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Sigrid Thornton

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Sigrid Thornton
AO
Thornton in 2012
Born
Sigrid Madeline Thornton

(1959-02-12) 12 February 1959 (age 65)
Canberra, Australia
Occupation
  • stage and screen actress
Years active1973–present
SpouseTom Burstall (1981–present)
Children2

Sigrid Madeline Thornton AO (born 12 February 1959) is an Australian film and television actress. Her television work includes Prisoner (1979–80), All the Rivers Run (1983), SeaChange (1998–2019) and Wentworth (2016–2018). She also starred in the American Western series Paradise (1988–91). Her film appearances include Snapshot (1979), The Man from Snowy River (1982), Street Hero (1984) and Face to Face (2011). She won the AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama for the 2015 miniseries Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door.

Biography

Early years

Thornton was born in Canberra, the daughter of Merle, an academic and writer, and Neil Thornton, an academic.[1] She was raised in Brisbane, attending St. Peter's Lutheran College. For two years, she lived in London, where she was a member of the Unicorn Theatre.

Back in Brisbane she attended Twelfth Night Theatre Junior Workshop and in 1970, during the Captain Cook Bicentenary Celebrations, Thornton appeared before Queen Elizabeth II as Rosa Campbell-Praed in Looking Glass on Yesterday.[2] Thornton was a student of noted theatre director, Joan Whalley.

Career

She acted in TV series Homicide and Division 4 in 1975. She also appeared on The Sullivans, as Elizabeth "Buffy" Turnbull.

In 1977, Thornton made her film debut as Wendy in The FJ Holden directed by Michael Thornhill, and in the same year as Maria in the film adaptation of Henry Handel Richardson's colonial Australian novel, The Getting of Wisdom (1977) directed by Bruce Beresford. In 1978, Thornton appeared in the Australian television sequel of the British comedy series Father, Dear Father in Australia and Cop Shop,. The same year she played Angela in the film Snapshot (aka The Day After Halloween) directed by Simon Wincer, for which role she was nominated for Australian Film Awards Best Actress in a Feature Film in 1979.

In 1980, she appeared as Roslyn Coulson in the Australian television drama Prisoner (known overseas as Prisoner: Cell Block H).[3] Thornton starred in 1981 in Duet for Four. In 1982, she took on the roles of Jessica Harrison in the films The Man from Snowy River and its sequel in 1988 The Man from Snowy River II. In 1983, she marked an appearance in Street Hero. She starred in 1983's miniseries All the Rivers Run.[4] 1986 saw her in The Lighthorsemen, the TV adaptation of Nevil Shute's novel The Far Country,[5] Great Expectations: The Untold Story and Slate, Wyn & Me.

From 1988 to 1991, she appeared as Amelia Lawson in the American television drama series Paradise. Syndication of All the Rivers Run and The Man from Snowy River and The Man from Snowy River II brought her to a wider international audience.

In 1991, she starred in Over the Hill directed by George T. Miller and in 1996, Love in Ambush directed by Carl Shultz. She starred as Laura Joy Gibson in the Australian television series SeaChange from 1998 to 2000,[6] winning the Most Outstanding Actress award in 1999 and 2000.

Stage highlights

Thornton's stage performances include a 2002/03 touring production of The Blue Room directed by Simon Phillips for the Melbourne Theatre Company opposite Marcus Graham.[7] In 2009 she made her debut with Opera Australia in its production at Melbourne's Arts Centre as Desiree Armfeldt in Sondheim and Wheeler's A Little Night Music, directed by Stuart Maunder.[8]

In 2014, she won critical acclaim for her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire for the Black Swan State Theatre Company in Perth.[9]

In 2015, she appeared in the premiere of Stephen Beckett's play Diary of a Nobody, inspired by the 1892 novel The Diary of a Nobody, at the Princess Theatre, Launceston, Tasmania.[10] The same year, Thornton played the part of Golde in Fiddler on the Roof at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne.[11]

As of September 2022 Sigrid made her stage debut for The Sydney Theatre Company in the premiere stage play The Lifespan of a Fact to rave reviews and in 2023 returns to the stage for Anton Checkov's The Seagull for The Sydney Theatre Company.

Recent film and television work

In 2002, Thornton starred in Australian thriller The Pact, directed by Strathford Hamilton, written by Hugh O'Brien.

In 2003, Thornton appeared in Mittens directed by Emma Freeman. In 2004, she played a geneticist in a four-episode arc on MDA. She shaved her head for her role in the 2005 telemovie Little Oberon.

