Biography:Leah Purcell
Leah Purcell | |
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 Purcell at the premiere of The Sapphires in 2012 | |
| Born | 14 August 1970 Murgon, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1996–present |
Notable work |
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| Partner(s) | Bain Stewart |
| Children | 1 |
Leah Maree Purcell AM (born 14 August 1970) is a white and Aboriginal Australian stage and film actress, playwright, film director, and novelist. She made her film debut in 1999, appearing in Paul Fenech's Somewhere in the Darkness, which led to roles in films, such as, Lantana (2001), Somersault (2004), The Proposition (2005) and Jindabyne (2006).
In 2014, Purcell wrote and starred in the play, The Drover's Wife, based on the original story by Henry Lawson. In 2019, she went on to write the bestselling novel, The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson, which was adapted for the screen when Purcell made her directorial debut in the acclaimed film of the same name in 2022, for which she had also written, produced and starred as the titular character. For her work, she has won several awards, including a Helpmann Award, AACTA Award, and Asia Pacific Screen Awards Jury Grand Prize.
Purcell is notable for her roles in several television drama series', including, Police Rescue (1996), Fallen Angels (1997), Redfern Now (2012–2013), which earned her an AACTA Award, Janet King (2016), and perhaps her most recognisable television role being that of her AACTA and Logie Award-nominated performance as Rita Connors in the Foxtel prison drama series, Wentworth (2018–2021).
Early life and education
Leah Purcell was born on 14 August 1970[1][2] in Murgon, Queensland, and she was the youngest of seven children of Aboriginal (Goa–Gunggari–Wakka Wakka Murri[3]) and white Australian descent.[2][4] Her father was a butcher and a boxing trainer.[5]
After a difficult adolescence, looking after her sick mother, Florence, who died while Leah was in her late teens, as well as problems with alcohol and teenage motherhood, Leah left Murgon and moved to Brisbane and became involved with community theatre.[2]
Career
In 1996 she moved to Sydney to become presenter on a music video cable television station, RED Music Channel.[6] This was followed by acting roles in ABC Television series Police Rescue and Fallen Angels.[7][8]
Together with Scott Rankin she co-wrote and acted in a play called Box the Pony, which played at Sydney's Belvoir Street Theatre, the Sydney Opera House, the 1999 Edinburgh Festival and in 2000 at the Barbican Theatre in London.[9] She then wrote and directed the documentary film Black Chicks Talking, which won a 2002 Inside Film award.[10] She appeared as Claudia in the Australian film Lantana for which role she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress by Sydney-based Film Critics Circle of Australia; she lost to Daniela Farinacci. She appeared on stage in The Vagina Monologues.[11] She went on to appear in three 2004 films, Somersault, The Proposition and Jindabyne, as well as playing the role of Condoleezza Rice in David Hare's play, Stuff Happens in Sydney and Melbourne.[12]
Wentworth
In 2018, Purcell joined the cast of Foxtel drama series Wentworth as Rita Connors, a role originally portrayed by Glenda Linscott in Prisoner. It was announced that she was one of three new leading cast members to join the series for its sixth season, alongside Susie Porter and Rarriwuy Hick. She first appeared in the first episode of season six, broadcast on 19 June 2018.[13] Following her appearances in seasons six and seven, it was announced in October 2018 that she would be reprising her role for the eighth season, which premiered in 2020.[14]
The Drover's Wife
Purcell developed stories in three different media based on the short story by Henry Lawson published in 1892,[15] which Purcell recalls her mother reading to her.[16] She began writing her version of the story in around 2014, giving the woman a name, Molly Johnson, something that Lawson did not do. Purcell's versions centres around Molly, who is left alone on their remote homestead while heavily pregnant and having to care for her four children while her husband is away droving cattle. She meets an Aboriginal man fleeing police, called Yadaka, and a personal drama evolves. She says that "The essence of the Henry Lawson short story and his underlining themes of racism, the frontier violence and gender violence are [in her story]". However, she has added stories from her own Indigenous family as well as incorporating her own extensive historical research, which included talking to Aboriginal elders and owners of property in the Snowy Mountains, where the story is set.[3] She has said of the development of the stories:[17]
My DNA is within it. And I've sung up business on it. I sung up the play, I sung up the novel, I sung up the movie. And in cultural ways you have that thread of a Songline which connects you to country, to family, to culture.
