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Over four decades Sigrid Thornton has held a unique position in the Australian film, television and theatre landscape over multiple genres and platforms on and off screen. She has starred in many films now regarded as classics of the Australian cinema including early box office hit THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER. Her early work brought her to the attention of HBO, leading to her starring role in the mini series ALL THE RIVERS RUN which became a huge popular success globally and earned her her first best actress Logie award. Sigrid became the first Australian actress to be offered a lead role in a US network prime time drama series - PARADISE for CBS, receiving a Western Heritage Cowboy Hall of Fame award in 1999.
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In 2022, Sigrid stars with Charles Wu in Sydney Theatre Company’s THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT after returning to Australian TV screens in 2021 in Nine’s flagship drama, AMAZING GRACE. She commences shooting on a new Australian feature film in March with details to be announced shortly. Sigrid narrates and appears in the ABC documentary on second wave Australian feminism, BRAZEN HUSSIES, screening on Easter Monday 2021. Her more recent television career highlights include a reboot of her hit series SEACHANGE which topped the 2019 ratings with its debut episode. She was a series regular on Netflix’s ratings winner WENTWORTH and played Rosyln Coulson in its forerunner, PRISONER. Her performance in the highly acclaimed 2016 mini series PETER ALLEN – NOT THE BOY NEXT DOOR won her the AACTA Best Supporting Actor award for her portrayal of Judy Garland. Other productions include Netflix’s THE CODE, the original SEACHANGE, LITTLE OBERON, UNDERBELLY – THE GOLDEN MILE, THE FAR COUNTRY opposite Michael York and THE BOY IN THE BUSH opposite Kenneth Branagh.
In late 2021 Sigrid will perform for the Sydney Theatre Company in a soon to be announced theatre production. Past theatre highlights include Best Actress for the sell out Australian tour of David Hare’s THE BLUE ROOM, a national tour co-starring with Brenda Blethyn in Alan Bennett’s TALKING HEADS and a critically acclaimed performance playing Blanche DuBois in Black Swan’s production of A STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE. For the MTC ,Sigrid performed in Harold Pinter’s BETRAYAL and Lucy Prebble’s THE EFFECT. She completed two seasons of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC opposite Anthony Warlow and Robert Grubb for Opera Australia. Sigrid and Anthony played opposite one other again more recently in sell out seasons of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in Sydney and Melbourne.
As a child of the sixties, Sigrid’s teenage life was steeped in political activism. One of her first screen roles was recently revealed in secretly filmed footage shot by ASIO when as a teenager she demonstrated against the Sth. African Springbok tour (as seen in the 2020 documentary feature BRAZEN HUSSIES). Throughout her career Sigrid has been an advocate to government and the private sector in support of Australian stories on our film and TV screens. Her work in this sector includes inaugural board member of the Australian Academy of Television and Cinema Arts, delivery of the NFSA Lotte Lyell lecture, board member of the Malthouse Theatre, the Australian Film Institute and Film Victoria as well as Patron for Women in Film and Television. Sigrid was appointed to the Commercial Television Production Fund by the Keating government and was Chair of the Victorian Film & Television Taskforce, whose recommendations revitalised the Victorian film and television industries. She was an Executive Producer on the SEACHANGE reboot and Associate Producer on The ABC mini GREAT EXPECTATIONS – THE UNTOLD STORY. Sigrid is currently serving a second term on the board of the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
Sigrid has acted as MC for Australian appearances by international luminaries including Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama and was MC for the Centenary of Federation joint sittings of the Australian Parliament. In 1999 she received Peoples Choice Awards for most favourite actress and favourite TV star. In 2000 she received a Logie award for most outstanding actress for SEACHANGE. In 2002 Sigrid was awarded a Centenary medal. In 2003 the Variety Club honoured her as one of the Top 100 Australian Entertainers of the Century. In 2018 Sigrid was honoured with the Screen Legend Award by Cinefest Oz Film Festival and in 2019 she received the Chauvel Award at the Gold Coast Film Festival. In 2019 she was awarded an AO for her contribution to the performing arts.
