. Bungabura Productions Pty Ltd 2009
THE 7 STAGES OF GRIEVING
Education program. Sydney Theatre Company 2008
REFLECTIONS: Referendum 40 Years and to the Future
Stage play. ACPA / Cremorne Theatre @ QPAC 2008
HOWIE THE ROOKIE
Stage play by Mark O’Rowe. Kooemba Jdarra / Brisbane Powerhouse 2006
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
Stage play by Eve Ensler
BLACK CHICKS TALKING
Documentary. Bungabura Productions Pty Ltd 2002
BLACK CHICKS TALKING
Stage play. Bungabura Productions Pty Ltd 2002

Presenter / MC

APRA-AGSC SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS
Presenter. Best Music for a Feature Film Score 2008
GROW
Indigenous Employer Workshops
Australian Directors Guild Awards
Host. 2008
NAIDOC Awards & Ball
Co-host and voice over artist. Canberra 2008
‘THEIR SPIRIT STILL SHINES’ COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY, 40^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1967 REFERENDUM ON RECONCILIATION
MC. Great Big Events, Old Parliament House, Canberra
NAIDOC Awards
MC. Cairns, FaCSIA 2007
GROW
Presenter. Indigenous Employer Workshop
BYRON KENNEDY AWARD ‘COMMITTEE MEMBER’ FOR AFI AWARDS MUSICOZ AWARDS
Enmore Theatre, Sydney. 2006
JOBS, CAREER, FUTURE AWARDS
MC. Parliament House, Canberra
CORNERSTONES conference
Director of Presentation
DEADLY AWARDS
Presenter. Opera House
ABORIGINAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM
Keynote Speaker
THE SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL
MC. Opening Night
NAIDOC Awards
MC. Cairns, FaCSIA 2006
GROW
Presenter. Indigenous Employer Workshops
HELPMAN AWARDS
Presenter. Lyric Theatre, Star City
HELPMAN AWARD NOMINATION ANNOUCEMENTS
Star City. 2005
NATIONAL NAIDOC AWARDS & BALL
MC. Adelaide Convention Centre
STOMPEN GROUND CONCERT
Message Sticks, ABC TV. Broome, WA
OYSTER COVE MUSIC SPECIAL
Blackout, ABC TV. Hobart, TAS
LEAH’S SOUL KITCHEN.
Voice Jockey. Red Music Channel (now Foxtel), XYZ Entertainment

Music

NATIONAL ANTHEM
Friday night football @ Suncorp Stadium, In recognition of 1967 Referendum
MUSIC with Alex Raineri @ THE VANGUARD
(Stuart Craine producer)
TIDDA KAIA – Theme Song:
Black Chicks Talking Documentary (written & sung by Leah Purcell)
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Charity Shield, return of South Sydney back into NRL (SFS, Sydney, Australia)
GOODWILL GAMES
National Anthem (Boondall Entertainment Centre, Brisbane QLD).
DEADLY AWARDS
Female Indigenous Music Artist of the Year (Sydney Opera House 2000)
SHANIA TWAIN
Support Artist on National Tour – LPG (Leah Purcell Group)
COLOUR ME
Theme Song, Coloured Inn (Sitcom Pilot, ABC TV)
STOMPEN GROUND CONCERT
LPG (Leah Purcell Group), Broome, WA.
SURVIVAL CONCERT
Solo Performance. La Perouse, Sydney, NSW.

Voice / Narration

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH
Narrator – Documentary / Channel 10
DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN
Narrator – Audio Book by Ruby Langford