- She wrote and starred in the play The Drover's Wife, performed at the Belvoir in 2016.[18] The play won multiple awards, including Book of the Year at the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, overall Victorian Prize for Literature at the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards,[19][20] two Helpmann Awards,[21] the Major AWGIE Award and several other awards.[22]
- She penned a best-selling novel titled The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson, published in 2019.[23]
- Purcell was lead actor, writer, director and co-producer of a film adaptation, also titled The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson, premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in March 2021,[24] released on Australian screens on 5 May 2022, after a two-year delay owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her husband Bain Stewart is lead producer and executive producer on the film, and Rob Collins plays Yadaka.[3]
Recognition, awards and honours
Purcell was recipient of the Balnaves Fellowship in 2014,[25] which allowed her to develop her play, The Drover's Wife, to be performed at the Belvoir in 2016.[3]
In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Purcell was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for "significant service to the performing arts, to First Nations youth and culture, and to women".[26][17]
At the 14th Asia Pacific Screen Awards held in November 2021, she was awarded the Jury Grand Prize for her film The Drover's Wife,[27] "not just for her singular vision in writing, directing, producing and starring in the film but for the journey to bring this remarkable story, viewed through the lens of a First Nations woman to the screen in its entirety".[28]
Purcell has appeared twice on ABC Television's Australian Story, once in 2002[5] and once in June 2022.[17][29]
In June 2022, Purcell was honoured with a star on Winton's Walk of Fame, which was unveiled during The Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival.[30]
Personal life
Purcell's partner is Bain Stewart, who is also her business partner in Oombarra Productions. She has a daughter and two grandchildren.[31] She believes that Stewart has been "a gift from the ancestors", as he has been such an important support to her through difficult times.[17]
Filmography
Acting
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Somewhere in the Darkness | Lulu |
| 2001 | Lantana | Claudia |
| 2002 | Beginnings | Police Officer |
| 2003 | Lennie Cahill Shoots Through | Doctor |
| 2004 | Somersault | Diane |
| 2005 | The Proposition | Queenie |
| 2006 | Jindabyne | Carmel |
| 2014 | My Mistress | Audrey |
| 2015 | Last Cab to Darwin | Sonya |
| 2022 | The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson | Molly Johnson |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | G.P. | Lauren | Season 8 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 1996 | Police Rescue | Constable Tracey Davis | Season 5 (main, 9 episodes) |
| 1997 | Fallen Angels | Sharon Walker | Season 1 (main, 20 episodes) |
| 1998 | Water Rats | Sarah Lane | Season 3 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2000–01 | Beastmaster | The Black Apparation | Seasons 1–3 (recurring, 5 episodes) |
| 2001 | The Lost World | Witch Doctor | Season 2 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2002 | Bad Cop, Bad Cop | Lorraine Simpson | Season 1 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2007 | Love My Way | Caroline Syron | Season 3 (recurring, 3 episodes) |
| 2007 | The Starter Wife | Hannah Sprints | Miniseries (recurring, 2 episodes) |
| 2008 | McLeod's Daughters | Terri Barker | Season 8 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2009 | My Place | Ellen | Season 1 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2012–13 | Redfern Now | Grace | Seasons 1–2 (main, 2 episodes) |
| 2015 | House of Hancock | Hilda Kickett | Miniseries (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2015 | Mary: The Making of a Princess | Toni Klan | TV movie |
| 2015–16 | Love Child | Daisy | Seasons 2–3 (recurring, 3 episodes) |
| 2016 | Janet King | Heather O'Connor | Season 2 (main, 8 episodes) |
| 2016–18 | Black Comedy | Guest Performer | Seasons 2–3 (recurring, 3 episodes) |
| 2018–21 | Wentworth | Rita Connors | Season 6–8 (main; 37 episodes) |
| 2021 | All My Friends Are Racist | Justice Janelle Ray AO | |
| 2022 | The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart | Twig | Upcoming |
Other
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Black Chicks Talking | Director; documentary |
| 2009 | Aunty Maggie and the Womba Wakgun | Director; short film |
| 2009 | My Place | Writer; episode: "2008 Laura" |
| 2012 | She Say | Director / Writer; video short |
| 2012 | Redfern Now | Director; episode: "Sweet Spot" |
| 2016 | The Secret Daughter | Director; episode: "Flame Trees"[32] |
| 2019 | My Life Is Murder | Director; episodes: "The Boyfriend Experience"; "Lividity in Lycra" |
| 2022 | The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson | Director, writer and producer |
| 2022 | The Twelve | Writer (2 episodes) |