In late 2021 Sigrid will perform for the Sydney Theatre Company in a soon to be announced theatre production. Past theatre highlights include Best Actress for the sell out Australian tour of David Hare’s THE BLUE ROOM, a national tour co-starring with Brenda Blethyn in Alan Bennett’s TALKING HEADS and a critically acclaimed performance playing Blanche DuBois in Black Swan’s production of A STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE. For the MTC ,Sigrid performed in Harold Pinter’s BETRAYAL and Lucy Prebble’s THE EFFECT. She completed two seasons of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC opposite Anthony Warlow and Robert Grubb for Opera Australia. Sigrid and Anthony played opposite one other again more recently in sell out seasons of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in Sydney and Melbourne.
As a child of the sixties, Sigrid’s teenage life was steeped in political activism. One of her first screen roles was recently revealed in secretly filmed footage shot by ASIO when as a teenager she demonstrated against the Sth. African Springbok tour (as seen in the 2020 documentary feature BRAZEN HUSSIES). Throughout her career Sigrid has been an advocate to government and the private sector in support of Australian stories on our film and TV screens. Her work in this sector includes inaugural board member of the Australian Academy of Television and Cinema Arts, delivery of the NFSA Lotte Lyell lecture, board member of the Malthouse Theatre, the Australian Film Institute and Film Victoria as well as Patron for Women in Film and Television. Sigrid was appointed to the Commercial Television Production Fund by the Keating government and was Chair of the Victorian Film & Television Taskforce, whose recommendations revitalised the Victorian film and television industries. She was an Executive Producer on the SEACHANGE reboot and Associate Producer on The ABC mini GREAT EXPECTATIONS – THE UNTOLD STORY. Sigrid is currently serving a second term on the board of the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
Sigrid has acted as MC for Australian appearances by international luminaries including Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama and was MC for the Centenary of Federation joint sittings of the Australian Parliament. In 1999 she received Peoples Choice Awards for most favourite actress and favourite TV star. In 2000 she received a Logie award for most outstanding actress for SEACHANGE. In 2002 Sigrid was awarded a Centenary medal. In 2003 the Variety Club honoured her as one of the Top 100 Australian Entertainers of the Century. In 2018 Sigrid was honoured with the Screen Legend Award by Cinefest Oz Film Festival and in 2019 she received the Chauvel Award at the Gold Coast Film Festival. In 2019 she was awarded an AO for her contribution to the performing arts.
In August 2024, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra host an encore event THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER IN CONCERT with Sigrid Thornton and Tom Burlinson after sold out dates in 2023.
Sigrid recently returned to The Sydney Theatre Company as one of theatre’s greats in Andrew Upton’s adaptation of Chekhov’s THE SEAGULL directed by Imara Savage following lead roles in STC’s THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT with Charles Wu (2022) and Nine’s flagship drama, AMAZING GRACE.
She narrated and appeared in the ABC documentary on second wave Australian feminism, BRAZEN HUSSIES, which screened Easter Monday 2021.
Sigrid recently returned to The Sydney Theatre Company as one of theatre’s greats in Andrew Upton’s adaptation of Chekhov’s THE SEAGULL directed by Imara Savage following lead roles in STC’s THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT with Charles Wu (2022) and Nine’s flagship drama, AMAZING GRACE.
She narrated and appeared in the ABC documentary on second wave Australian feminism, BRAZEN HUSSIES, which screened Easter Monday 2021.
"We've really got a lot of catching up to do with the firmament of women's stories," Sigrid says. "There's a thirst for it. And we can call it a fashion or a fad, but I don't think it's that, I think it's a movement."
LATEST NEWS
28 MARCH 2024
FIONA BYRNE ZOOMS IN ON A SUCCESSION OF JEWEL ROLES AS M.S.O. AUDIENCES AWAIT SNOWY’S AUGUST ENCORE
FIONA BYRNE ZOOMS IN ON A SUCCESSION OF JEWEL ROLES AS M.S.O. AUDIENCES AWAIT SNOWY’S AUGUST ENCORE
“I have been fortunate to have been given the opportunity to play a great number of strong women,” Sigrid Thornton. “Elizabeth Kemp was an extraordinary acting teacher. She was an American teacher, (coached Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga and Hugh Jackman) but I worked with her here in Australia. She was a particular guide and she had a very unusual approach to the work. Working with Elizabeth really did change the way I think about my life and my work in very positive ways.”
“[Snowy] was an important project and everyone was giving it their all, but we did not understand how long the legs would be, we did not understand the life that the film would go on to have and to what extent it would resonate with Australians and further afield internationally.