Thornton hosted the Nine Network's What's Good For You.

In 2010, she appeared in Underbelly: The Golden Mile as recurring character Geraldine "Gerry" Lloyd, an Australian Federal Police detective and investigator for the Wood Royal Commission.[12]

In 2011, Thornton starred in Face to Face, an independent Australian film directed by Michael Rymer.[13]

In 2012, she participated in Who Do You Think You Are.[14]

In 2016, Thornton appeared in the fourth season of SoHo drama series Wentworth for seven episodes as a special guest star. She portrayed the character of Sonia Stevens (initially played by Tina Bursill in Prisoner), a woman on remand for the suspected murder of her best friend.[15]

Thornton returned for season 5 of Wentworth as a main cast member and served as the main antagonist in season 6, until her characters death in episode 7, "The Edge".

In 2018, she appeared in Anh's Brush with Fame.

The "Sigrid Factor"

In his book The Big Shift, about changing Australian demographics and culture, Bernard Salt coined the term the "Sigrid factor" pointing out that Australian towns in which movies had been made featuring Thornton had prospered since that time.[16] More broadly he referred to changing Australian cultural values which were well reflected in the types of places in which Sigrid Thornton had acted: the Riverland during the 1980s All the Rivers Run and the coast in the 2000s SeaChange.

Personal life and advocacy

Thornton is married to actor Tom Burstall and has two children. She is known for her work with World Vision, the Royal Children's Hospital, Vision Australia, Reach Foundation and other charitable causes.[17] She has lobbied successive governments to keep libraries open and to resource the Australian film and television industry. She has been appointed to several federal and state film bodies, including Film Victoria[3] and is involved in helping to sustain and develop the industry.[18]

Filmography

FILM

Year Title Role Type
1977 The F.J. Holden Wendy Feature film
1977 The Getting of Wisdom Maria Feature film
1978 The King of the Two Day Wonder aka The Wargame Christy Feature film
1979 Snapshot aka 'The Day After Halloween' Angela Feature film
1982 Duet for Four Caroline Martin Feature film
1982 The Man From Snowy River Jessica Harrison Feature film
1984 Street Hero Gloria Feature film
1985 Niel Lynne aka Best Enemies Fennimore Feature film
1987 Slate, Wyn & Me Blanche McBride Feature film
1987 The Lighthorsemen Anne Feature film
1988 The Man from Snowy River II Jessica Feature film
1992 Over the Hill Elizabeth Feature film
1997 Love In Ambush Shelley Kincaird Feature film
2000 Arctic Adventure Lucy (voice) Film animated short
2002 Living With Happiness Mother (voice) Film animated short
2002 The Pact Susan Tuttle Feature film
2003 Inspector Gadget 2 Mayor Wilson Feature film US/AUSTRALIA
2003 Mittens Mother Film short
2008 Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! Herself Feature film documentary
2011 The Telegram Man Barbara Lewis Film short
2011 Face To Face Claire Baldoni Feature film
2014 BFFs Jacqueline Feature film US
2016 Scare Campaign Vicki Feature film