Awards and nominations
In 2006 Purcell was the recipient of the Bob Maza Fellowship, which recognises emerging acting talent and support professional development for Indigenous actors.[33]
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Title | Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Australian Film Institute Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | Fallen Angels | Nominated |
| 1999 | Deadly Awards 1999 | Female Artist of the Year | herself | Won |
| 1999 | NSW Premier's Literary Awards | Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting | Box the Pony | Won |
| 2000 | Queensland Premier's Literary Awards | Queensland Premier's Literary Award for Best Play | Box the Pony | Won |
| 2001 | Helpmann Awards | Best Female Actor in a Play | Box the Pony | Nominated |
| 2006 | Helpmann Awards | Best Female Actor in a Play | Stuff Happens | Nominated |
| 2008 | Helpmann Awards | Best Female Actor in a Play | The Story of the Miracle at Cookie's Table | Won |
| 2013 | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Redfern Now | Won |
| 2013 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | Redfern Now | Nominated |
| 2016 | AACTA Awards | Best Performance in a Television Comedy | Black Comedy | Nominated |
| 2017 | Helpmann Awards | Best Female Actor in a Play | The Drover's Wife | Nominated |
| 2017 | Helpmann Awards | Best New Australian Work | The Drover's Wife | Won |
| 2017 | NSW Premier's Literary Awards | Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting | The Drover's Wife | Won |
| 2017 | NSW Premier's Literary Awards | Book of the Year | The Drover's Wife (book) | Won |
| 2017 | NSW Premier's Literary Award | Indigenous Writers Prize | The Drover's Wife | Won |
| 2018 | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Wentworth | Nominated |
| 2018 | National Dreamtime Awards 2018[34] | Female Actor of the Year | Won | |
| 2019 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | Wentworth | Nominated |
| 2020 | Davitt Award[35] | Best debut crime book | The Drover's Wife (book) | Nominated |
| 2021 | Asia Pacific Screen Awards[27] | Jury Grand Prize | The Drover's Wife (film) | Won |
| 2022 | NSW Premier's Literary Award[36] | Betty Roland Prize for Scriptwriting | The Drover's Wife (film) | Nominated |
References
- ↑ Who's Who in Australia (2019), ConnectWeb.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Verghis, Sharon (17 August 2005), "Direct line to Washington", The Age, http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/direct-line-to-washington/2005/08/16/1123958060744.html, retrieved 20 January 2010
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Gbogbo, Mawunyo (3 May 2022). "The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson is a compelling story weaving in present and historical truths". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-03/the-drovers-wife-the-legend-of-molly-johnson-leah-purcell/101032364.
- ↑ Dow, Steve (2021-11-06). "Actor, director and writer Leah Purcell". https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/film/2021/11/06/actor-director-and-writer-leah-purcell/163611720012815.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Grasswill, Helen (17 June 2002). "Queen Leah". Australian Story. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/austory/transcripts/s579368.htm.
- ↑ NEILSON, DEBBIE (1995-07-09). "A lesson of celebration". Sun Herald, The (Sydney, Australia): pp. 26. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1CE7B55B79704BDA8059B661626D7036&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F11BC553ADA550B08.
- ↑ Keenan, Catherine (27 August 2002), "Blood sisters", The Sydney Morning Herald, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/08/26/1030053032725.html, retrieved 21 January 2010
- ↑ "Upstaging". Message Stick. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 March 2004. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/messagestick/stories/s1057483.htm.
- ↑ "Leah Purcell: profile". Claxton Speakers. http://www.claxtonspeakers.com.au/speakers_profile/558.
- ↑ "IF Award Winners". Inside Film Awards. http://www.ifawards.com/About_Us/Winners.aspx.
- ↑ Keenan, Catherine (21 February 2003), "Monologues shift focus to the body beautiful — and battered", The Sydney Morning Herald, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/20/1045638423920.html, retrieved 21 January 2010
- ↑ Verghis, Sharon (9 July 2005), "Channelling Condoleezza", The Sydney Morning Herald, http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/channelling-condoleezza/2005/07/08/1120704535849.html, retrieved 21 January 2010
- ↑ "Wentworth season 6: date and new cast members Susie Porter, Leah Purcell and Rarriwuy Hick revealed". Foxtel. 5 April 2018. https://www.foxtel.com.au/whats-on/foxtel-insider/showcase/wentworth/season-6/new-cast-members-announced.html.
- ↑ "Heritage Characters Join Siege Survivors on the Inside As Wentworth Season 8 Commences Production". foxshowcase.com.au. https://www.foxshowcase.com.au/heritage-characters-join-siege-survivors-on-the-inside-as-wentworth-season-8-commences-production/.
