Heather Lee Mitchell AM is an Australian actress, who has appeared in Australian stage, television, and film productions. She is best known for her leading role in the 1990s television show Spellbinder. More recently, she appeared as Anita in the series Love Me, and as Margaux in the Paramount Plus series Fake. She has a role in the upcoming miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
Heather Mitchell | |
|---|---|
 Heather Mitchell, 2023 | |
| Education | National Institute of Dramatic Art (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Website | heathermitchell.com.au |
Mitchell is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, and has performed on stage since 1975, including collaborations with dance company Force Majeure. In 2022, she played U.S. justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the play RBG: Of Many, One, for Sydney Theatre Company.
Early life
editHeather Lee 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
editTelevision
editMitchell is well known internationally 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.[citation needed]
Other television productions she has appeared in 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.[citation needed] 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).[citation needed] In 2021, she played Birdie in The Unusual Suspects.[citation needed]
In 2024, Mitchell was named as one of the cast for the miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North,[1], and she played Margaux in the Paramount Plus series Fake.[2]
Stage
editMitchell 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]
Never Did Me Any Harm (Sydney Festival], January 2012), exploring parenting, was a joint production between STC and dance company Force Majeure. It starred Mitchell, Marta Dusseldorp, and Vincent Crowley, with a solo dance performed by dancer Sarah-Jayne Howard.[7][8]
Mitchell co-wrote the script of Force Majeure's You Animal, You with artistic director Danielle Micich, which explored the sense of smell. She also starred in the performance, which premiered at the Sydney Festival in January 2018.[9]
In 2022, it was announced that Mitchell would play the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the theatre production RBG: Of Many, One.[10] In 2024, Mitchell again played Ginsburg for the 2024 Black Swan State Theatre Company season.[11] Critics called Mitchell's performance as Ginsburg as a "tour de force".[12] Mitchell would again reprise Ginsburg for the 2025 Sydney Theatre Company season.[13]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| 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 | Martin's 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 Smith | 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 |
| 200% Wolf | Lady Hightail (voice) | Animated feature film | |
| TBA† | Wedding of the Year | Eleanor | Pre-production |
| † | Not yet released |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Cop Shop | Michelle Beasley | TV series, 1 episode |
| 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 |
| Bodyline | Edith Clarke | Miniseries | |
| 1986 | Land of Hope | Helen Davies | Miniseries |
| 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 | |||
| Cody: Bad Love | |||
| 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 | The Day of the Roses | Margaret Shuttler | Miniseries |
| 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 |
| 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 | Gold Diggers | Colleen | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 2024 | Pleasant Avenue | Carolyn | TV series, 5 episodes |
| Fake | Margeaux | TV series, 8 episodes | |
| The Narrow Road to the Deep North | Older Ella | Miniseries |
Self appearances / interviews
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Today Extra | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2023 | Luxury Escapes | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| News Breakfast | 2 episodes | ||
| Today Extra | TV series, 1 episode | ||
| Australian Story | TV series, 1 episode | ||
| 2012 | Agony Aunts | Herself | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1998 | Good Morning Australia | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| FCTV | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
Stage
editMitchell's stage performances include:[14]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Afterglow (short film) | NYC International Film Festival Award for Best Lead Actress | Won | [18] |
| 2012 | The Red Valentine (short film) | NYC International Film Festival Award for Best Lead Actress | Won | [18] |
| 2014 | Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch War (for 'Part 1') | AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama | Nominated | [19] |
| 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 | [18] |
| 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 | [20] |
| 2024 | Love Me | AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama | Won | [21] |
Publications
edit- Heather Mitchell (2023) Everything and Nothing ISBN 9781761067303
Personal life
editMitchell met cinematographer Martin McGrath on a film set in Broken Hill in 1989. They were engaged in the following year and married in February 1992.[22] The couple have two adult children and as of 2021[update] reside in Sydney.[22]
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."[23]
References
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "never did me any harm". Sydney Arts Guide. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ "Never Did Me Any Harm: Education Resources Pre-Production" (PDF). Sydney Theatre Company. 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ Sebag-Montefiore, Clarissa (9 January 2018). "You Animal, You review – Force Majeure's new work a gladiatorial dance contest with no clear objective". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Blake, Jason. "Sydney Theatre Company reveals 2025 Season". Limelight. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Heather Mitchell". Retrieved 8 February 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "AACTA Awards 2024: Winners | TV Tonight". 10 February 2024.
- ^ 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
edit- Official website
- Heather Mitchell at IMDb
- "Heather Mitchell".</ref>
- "Heather Mitchell" by Melanie Tait, One Plus One, 3 October 2019, ABC News