Awards & Nominations

2024 LOGIE AWARDS – Nomination, TV Week Silver Logie for Best Supporting Actress for The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
2024 FCCA AWARDS – Nomination, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Shayda
2024 AACTA AWARDS – Nomination, Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
2023 FCCA AWARDS – Nomination, Best Film for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2023 FCCA AWARDS – Nomination, Best Director for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2023 FCCA AWARDS – Winner, Best Actress for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2023 FCCA AWARDS – Nomination, Best Screen Play for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2022 NSW PREMIER’S LITERARY AWARDS – Nomination, Betty Roland Prize for Scriptwriting for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2022 ADG AWARDS – Nomination, Best Direction in a Feature Film for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2022 ADG AWARDS – Winner, Best Direction in a Debut Feature Film for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2022 AACTA AWARDS – Winner, Best Lead Actress in Film for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2022 AACTA AWARDS – Nomination, Best Film for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2022 AACTA AWARDS – Nomination, Best Direction in Film for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2022 AACTA AWARDS – Nomination, Best Screenplay in Film for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2022 GOLD COAST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – Winner, Chauvel Award
2021 SYDNEY FILM PRIZE – Nomination, Best Film for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2021 WARSAW INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – Nomination, Best Film for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2021 MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AM) – Awarded for significant service to the performing arts, to First Nations youth and culture, and to women.
2021 ASIA PACIFIC SCREEN AWARDS (APSA) – Winner, Grand Jury Prize for The Drover’s Wife the Legend of Molly Johnson (Feature Film)
2021 ASIA PACIFIC SCREEN AWARDS (APSA) – Nomination, Best Direction in a Feature Film for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2021 AUSTRALIAN SCREEN INDUSTRY NETWORK AWARDS – Winner, Best Writer/Screenplay for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2021 AUSTRALIAN SCREEN INDUSTRY NETWORK AWARDS – Winner, Best Writer/Screenplay for The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson
2020 DAVITT AWARDS – Winner, Best Debut Crime Book for The Drover’s Wife
2019 LOGIE AWARDS – Nomination, Most Outstanding Actress for Wentworth
2019 THE EQUITY ENSEMBLE AWARDS – Nomination, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Series in a Drama Series for Wentworth
2018 NATIONAL DREAMTIME AWARDS – Winner, Female Actor of the Year
2018 AACTA AWARDS – Nomination, Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama for Wentworth
2017 AACTA AWARDS – Nomination, Best Direction in a Television Drama or Comedy for Cleverman
2017 AWGIE AWARDS – Winner, Best Play for The Drover’s Wife
2017 AWGIE AWARDS – Winner, David Williamson Award for Excellence in Theatre and the Major Award
2017 HELPMANN AWARDS – Winner, Best New Australian Work for The Drover’s Wife
2017 HELPMANN AWARDS – Winner, Best Female in a Play for The Drover’s Wife
2017 NSW PREMIER’SLITERARY AWARDS – Winner, Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting for The Drover’s Wife
2017 NSW PREMIER’SLITERARY AWARDS – Winner, Book of the Year for The Drover’s Wife
2017 NSW PREMIER’SLITERARY AWARDS – Winner, Indigenous Writer’s Prize for The Drover’s Wife
2017 UNESCO City of Film Award at the Sydney Film Festival
2017 VICTORIAN PREMIER LITERARY AWARDS – Winner, Prize for Drama for The Drover’s Wife
2017 VICTORIAN PREMIER LITERARY AWARDS – Winner, Prize for Literature for The Drover’s Wife
2016 SYDNEY THEATRE AWARDS – Winner, Best Mainstage Production for The Drover’s Wife
2016 SYDNEY THEATRE AWARDS – Winner, Best New Australian Work for The Drover’s Wife
2016 AACTA Award – Nomination, Best Comedy Performance for Black Comedy
2016 AWGIE AWARDS – Winner, Best Writer Children’s Television for Ready for This: The Birthday Party
2015 INSTYLE – WOMEN OF STYLE AWARDS – Nomination, Arts and Culture
2013 EQUITY ENSEMBLE AWARDS – Winner, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a drama series for Redfern Now
2012 ADG AWARDS – Nomination, Best Television Drama Director, Redfern Now
2012 LOGIE AWARDS – Nomination, Most Outstanding Actress in a Television Drama for Redfern Now
2012 AACTA AWARDS – Winner, Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama for Redfern Now
2010 MATILDA AWARDS – Winner, Best Female Actor in a Play for The Story of Miracles at Cookie’s Table
2010 MATILDA TROPHY – for Directing & Acting contribution to Indigenous Community with Arts
2009 DEADLY AWARDS – Winner, Actor of the Year
2008 HELPMAN AWARDS – Winner, Best Actress in a play for The Story of Miracles at Cookie’s Table
2007 SYDNEY THEATRE AWARDS – Nomination, Best Actress in a play for The Story of Miracles at Cookie’s Table
2007 DEADLY AWARDS – Winner, Actor of the Year
2007 GLUG THEATRE AWARDS – Nomination, Norman Kessell Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance for The Story of Miracles at Cookie’s Table
2006 BYRON KENNEDY AWARD ‘COMMITTEE MEMBER’ /AFI AWARDS
2006 DEADLY AWARDS – Nomination, Actor of the Year for Jindabyne
2006 HELPMAN AWARDS – Nomination, Best Actress in a play for Stuff Happens
Recipient of the Inaugural 2006 “Bob Maza Fellowship” – to further the career of Indigenous Artist overseas
2006 MO AWARDS – Nomination, Best Actress in a Play for 2005 – for Condeleeza Rice in Stuff Happens
2006 DEADLY AWARDS – Winner, Actor of the Year 2005 – for the portrayal of Condeleeza Rice in Stuff Happens
2004 GREEN ROOM AWARD – Winner, Best Actress in a play for Beasty Girl: The Secret Life of Errol Flynn
2002 TRIBECA FESTICAL – Nomination, Best Documentary Feature for Black Chicks Talking
2002 IF AWARDS – Winner, Best Documentary for Black Chicks Talking
2002 THE LOGIE AWARDS – Nomination, Best Documentary for Black Chicks Talking
2002 FCCA AWARDS – Nominated, Best Supporting Actor – Female for Lantana
2001 BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – Winner, Audience Award for Black Chicks Talking
2001 IF AWARDS – Winner, Best Actress in a Film for Lantana
2001 HELPMAN AWARDS – Nomination, Best Actress in a Play for Box the Pony
2001 DEADLY AWARDS – Winner, Indigenous Female Music Artist of the Year
2000 QLD PREMIER LITERARY AWARDS – Winner, Best Play Script for Box the Pony
1999 DEADLY AWARDS – Winner, Female Artist of the Year
1999 NSW PREMIER LITERARY AWARDS – Winner – Best Play Script for Box the Pony
1996 AFI (Australian Film Institute) AWARDS – Nomination Best Actress in a TV Drama for Fallen Angels
1995 DEADLY AWARDS – Winner, Best New Talent
1994 MATILDA AWARDS – Winner, Best New Talent for Low