- ↑ Daley, Paul (21 December 2019). "Leah Purcell on reinventing The Drover's Wife three times: 'I borrowed and stole from each'". http://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/dec/22/leah-purcell-on-reinventing-the-drovers-wife-three-times-i-borrowed-and-stole-from-each.
- ↑ "The Garret: The Drover's Wife" (in en-US). https://readingaustralia.com.au/lesson/the-garret-the-drovers-wife/.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Chenery, Susan (13 June 2022). "Leah Purcell weaves her Indigenous Songlines into new film The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-13/leah-purcell-songlines-in-drovers-wife-the-legend-molly-johnson/100631508.
- ↑ Hennessy, Kate (23 September 2016). "The Drover's Wife review – plot twist leaves Australian classic spinning on its axis". http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/sep/23/the-drovers-wife-review-australian-classic-revitalised-with-a-new-muse.
- ↑ Harmon, Steph (2017-01-31). "Leah Purcell wins Australia's richest literary prize for reimagining of The Drover's Wife" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/jan/31/leah-purcell-wins-australias-richest-literary-prize-for-reimagining-of-the-drovers-wife.
- ↑ Harmon, Steph (2017-05-22). "'Brave, ruthless and utterly compelling': Leah Purcell wins big at NSW premier's literary awards" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/may/22/brave-ruthless-and-utterly-compelling-leah-purcell-wins-big-at-nsw-premiers-literary-awards.
- ↑ Harmon, Steph (2017-07-24). "Helpmanns 2017: The Drover's Wife and Adelaide festival claim Australian theatre awards" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/jul/24/helpmanns-2017-the-drovers-wife-adelaide-festival-australia-theatre-awards-opera.
- ↑ Maddox, Garry (2017-08-26). "Hacksaw Ridge and Lion win but Leah Purcell's The Drover's Wife dominates Awgies" (in en-US). The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/theatre/hacksaw-ridge-and-lion-win-but-leah-purcells-the-drovers-wife-dominates-awgies-20170825-gy46yn.html.
- ↑ Purcell, Leah (2019). "The drover's wife : the legend of Molly Johnson". https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/214061070.
- ↑ "Film Grid - SXSW Online 2021" (in en-US). https://www.sxsw.com/festivals/film/film-grid-sxsw-online-2021/.
- ↑ "Fellowship and Residencies". 25 February 2022. https://belvoir.com.au/for-artists/fellowship-and-residencies/.
- ↑ "Ms Leah Maree Purcell". https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2008586.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Leah Purcell wins major screen award for The Drover's Wife" (in en). 2021-11-12. https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2021/11/12/leah-purcell-wins-major-screen-award-drovers-wife.
- ↑ "Leah Purcell for The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson" (in en-US). https://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/apsa-nominees-winners/2021/jury-grand-prize/leah-purcell-for-the-drovers-wife-the-legend-of-molly-johnson.
- ↑ The Songlines of Leah Purcell ABC iview
- ↑ Kornits, Dov (25 June 2022). "Leah Purcell receives star on the Winton Walk of Fame". FilmInk. https://www.filmink.com.au/leah-purcell-receives-star-on-the-winton-walk-of-fame/.
- ↑ O'Brien, Kerrie (2020-01-17). "'She was my hero': how her mum's struggle gave Leah Purcell her voice". The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/she-was-my-hero-how-her-mum-s-struggle-gave-leah-purcell-her-voice-20200108-p53py5.html.
- ↑ Asciak, Libby (18 April 2016). "The secret is finally out: so excited to announce that I will be joining @jessicamauboy1 and the rest of the amazing cast in the new Channel Seven drama 'The Secret Daughter' playing the role of Rachel Rossi #thesecretdaughter #channel7 #comingsoon". https://www.instagram.com/p/BEVGJ-QGuyC/.
- ↑ "Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department celebrates 25 years". 4 June 2018. https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/backgrounders/2018/06-04-indigenous-department-25-years.
- ↑ "Dream of love, and success will come (pp32-34)". https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/docs/digitised_collections/the_koori_mail/m0010050i690r.pdf.
- ↑ "Davitt Awards 2020 shortlists announced" (in en-AU). 2020-07-17. https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2020/07/17/153836/davitt-awards-2020-shortlists-announced/.
- ↑ "NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2022 shortlists announced" (in en-AU). 2022-04-05. https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2022/04/05/212651/nsw-premiers-literary-awards-2022-shortlists-announced/.
External links
- Leah Purcell on Twitter
- Leah Purcell on IMDb
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