“When things comes together, for want of a better description, alchemically on a project such as [Snowy], that is when it sings and that is when the audience are more likely to carry that music with them”
The encore performances of 2023’s landmark collaboration in this highly successful national tour provide audiences the opportunity to revisit the beloved Australian classic on the big screen, accompanied by the powerful and emotive soundtrack performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Event Details: The Man from Snowy River in Concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sigrid Thornton and Tom Burlinson. Presented in association with Spiritworks and Theatre Tours International.
Dates: Saturday 3 August, 2pm & 7.30pm
Venue: The Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Tickets: On sale 10am Thursday 21 March
“[Snowy] was an important project and everyone was giving it their all, but we did not understand how long the legs would be, we did not understand the life that the film would go on to have and to what extent it would resonate with Australians and further afield internationally.
“When things comes together, for want of a better description, alchemically on a project such as [Snowy], that is when it sings and that is when the audience are more likely to carry that music with them”
The encore performances of 2023’s landmark collaboration in this highly successful national tour provide audiences the opportunity to revisit the beloved Australian classic on the big screen, accompanied by the powerful and emotive soundtrack performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Event Details: The Man from Snowy River in Concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sigrid Thornton and Tom Burlinson. Presented in association with Spiritworks and Theatre Tours International.
Dates: Saturday 3 August, 2pm & 7.30pm
Venue: The Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Tickets: On sale 10am Thursday 21 March
25 NOVEMBER 2023
ABC ARTS INTERVIEWS SIGRID IN ANTICIPATION OF TONIGHT’S OPENING OF THE SEAGULL (STC)
ABC ARTS INTERVIEWS SIGRID IN ANTICIPATION OF TONIGHT’S OPENING OF THE SEAGULL (STC)
The Seagull is generally considered the first great theatre work of 19th-century Russian playwright, Anton Chekhov.
“I think Andrew [Upton] would be the first to say that … you can see Chekhov's early work on the page; the early stages of a playwright coming into his own," says Thornton.
In The Seagull, Thornton is taking on the decorated actress Irina Arkadina: one of Chekhov's most formidable female characters. Charming, funny and eviscerating, Irina is a bucket-list role. Other actors to have played the grand diva include Annette Bening, Parker Posey and Australian Judy Davis.
Anna Freeland ABC Arts
The Seagull opens tonight at Roslyn Packer Theatre Walsh Bay Sydney Theatre Company until December 16.
“I think Andrew [Upton] would be the first to say that … you can see Chekhov's early work on the page; the early stages of a playwright coming into his own," says Thornton.
In The Seagull, Thornton is taking on the decorated actress Irina Arkadina: one of Chekhov's most formidable female characters. Charming, funny and eviscerating, Irina is a bucket-list role. Other actors to have played the grand diva include Annette Bening, Parker Posey and Australian Judy Davis.
Anna Freeland ABC Arts
The Seagull opens tonight at Roslyn Packer Theatre Walsh Bay Sydney Theatre Company until December 16.
18 NOVEMBER 2023
SIGRID TAKES ON CHEKHOV’S IRINA IN ANDREW UPTON’S STC ADAPTATION OF THE SEAGULL
SIGRID TAKES ON CHEKHOV’S IRINA IN ANDREW UPTON’S STC ADAPTATION OF THE SEAGULL
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The comic-tragic play ultimately asks what price artists are willing to pay for the creative life. “I understand the dilemma very clearly,” says Thornton.
“How rapidly things have changed in certain ways,” says Thornton, “and not enough in others.” Earlier today, Thornton was watching a clip of Meryl Streep “talking about the language of men and women, and how women fundamentally know how to speak ‘man’, but men don’t necessarily understand how to speak ‘woman’ yet.” “It would be great if we were bilingual,” says Thornton, so that men and women might better work together to achieve their goals, although she is mindful of the importance of “non-binary folk” being “in the mix”. 20 AUGUST 2023
THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER IN CONCERT WITH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 
A glimpse from the opening of THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER IN CONCERT last night at Arts Centre Melbourne's Hamer Hall. The sold out concert performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the phenomenal Vanessa Scammell, and with special guest appearances by Sigrid Thornton and Tom Burlinson, received a standing ovation as the film's composer, 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, took to the stage with them all!. READ MORE 
8 DECEMBER 2022
SLANT WINS BEST AUSTRALIAN FILM LEXLAB AWARD First-time feature filmmaker James Vinson, writer/actor Michel Nikou and producer Monique Fisher along with cast members Sigrid Thornton & Ryan A. Murphy accepted the Lexlab presents Best Australian Film award for their incredible genre-busting feature SLANT.
