Shantae Barnes-Cowan (born 2001 or 2002) is an Aboriginal Australian actress. She starred in the TV series Total Control (2019), Operation Buffalo (2020), and Firebite (2021-2022), and the feature films Wyrmwood: Apocalypse (2021), and Sweet As (2022). Among other accolades, she was nominated for the 2024 AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Sweet As.
Shantae Barnes-Cowan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2001 or 2002 (age 22–23) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Notable work | Wyrmwood: Apocalypse Sweet As Firebite |
Early life and education
editShantae Barnes-Cowan was born in 2001 or 2002 and was placed in a foster family when she was a year old in Whyalla, South Australia. She is very close to her foster parents, the Cowans. She is an Adnyamathanha woman, and has three sisters and seven brothers.[1]
She did not study drama at school, but always admired Deborah Mailman and Jessica Mauboy.[1] In 2021, while studying Year 12 in high school, 18-year-old Barnes-Cowan worked on film sets across Australia. She credited her foster family for helping her juggle her career and education.[2][3] She completed year 12 at Samaritan College, Whyalla, in 2021.[4]
Career
editIn her screen debut, Barnes-Cowan played Jess Clarke in season 1 of the award-winning Australian political drama series Total Control in 2019.[5][6][7] She played Peggy[7] in Operation Buffalo in May 2020.[8] Adelaide casting director Angela Heesom, who auditioned Barnes-Cowan for the role, said later that she had told her that day that she was going to be an actor and was a "star in the making", who had all the natural instinct. She described her "as an Indigenous version of Julia Roberts".[9]
In 2021, she completed filming the horror film Wyrmwood Apocalypse, playing the character Maxi in her first feature film.[7][10]
She played the lead role Shanika in the AMC international TV miniseries Firebite.[7] Firebite, which was filmed in Adelaide,[4] was created by Warwick Thornton and Brendan Fletcher. Shanika is the adoptive daughter of Tyson, played by Rob Collins, and both play vampire-killing "bloodhunters". The series aims to tell the story of the colonisation of Australia from an Indigenous perspective, using vampires as metaphors for smallpox.[11]
She played the lead role as troubled teen Murra in Jub Clerc's directorial feature debut,[7] the coming-of-age film set in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, Sweet As (2022).[2] She had a leading role in Sweet As, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and won the Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.[1]
In 2023, she completed filming on a short film, The Redemption, an Australian Western filmed in Tamworth, New South Wales.[1] It was directed by Peter Cameron, and premiered in July 2024.[12][13]
She moved to Adelaide to study beauty therapy at TAFE, while also auditioning for new roles, including internationally.[1]
Other activities
editAs a teenager, Barnes-Cowan was an active sportsperson and community leader. She played country and regional netball, as well as regional and state level basketball, representing South Australia.[7]
Barnes-Cowan has been South Australian ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.[7]
Recognition and awards
edit- 2018: Nominated, Young Sisters Dreaming Award in the Gladys Elphick Awards[7][14]
- 2018: Winner, Whyalla NAIDOC Week award for Female Sportsperson of the Year[15][1]
- 2020: Whyalla Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year[1][16]
- 2021: Nominated, Channel 7 Young Achiever Award in the Aboriginal Achievement category[17]
- 2022: Nominated as one of Adelaide's 26 most inspiring women by the Adelaide Advertiser[18]
- 2022: Nominated, Woman of the Year Awards, Rising Star category (SkyCity Adelaide, The Advertiser, and Sunday Mail)[19]
- 2023: Winner, Outstanding Achievement of a Child or Young Person category in the South Australian Child Protection Awards[20]
- 2024: Nominated, AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in Film, for Sweet As[21]
Filmography
editFilms
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Redemption | Alice | Short |
| 2022 | Sweet As | Murra | |
| 2021 | Wyrmwood: Apocalypse | Maxi |
TV
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Firebite | Shanika | 8 episodes |
| 2019-21 | Total Control | Jess Clarke | 7 episodes |
| 2020 | Operation Buffalo | Peggy | 6 episodes |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Bright lights beckon young Whyalla actor who grew up in care". Department for Child Protection. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ a b Davies, Nathan (5 December 2021). "Shantae's star shines bright". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "Zombie flick returns with fresh blood". The West Australian. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Shantae's star shines bright as she completes Year 12". Catholic Education. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ Mayfield, Louis (21 May 2022), "Grace, power in Shantae's performance", The Examiner
- ^ Brodnik, Laura (12 October 2019), "The rumours are true: Total Control is the only new TV show to watch this weekend.", MamaMia
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Shantae Barnes-Cowan". CinefestOZ Film Festival. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "ABC drama Operation Buffalo debuts in May", South Australian Film Corporation, 1 May 2020
- ^ Green, Tanya (24 April 2024). "Discovering the stars". SA Life. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ MacNaughton, Tanya (7 February 2022), "Shantae Barnes-Cowan on the ball in Aussie zombie sequel Wyrmwood: Apocalypse", The West Australian
- ^ Jones, Ellen E (11 February 2022). "'We wanted to kick in the doors': the film-makers reinventing horror". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ The Redemption at IMDb
- ^ The Redemption (2023) - Western - Short Film on YouTube. Premiered 4 Jul 2024.
- ^ "Gladys Elphick Awards". Facebook. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
The winner of the Young Sisters Dreaming award, Lauren Pickering, pictured here with fellow nominee Shantae Barnes-Cowan...
- ^ Whyalla, Corporation of the City of (28 January 2020). "Mayor presents NAIDOC awards". Whyalla City Council. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "Shantae's starring role earns award". The Whyalla News. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "Grace, power in Shantae's performance". The Canberra Times. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "SA's 26 most inspiring women". Adelaide Now. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ Tracy, Jackie (27 February 2022). "The finalists: The SA women who inspire us". adelaidenow. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Previous Award Winners". Department for Child Protection. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ Clarke, Rhiannon (10 January 2024). "AACTA awards sees multiple Indigenous nominees". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 30 August 2024.