Leah Purcell

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Leah Maree Purcell Script error: No such module "If empty". (born 14 August 1970) is an 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, two AACTA Awards, 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), the Amazon miniseries The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (2023), and currently the Binge series, High Country (2024).

Early life and education

Leah Purcell was born on 14 August 1970[1][2] in Murgon, Queensland, 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, 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 centre around Molly, who is left alone on a 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]<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

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.

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Other projects

In 2023 Purcell was announced as part of the cast Foxtel/Binge drama High Country as the lead character Andrea Whitford, Purcell revealed in the Something to Talk About podcast that she also served as the series cultural consultant.[26][27] Purcell would also appear in Amazon Prime drama The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.[28]

In 2025, it was announced that the play Is That You, Ruthie? written and directed by Purcell would returned for a second theatre run at QPAC.[29]

Recognition, awards and honours

Purcell was recipient of the Balnaves Fellowship in 2014,[30] 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".[31][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,[32] "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".[33]

Purcell has appeared twice on ABC Television's Australian Story, once in 2002[5] and once in June 2022.[17][34]

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.[35]

In June 2024, Purcell was nominated for a TV Week Logie for Best Supporting Actress for The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.[36]

Personal life

Purcell's partner is Bain Stewart, who is also her business partner in Oombarra Productions. She has a daughter and two grandchildren.[37] 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

Film

Year Title Role Ref
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
2023 Shayda Joyce [38]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
1996 G.P. Lauren Season 8 (guest, 1 episode)
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)
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)
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 1 episode
2022 Childish Deano Mrs Narkle 1 episode (voice)
Krystal Klairvoyant Deborah 3 episodes (Tik Tok series)
2023 The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart Twig Miniseries [39]
2024 High Country Andrea Whitford 8 episodes [40]

Other appearances

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2025 Our Medicine Narrator TV series [41]
2022 Australian Story Self TV special [42]
ABC 90 Self TV special [43]
2021 Living Black Self TV special [44]
Wentworth: Unlocked Self TV Special
2020 Wentworth: Behind the Bars 2
2019 Wentworth: Behind the Bars Self TV Special
Anh's Brush with Fame Self 1 episode [45]

Production credits

Year Title Notes Ref
2004 Black Chicks Talking Director; documentary
2009 Aunty Maggie and the Womba Wakgun Director; short film
My Place Writer; episode: "2008 Laura"
2012 She Say Director / Writer; video short
Redfern Now Director; episode: "Sweet Spot"
2016 The Secret Daughter Director; episode: "Flame Trees" [46]
2019 My Life Is Murder Director; episodes: "The Boyfriend Experience"; "Lividity in Lycra"
2021 All My Friends Are Racist Executive Producer
2022 The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson Director, writer and producer
The Twelve Writer (2 episodes)
2023,2025 Is That You Ruthie? Writer & Director: Theatre play QPAC [47]
2024 High Country Executive Producer / Culture consultant
TBA Koa Kid [48]

