Heather Mitchell
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Heather Lee Mitchell Template:Post-nominals is an Australian actor, 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.
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 and education
Heather Lee MitchellScript error: No such module "Unsubst". 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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Career
Television
Mitchell 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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". 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).Script error: No such module "Unsubst". In 2021, she played Birdie in The Unusual Suspects.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
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] Mitchell was also named in the ABC series The Role of a Lifetime.[3] On 22 June 2025, Mitchell was announced as part of the cast for Paramount+ series Two Years Later.[4]
Stage
Mitchell is a foundation director and board member of the Sydney Theatre Company (STC).[5] She first appeared at the STC in 1981, performing scenes of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1 with Andrew Tighe for a workshop.[6]
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.[7][8]
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.[9][10]
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.[11]
In 2022, it was announced that Mitchell would play the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the theatre production RBG: Of Many, One.[12] In 2024, Mitchell again played Ginsburg for the 2024 Black Swan State Theatre Company season.[13] Critics called Mitchell's performance as Ginsburg as a "tour de force".[14] Mitchell would again reprise Ginsburg for the 2025 Sydney Theatre Company season.[15]
Filmography
Film
| 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 | Script error: No such module "sort". | 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 | Script error: No such module "sort". | Feature film |
| 1997 | Thank God He Met Lizzie | Melanie | Feature film |
| 1998 | A Little Bit of Soul | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV film |
| 2000 | On the Beach | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV film |
| The Love of Lionel's Life | Det Sgt | TV film | |
| 2002 | Black and White | Script error: No such module "sort". | Feature film |
| 2003 | Travelling Light | Script error: No such module "sort". | Feature film |
| 2004 | The Brush-Off | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV film |
| 2005 | Hell Has Harbour Views | Anne | TV film |
| Da Kath & Kim Code | Heather | TV film | |
| 2006 | The Society Murders | Script error: No such module "sort". | 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 | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV film | |
| 2009 | A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne | Script error: No such module "sort". | 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 | Script error: No such module "sort". | Short film | |
| The Eye of the Storm | June | Feature film | |
| Snobs | Mother | TV film | |
| Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV film | |
| 2012 | The Fort | Joanna | Short film |
| Census | Sue | Short film | |
| The Red Valentine | Script error: No such module "sort". | 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 | Script error: No such module "sort". | Short film |
| 2017 | Lets Get Marriage Equality in Australia | Herself | Short film |
| 2018 | Riot | Joan / Checkerboard Interviewer | TV film |
| Dots | Script error: No such module "sort". | Short film | |
| Loud Thoughts | Valerie | Short film | |
| Pimped | Script error: No such module "sort". | Feature film | |
| 2019 | Palm Beach | Eva | Feature film |
| 2021 | Daddy's Perfect Little Girl | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV film |
| 2022 | Bosch & Rockit | Wendy | Feature film |
| Blaze | Script error: No such module "sort". | Feature film | |
| 2023 | Jones Family Christmas | Heather Jones | TV film |
| 2024 | Ricky Stanicky | Leona | Feature film |
| 200% Wolf | Lady Hightail (voice) | Animated feature film | |
| TBATemplate:Dagger | Wedding of the Year | Eleanor | Pre-production |
| Template:Dagger | Not yet released |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Cop Shop | Script error: No such module "sort". | 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 | Script error: No such module "sort". | Miniseries | |
| 1986 | Land of Hope | Script error: No such module "sort". | Miniseries |
| The Fast Lane | Eileen | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1989-95 | G.P. | Script error: No such module "sort". | 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 | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 2 episodes | |
| Clowning Around | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, season 2 | |
| 1994 | The Ferals | Crystal | TV series, 1 episode |
| Cody: A Family Affair | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV film | |
| Cody: The Tipof | |||
| Cody: Bad Love | |||
| 1995 | Spellbinder | Ashka | TV series, 24 episodes |
| 1996 | Mercury | Script error: No such module "sort". | Miniseries, 1 episode |
| 1997 | Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord | Ashka | TV series |
| 1998 | The Day of the Roses | Script error: No such module "sort". | Miniseries |
| 2002 | All Saints | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2003 | Snobs | Mary | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2004 | Jessica | Script error: No such module "sort". | Miniseries |
| 2007 | Rain Shadow | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series (main role) |
| 2008 | Blue Water High | Heather | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2009 | Rogue Nation | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 1 episode |
| Chandon Pictures | Agent | TV series, 1 episode | |
| All Saints | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2010 | Satisfaction | Georgia | TV series, 1 episode |
| The Pacific | Script error: No such module "sort". | Miniseries, 1 episode | |
| Rake | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2011 | Killing Time | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 2 episodes |
| Crownies | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 8 episodes | |
| Spirited | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 8 episodes | |
| 2012 | Dance Academy | Robyn | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2013–18 | A Place to Call Home | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 22 episodes |
| 2013 | Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch War | Script error: No such module "sort". | Miniseries |
| Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2014–2017 | Janet King | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2014–2017 | Starting From... Now! | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Pypo | Web series, 1 episode | |
| Shit Creek | Helen | Web series, 2 episodes | |
| 2016 | Molly | Script error: No such module "sort". | Miniseries, 1 episode |
| 2017 | Newton's Law | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2018 | Away | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV play |
| 2019 | Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 1 episode |
| Harrow | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series. 3 episodes | |
| Reef Break | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 4 episodes | |
| The Strange Chores | Inspector (voice) | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2019, 2021 | Upright | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series |
| 2020 | Grey Nomads | Ingrid | Web series |
| The Secrets She Keeps | Jenny | Miniseries, 3 episodes | |
| Operation Buffalo | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 2 episodes | |
| 2021 | Wakefield | Script error: No such module "sort". | TV series, 2 episodes |
| Homespun | Script error: No such module "sort". | 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 | |
| 2025 | The Role of a Lifetime | Nan | TV series 2 episodes |
| The Narrow Road to the Deep North | Older Ella | Miniseries | |
| 2026 | Two Years Later | TBA | TV series |
Other appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Agony Aunts | Herself | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 2023 | Australian Story | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Luxury Escapes | TV series, 1 episode |
Stage
Mitchell's stage performances include:[16]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Afterglow (short film) | NYC International Film Festival Award for Best Lead Actress | Won | [20] |
| 2012 | The Red Valentine (short film) | NYC International Film Festival Award for Best Lead Actress | Won | [20] |
| 2014 | Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch War (for 'Part 1') | AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama | Nominated | [21] |
| 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 | [20] |
| 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 | [22] |
| 2024 | Love Me | AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama | Won | [23] |
Publications
- Heather Mitchell (2023) Everything and Nothing Template:Isbn
Personal life
Mitchell 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.[24] The couple have two adult children and since 2021[update]Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". reside in Sydney.[24]
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."[25]
References
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External links
- Script error: No such module "Official website".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Template:Trim/ Heather Mitchell at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- "Heather Mitchell" by Melanie Tait, One Plus One, 3 October 2019, ABC News
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