In Melbourne circa 1999, a rogue journalist is unearths the sordid secrets of an infamous socialite who mysteriously vanished for the scoop of a lifetime whilst unwittingly dredging up family trauma of his own. 
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23 JANUARY 2021
NEW STELLAR FEATURE ARTICLE AHEAD OF 'AMAZING GRACE' SERIES 
Stellar Feature
23 January 2021 She’s been the darling of the Australian stage and screen for almost 50 years, and at 61, Sigrid Thornton continues to push boundaries and stand her ground. Interview: Angela Mollard @angelamollard Photography: Damian Bennett @damianbennettphoto Styling: Kelly Hume @kellyahume The full interview and shoot can be seen inside The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (VIC), The Sunday Mail (QLD), Sunday Mail (SA) and Sunday Tasmanian (TAS) this weekend. LATEST ROLES & REVIEWS27 SEPTEMBER 2022
SIGRID THORNTON & CHARLES WU STAR IN RAPID FIRE PLAY THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT AT STC 
In her debut performance with STC, icon of the Australian screen and stage Sigrid Thornton will lead this thrilling, stylish and hyperintelligent hit Broadway comedy that tackles the great question of our time: true or false?
Thornton plays the shrewd, sharp-tongued Emily Penrose, an editor at a prestigious magazine, who assigns what she thinks will be a simple task to Jim, a young intern. Jim, played by Charles Wu (The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui), is thrilled to be given the once-in-a lifetime assignment: the chance to fact check a new essay by a writer he idolises, John D’Agata – played by Gareth Davies (Home, I’m Darling). But as Jim methodically begins his work, holding each detail up to the light, he discovers that separating fact from fiction is not such an easy job. Together, these three titanic personalities must negotiate their competing goals, egos, and values to reach some semblance of the truth and get the article to print. For fans of The Newsroom and The West Wing, The Lifespan of a Fact is a timely investigation of the old truism “never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” Directed by STC Associate Director Paige Rattray (Triple X, Death of a Salesman), this high-octane production questions how, in our age of fake news and big data, we’ll ever get to a world that’s post-post-truth. Approx. duration 1hr 15mins (no interval). Subject to change. More info. Content Infrequent strong language, suicide themes. Subject to change. More info. The Lifespan of a Fact is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Australasia). READ REVIEW |
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23 APRIL 2020
SIGRID & MERLE FEATURE IN WOMEN'S WEEKLY 
Merle Thornton is a battler, an academic, an author and a woman who has made history. She and her screen star daughter Sigrid discuss their deep and complex mother-daughter bond.
"Mum has never exactly been a shrinking violet," laughs Sigrid. "She has been a fighter all her life and I admire her bravery and dogged determination. I suppose I learned how to be strong and independent from that example, although it's really hard to unpick because the empathy that exists between parent and child is so strong." READ MORE 24 JULY 2019
NINE'S SEACHANGE 2.0 LAUNCH BREAKS RECORDS 
Iris & Ink suit from The Outnet; Matteau shirt. CREDIT:STEVEN CHEE
UPDATE Back and bigger than ever! Channel Nine's SeaChange reboot become the highest-rated drama of the year as eager fans celebrate the return of the show after 20-year absence A rebooted version of the much-loved Australian drama SeaChange returned to Channel Nine on Tuesday night to blockbuster ratings. The new version of the show, which originally aired on ABC from 1998 to 2000, premiered to an incredible 1.105 million Australian viewers. The recorded viewership overnight has made SeaChange the highest-rating drama of the year so far on free-to-air programming. .......... Channel Nine's reboot of SeaChange will premiere on Tuesday, August 6 at 8.45pm. Two decades after the show last aired on ABC, viewers will return to Pearl Bay as Laura Gibson (Sigrid Thornton) tries to piece together her life after years living overseas. Sigrid was featured in The Age/Sydney Morning Herald's Sunday Life, in a wide ranging interview discussing her character, Laura Gibson's evolution. "One of the ways in which women have been kept at bay is through a sort of societal push to have them feel insecure about being something other than one of those archetypal roles," Sigrid says. "Laura was pushing those boundaries and I hope that that's one of the things people enjoyed seeing." 5 JULY 2019
SIGRID & TRAILBLAZING MOTHER, MERLE THORNTON IN CONVERSATION FOR THE QUEENSLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL 
Two incredible women – mother and daughter – in conversation about an act that would change Australia.
