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 Template: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 Template:Sort Feature film
1997 Thank God He Met Lizzie Melanie Feature film
1998 A Little Bit of Soul Template:Sort TV film
2000 On the Beach Template:Sort TV film
The Love of Lionel's Life Det Sgt TV film
2002 Black and White Template:Sort Feature film
2003 Travelling Light Template:Sort Feature film
2004 The Brush-Off Template:Sort TV film
2005 Hell Has Harbour Views Anne TV film
Da Kath & Kim Code Heather TV film
2006 The Society Murders Template: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 Template:Sort TV film
2009 A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne Template: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 Template:Sort Short film
The Eye of the Storm June Feature film
Snobs Mother TV film
Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away Template:Sort TV film
2012 The Fort Joanna Short film
Census Sue Short film
The Red Valentine Template: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 Template:Sort Short film
2017 Lets Get Marriage Equality in Australia Herself Short film
2018 Riot Joan / Checkerboard Interviewer TV film
Dots Template:Sort Short film
Loud Thoughts Valerie Short film
Pimped Template:Sort Feature film
2019 Palm Beach Eva Feature film
2021 Daddy's Perfect Little Girl Template:Sort TV film
2022 Bosch & Rockit Wendy Feature film
Blaze Template: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 Template: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 Template:Sort Miniseries
1986 Land of Hope Template:Sort Miniseries
The Fast Lane Eileen TV series, 1 episode
1989-95 G.P. Template: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 Template:Sort TV series, 2 episodes
Clowning Around Template:Sort TV series, season 2
1994 The Ferals Crystal TV series, 1 episode
Cody: A Family Affair Template:Sort TV film
Cody: The Tipof
Cody: Bad Love
1995 Spellbinder Ashka TV series, 24 episodes
1996 Mercury Template:Sort Miniseries, 1 episode
1997 Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord Ashka TV series
1998 The Day of the Roses Template:Sort Miniseries
2002 All Saints Template:Sort TV series, 1 episode
2003 Snobs Mary TV series, 1 episode
2004 Jessica Template:Sort Miniseries
2007 Rain Shadow Template:Sort TV series (main role)
2008 Blue Water High Heather TV series, 1 episode
2009 Rogue Nation Template:Sort TV series, 1 episode
Chandon Pictures Agent TV series, 1 episode
All Saints Template:Sort TV series, 1 episode
2010 Satisfaction Georgia TV series, 1 episode
The Pacific Template:Sort Miniseries, 1 episode
Rake Template:Sort TV series, 1 episode
2011 Killing Time Template:Sort TV series, 2 episodes
Crownies Template:Sort TV series, 8 episodes
Spirited Template:Sort TV series, 8 episodes
2012 Dance Academy Robyn TV series, 1 episode
2013–18 A Place to Call Home Template:Sort TV series, 22 episodes
2013 Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch War Template:Sort Miniseries
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Template:Sort TV series, 1 episode
2014–2017 Janet King Template:Sort TV series, 4 episodes
2014–2017 Starting From... Now! Template:Sort TV series, 2 episodes
2015 Pypo Web series, 1 episode
Shit Creek Helen Web series, 2 episodes
2016 Molly Template:Sort Miniseries, 1 episode
2017 Newton's Law Template:Sort TV series, 1 episode
2018 Away Template:Sort TV play
2019 Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries Template:Sort TV series, 1 episode
Harrow Template:Sort TV series. 3 episodes
Reef Break Template:Sort TV series, 4 episodes
The Strange Chores Inspector (voice) TV series, 1 episode
2019, 2021 Upright Template:Sort TV series
2020 Grey Nomads Ingrid Web series
The Secrets She Keeps Jenny Miniseries, 3 episodes
Operation Buffalo Template:Sort TV series, 2 episodes
2021 Wakefield Template:Sort TV series, 2 episodes
Homespun Template: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]