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1994 Matilda Awards Best New Talent
(Highly Commended) 		Low Won [49]
1995 Deadly Awards Best New Talent herself Won [49]
1997 Australian Film Institute Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Fallen Angels (episode 14)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nominated [50]
1999 Deadly Awards Female Artist of the Year herself Won [49]
NSW Premier's Literary Awards Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting Box the Pony
(shared with Scott Rankin)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Won [49]
2000 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards Drama Script (Stage) Award Won [49]
2001 Deadly Awards Indigenous Female Music Artist of the Year herself Won [49]
Helpmann Awards Best Female Actor in a Play Box the Pony Nominated [49]
IF Awards Best Actress Lantana Won [49]
2002 Brisbane International Film Festival Audience Award Black Chicks Talking Won [51]
Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Supporting Actor - Female Lantana Nominated [52]
IF Awards Best Documentary Black Chicks Talking Won [49]
Tribeca Festival Best Documentary Feature Nominated
2003 Logie Awards Most Outstanding Documentary Series Black Chicks Talking Nominated [53]
2004 Green Room Awards Best Actress in a Play Beasty Girl: The Secret Life of Errol Flynn Won [49]
2006 Bob Maza Fellowship — herself Won [54]
Byron Kennedy Award (Committee Member) — herself Nominated [49]
Deadly Awards Actor of the Year Stuff Happens Won [49]
Actor of the Year Jindabyne Nominated [49]
Helpmann Awards Best Female Actor in a Play Stuff Happens Nominated [49]
Mo Awards Best Actress in a Play Nominated [49]
2007 Deadly Awards Actor of the Year herself Won [49]
Glugs Theatrical Awards Norman Kessell Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance – Actress The Story of Miracles at Cookie’s Table Nominated [49]
Sydney Theatre Awards Best Actress in a Play Nominated [49]
2008 Helpmann Awards Best Female Actor in a Play The Story of the Miracles at Cookie's Table Won [55]
2009 Deadly Awards Actor of the Year herself Won [49]
2010 Matilda Awards Best Female Actor in a Play The Story of Miracles at Cookie’s Table Won [49]
Matilda Trophy for Directing & Acting contribution to Indigenous Community with Arts herself Won [49]
2013 AACTA Awards Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Redfern Now (episode 1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won [56]
Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actress Redfern Now (season 1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nominated [57]
2014 Balnaves Foundation Indigenous Playwright's Awards — herself Won [58]
2016 AACTA Awards Best Performance in a Television Comedy Black Comedy (season 2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nominated [59]
AWGIE Awards Children's Television – C Classification Ready for This: The Birthday Party Won [60]
Sydney Theatre Awards Best New Australian Work The Drover's Wife (play)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won [61]
2017 AACTA Awards Best Direction in Television Cleverman (episode 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nominated [62]
Awgie Awards Best Play The Drover's Wife (play)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won [63]
David Williamson Award for Excellence in Theatre Won [63]
Helpmann Awards Best Female Actor in a Play Nominated [49]
Best New Australian Work Won [49]
NSW Premier's Literary Awards Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting Won [64]
Book of the Year The Drover's Wife (book)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won [64]
Indigenous Writers Prize The Drover's Wife (play)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won
Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Prize for Drama Won [65]
Prize for Literature The Drover's Wife (book)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won [65]
UNESCO City of Film Award — herself Won [66]
2018 AACTA Awards Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Wentworth (season 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nominated [67]
National Dreamtime Awards Female Actor of the Year herself Won [68]
2019 Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actress Wentworth (season 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nominated [69]
2020 Davitt Award Best Debut Crime Book The Drover's Wife (book)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nominated [70]
2021 Asia Pacific Screen Awards Best Performance by an Actress The Drover's Wife (film)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nominated [71]
APSA Jury Grand Prize Won [72]
Australian Screen Industry Network Awards Best Writer/Screenplay Won [73]
Warsaw Film Festival Best Film Nominated
2022 AACTA Awards AACTA Award for Best Film Nominated [74]
Best Film Nominated [74]
Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated [74]
Best Actress in a Leading Role Won [74]
Australian Directors' Guild Best Direction in a Feature Film (Budget $1M or over) Nominated [75]
Best Direction in a Debut Feature Film Won [76]
Gold Coast Film Festival (Chauvel Award) — Won [77]
NSW Premier's Literary Award Betty Roland Prize for Scriptwriting Nominated [78]
2023 Film Critics Circle if Australia Best Film Nominated [79]
Best Director Nominated [79]
Best Actress Won [79]
Best Screenplay Nominated [79]
2024 AACTA Awards Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart Nominated [80]
TV Week Logies TV Week Silver Logie – Best Supporting Actress Nominated [81]
2025 AACTA Awards Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama High Country Pending [82]

References

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  1. ↑ Who's Who in Australia (2019), ConnectWeb.
  2. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". (subscription required)
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ The Songlines of Leah Purcell ABC iview
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Link note
  64. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  68. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  69. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  70. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  71. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  72. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  74. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  76. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  77. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  78. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  79. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  80. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  81. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  82. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

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