Join us for Frank & Fearless : https://bit. ly/316RN1J Take a journey through the life of a true trailblazing Queensland woman, Merle Thornton – an Australian feminist activist, author and academic.
Merle made history when she and Rosalie Bogner famously chained themselves to a bar rail to protest the refusal of drinks service to women in public bars. At the vanguard of the equalist movement in Australia, whilstrearing her children in the 50s, Merle helped establish the very first Women’sStudies course at the University of Queensland in 1973 and founded the Equal Opportunities for Women Association in Brisbane. Join Merle in conversation with her daughter and beloved Australian actress Sigrid Thornton on this delightful and insightful journey into the stories of the extraordinary women that helped pave the way for the freedoms women enjoy today. Interspersed with the songs that made Merle’s life, played on stage by emerging all female neo-soul outfit Pink Matter with special guest vocalist Tiana Khasi, this meeting of minds promises to go down in history! |
Amazing Grace, Nine's new drama series about life's most surprising and precious moments, features a stellar cast including Kate Jenkinson (Doctor Doctor, Wentworth, Offspring), Sigrid Thornton (Seachange, Wentworth), Catherine Van Davies (Hungry Ghosts), Alexandra Jensen (My Life is Murder) and Kat Hoyos (Here Come the Habibs!)
Amazing Grace is centred on midwife Grace (Jenkinson) and her passionate colleagues at an unconventional Birth Centre attached to a major city hospital. A fierce advocate for her pregnant mothers-to-be, Grace's dubious work/life balance is about to get even more chaotic when a new arrival at the Birth Centre changes her life forever. Amazing Grace starts Wednesday March 3 on Nine and 9Now. Follow @AmazingGrace on Instagram #AmazingGrace 17 OCTOBER 2018
HIGHEST RATING DEBUT EP OF THE YEAR - NINE REVIVES ABC DRAMA 'SEACHANGE' WITH SIGRID THORNTON AT THE HELM SYD MORN HERALD :
More than 20 years after SeaChange debuted on ABC, the seminal comedy-drama is returning to network television – this time on Channel Nine. The series will pick up the story two decades on, as lawyer Laura Gibson (Sigrid Thornton) returns to Pearl Bay, the town where, for 39 episodes between 1998 and 2000, she searched for her "seachange" from city life. Amongst [Ch 9's] eight new and 24 returning shows, SeaChange was the centrepiece. "I think the notion of SeaChange is more relevant now than it was 20 years ago," David Mott, whose company ITV Australia is making SeaChange, told Fairfax Media. He confirmed the return of stars Sigrid Thornton and John Howard, who played local councillor and shady property developer Bob Jelly. Other original actors will appear in the series, as well as new characters. In a key signing, Mott also confirmed the new season of SeaChange would be written by the show's co-creator Deb Cox. 
The reboot was discussed initially with the ABC but Mott says the national broadcaster had responded by saying it "did not feel right for them at the time."
Once they passed on the project, Nine stepped into the frame. The initial series followed city lawyer Gibson and her teenage children Miranda and Rupert as they moved from Melbourne to the picturesque seaside town of Pearl Bay. The new season picks up on the final episode in 2000, where the Pearl Bay townsfolk’s defeated plans to turn their community into a toxic waste dump and Gibson revealed she was pregnant. Laura's daughter Miranda is now in her 30s and she has another daughter aged 18. "There is a beautiful opportunity there to tell the stories of three generations of women," Mott says. - FROM THE AGE/SMH 
AUGUST 3 2018
SIGRID ON LEAVING WENTWORTH SERIES 6 3 OCTOBER 2017
HIGHLIGHTS : SIGRID THORNTON AS SONIA STEVENS ON FOXTEL'S WENTWORTH As we await news on the next season of Wentworth, here's a fan made edit of some of the chilling performances Sigrid has given thus far.
8 SEPTEMBER 2016
ABC BREAKFAST INTERVIEW - THE CODE 
"A woman in a man's world who's fought her way up the male-dominated ladder."
Sigrid Thornton talks about her character - cyber-security expert Lara Dixon - in the new season of The Code. See the interview on or |
“If I'd wanted your help, mate, I would've asked for it.”
Jessica Harrison, 'The Man From Snowy River'
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