Year Play Role Notes
1975 1 Double-D NIDA Theatre
1976 Hay Fever Judith Bliss School production
1978 Gammer Gurton's Needle NIDA Theatre
1979 The Seagull NIDA Theatre
1979 Lower Depths NIDA Theatre
1979 The Caucasian Chalk Circle Sydney Opera House with STC
1979 The Fire Raisers NIDA Theatre
1979 Beyond Mozambique NIDA Theatre
1979 Saved Jane Street Theatre with NIDA
1980 The Women Pirates Ann Bonney and Mary Read NIDA Theatre, University of Newcastle, Playhouse, Canberra
1980 Strife NIDA Theatre
1981 Henry IV, Part 1 STC workshop with Andrew Tighe
1981 Roses in Due Season Nimrod Theatre Company
1981 Rare Words - Brave Deeds Sydney Opera House with STC
1981 The Revenger's Tragedy Court Lady Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1981 No End of Blame Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1982 The Suicide Nimrod Theatre Company
1982 You Can't Take It with You Sydney Opera House with STC
1982 Macbeth Witch Sydney Opera House with STC
1982 Template:Ill Sydney Opera House with STC
1983 The Fields of Heaven Sydney Opera House with STC
1983 The Cherry Orchard Vanya Sydney Opera House with STC
1984 The Lady from the Sea Bolette Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1984 Private Lives Amanda Prynne Araluen Arts Centre & Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1985 The Doll Trilogy: Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Kid Stakes & Other Times Nancy Sydney Opera House & Melbourne Athenaeum with STC & MTC
1986 No Worries Wharf Theatre with STC, Playhouse, Adelaide (adapted into a film in 1994)
1986 She Stoops to Conquer Kate Hardcastle Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC
1986 Pravda Rebecca Foley Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1987 Hamlet / Henry IV Part 1 STC
1987 No(h) Exit: No Exit, The Lady Aoi, Hanjo from Five Modern Noh Plays Wharf Theatre with STC
1987 Pericles Wharf Theatre with STC
1987 Blood Relations Cathy / Tessa Sydney Opera House with STC & Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1988 1841 Sydney Opera House & Playhouse, Adelaide
1989 A Dream Play Playhouse, Adelaide & Sydney Opera House with STC & STCSA
1989 Major Barbara Playhouse Adelaide & Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane with STCSA & Queensland Theatre
1989 All My Sons Wharf Theatre with STC
1989 Ring Round the Moon Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1990 The Secret Rapture Isobel Glass Wharf Theatre with STC
1990 Burn This Anna Wharf Theatre with STC
1991 Uncle Vanya Yelena Russell Street Theatre with MTC
1991 Morning Sacrifice Miss Gwyn Carwithen Russell Street Theatre with MTC
1991 Hay Fever Myra Arundel Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC
1992 The Homecoming Wharf Theatre with STC
1993 Two Weeks with the Queen Playhouse, Adelaide with STC
1993 Coriolanus Virgilia Sydney Opera House with STC
1995 Scenes from a Separation Nina Moss Fairfax Studio with MTC
1997 The Winter's Tale Hermione Canberra Theatre, Sydney Opera House & Melbourne Athenaeum with Bell Shakespeare
1998 A Delicate Balance Sydney Opera House with STC
2000 The White Devil Theatre Royal, Sydney with STC
2001 Bye Bye Birdie
2003 The Real Thing Charlotte Wharf Theatre with STC
2007 Self Esteem Wharf Theatre with STC
2008 Tender Yvonne The Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga, Stables Theatre, Sydney & Belvoir Street Theatre with HotHouse Theatre & Griffin Theatre Company
2008 Hamlet Gertrude Sydney Opera House & Playhouse, Melbourne with Bell Shakespeare
2008 Ghosts Helene Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
2010 A Midsummer Night's Dream Titania Sydney Symphony Orchestra[17]
2010 True West Mom STC
2011 Neighbourhood Watch Christina Belvoir Street Theatre[18]
2012 Never Did Me Any Harm Wharf Theatre with STC Force Majeure
2012 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Madame Volanges Wharf Theatre with STC
2012 Signs of Life Georgie Jutland Sydney Opera House with STC (also producer)
2013 The History Boys Mrs Lintott Sydney Opera House with Peach Theatre Company
2013 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Gertrude Sydney Theatre with STC
2014 Strictly Ballroom Shirley Hastings Sydney Lyric Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne & Lyric Theatre, Brisbane
2016 Hay Fever Judith Bliss Sydney Opera House with STC
2016 The Hansard Monologues: Age of Entitlement Seymour Centre, Bruce Gordon Theatre, Wollongong, Glen Street Theatre & Old Parliament House, Canberra
2017 Away Gwen Sydney Opera House & Malthouse Theatre with STC
2017 Cloud Nine Edward / Betty Wharf Theatre with STC[19]
2017–18 You Animal, You Mum Track 12 at Carriageworks with Force Majeure
2018 Top Girls Pope Joan / Louise Sydney Opera House with STC
2018 Still Point Turning: The Catherine McGregor Story Cate McGregor Wharf Theatre with STC
2018 The Harp in the South, Part One and Part Two Eny Kilker STC
2019–20 The Iliad - Out Loud Odysseus / Hera / Hecuba Belvoir Street Theatre, Scott Theatre, Adelaide
2020 Escaped Alone Belvoir Street Theatre
2020 Away Online with Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne & STC
2021 Playing Beatie Bow Granny Wharf Theatre with STC
2022-present RBG: Of Many, One Ruth Bader Ginsburg Wharf Theatre, Sydney Opera House & Playhouse, Brisbane with STC

Awards and nominations

Year Work Award Result Ref
2011 Afterglow (short film) NYC International Film Festival Award for Best Lead Actress Template:Won [20]
2012 The Red Valentine (short film) NYC International Film Festival Award for Best Lead Actress Template:Won [20]
2014 Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch War (for 'Part 1') AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama Template:Nom [21]
2014 Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch War (for 'Part 1') Equity Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries or Telemovie Template:Nom
2019 Significant Service to the Performing Arts, and to the Community Member of the Order of Australia (AM) Template:Won [20]
2022 Love Me Silver Logie Award for Most Outstanding Supporting Actress Template:Won
2022 Love Me AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Template:Nom
2022 Homespun Septimus Award for Best Oceanian Actress Template:Nom
2023 RBG: Of Many, One (as Ruth Bader Ginsberg) Sydney Theatre Award for Best Performer in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production Template:Won [22]
2024 Love Me AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama Template:Won [23]

Publications

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 Template:As of 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

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:HelpmannAward MusicalSupportingActress Template:Portal bar Template:Authority control Template:AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama

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