TELEVISION

Television
Year Title Role Type
1973 Homicide Erica Johnston TV series, 1 episode
1973 Certain Women unknown role TV series
1975;1976 Matlock Police Cathy Simpson / Simone Foley TV series, 2 episodes
1975 Division 4 Wendy Sherlock TV series, 1 episode
1976 Bluey Helen Laughton TV series, 1 episode
1976 Bobby Dazzler Anastasia TV series, 1 episode
1977 The Sullivans Buffy Turnbull TV series, 24 episodes
1977 Young Ramsay Annette Murray TV series, 1 episode
1978 Father, Dear Father In Australia Sue Glover TV series, 14 episodes
1978-1980 Cop Shop Tracy McBean / Karen / Helen Davis TV series, 3 episodes
1978 Glenview High Georgiana TV series, 1 episode
1978 Case for the Defence Mandy Lattimer TV series, 1 episode
1978 Chopper Squad Mandy Paramor TV series, 1 episode
1979–1980 Prisoner Roslyn Coulson TV series, 30 episodes
1980 Skyways Olivia Baker TV series, 1 episode
1980 The Last Outlaw Kate Kelly TV mini-series, 4 episodes
1980 Lawson's Mates Hannah ABC TV series, 1 episode
1980 Players in the Gallery unknown role ABC TV film series, 1 episode
1981 I Can Jump Puddles Mabel TV mini-series, 2 episodes
1981 Bellamy Fiona TV series, 1 episode
1981 Outbreak of Love Anthea Langton ABC TV mini-series
1982 The Don Lane Show Herself TV series, 1 episode
1982 1915 Frances ABC TV mini-series, 7 episodes
1983 All The Rivers Run Philadelphia Gordon TV mini-series, 8 episodes
1983 Boy In The Bush Monica Ellis ABC TV mini-series, 4 episodes
1987 Great Expectations: The Untold Story Bridget Tankerton ABC TV movie
1987 The Far Country Jennifer Morton TV mini-series, 2 episodes
1988 Reading Australian Film Herself - Presenter Video
1988 The Comedy Company Herself TV series, 1 episode
1988-1991 Paradise Amelia Lawson TV series US, 56 episodes
1989 The Pat Sajak Show Herself TV series US, 1 episode
1990 The 32nd Annual TV Week Logie Awards Herself TV special
1992-1998 The Midday Show Herself TV series, 5 episodes
1991;1992 Tonight Live With Steve Vizard Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992 In Sydney Today Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992 The Morning Show Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992 The World Tonight Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992;1994 People's Choice Awards Herself TV special
1993 Tonight Live Herself TV series, 1 episode
1993 Children At The Edge Herself TV special
1993 Inside Edition Herself TV series, 1 episode
1993-2005 Good Morning Australia Herself TV series
1993 Ernie And Denise Herself TV series, 1 episode
1993 The Feds Christine McQuillan TV movie pilot
1994 The Talk Show Herself TV series, 1 episode
1994 Wildscreen - Sperm Wars Herself TV documentary
1994 G.P. Renee Jackson TV series, 1 episode
1994 One Family Herself TV special
1994 Australian Fashion Awards Herself - Presenter TV special
1994 Trapped In Space aka Breaking Strain Issacs TV movie
1994 Homicide... 30 Years On Herself TV special
1994 Review - A.F.I Awards Herself TV series special
1994;1998 People's Choice Awards Herself TV special
1994;1995 World Vision Appeal: Vision For A Better World Herself TV telethon
1995 4 Quarters Herself TV series, 1 episode
1995 AFL Grand Final Herself TV Special
1995 World Vision Appeal: Vision For A Better World Herself TV telethon
1995 Cinematheque Herself TV series
1996 Whipping Boy Cass Meridith TV movie
1996 The 1996 Australian Film Institute Awards Herself - Co-host TV special
1996 World Vision: A Christmas Wish Herself TV telethon
1997 World Vision: A Matter Of Survival Herself TV Special
1997;1998 Ten News Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 Ten News Herself TV series, 2 episodes
1998;2010 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself TV series, 2 episodes
1998 Seven Nightly News Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 National Nine News Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 ABC News Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 Denise Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 Recovery Herself & Cassandra McGrath ABC TV series, 1 episode
1998–2000;2019 SeaChange Laura Gibson ABC TV series, Lead role 47 episodes
1998 Race Around The World Herself TV series
1998 Laws Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 Australian Story Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 People's Choice Awards Herself TV special
1998 Witness Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998;2019 Today Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 World Vision: A Friend In Need Herself TV special
1998 E News Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 Sunday Herself TV series, 1 episode
1999 O'Loughlin On Saturday Night Herself TV series, 1 episode
2000 The New Adventures of Ocean Girl Narrator TV series, 10 episodes
2000 The Panel Herself TV series, 1 episode
2000 The Big Schmooze Herself TV series, 1 episode
2001 Rove Live Herself TV series, 1 episode
2001 The Micallef Program Herself TV series, 1 episode
2002 Island Life Herself - Narrator TV series, 6 episodes
2003 ABC Australian Movie Screenings Herself - Host ABC TV series, 4 episodes
2003 Welcher & Welcher Herself TV series, 1 episode
2003 Greeks on the Roof Herself TV series, 1 episode
2003 Micallef Tonight Herself - Cue card holder TV series, 1 episode
2003 Enough Rope With Andrew Denton Herself TV series, 1 episode
2004 The 2004 Australian Film Institute Awards Herself TV special
2005 MDA Dr. Robyn Masterton ABC TV series, 4 episodes
2005 Little Oberon Lola Green TV movie
2005 Australia Unites: Reach Out To Asia Herself TV Telethon
2006 Ingenios Africa Herself TV series, 13 episodes
2006 Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King Mrs. Anges Sternwood TV mini-series US, episode 1
2007 What's Good For You Herself - Host TV series
2008 Talking Heads Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
2008 Dream Life Mrs Buchanan TV movie
2008-2011 Inside Film Awards Herself - Presenter SBS TV series, 4 episodes
2010 Underbelly: The Golden Mile Gerry Lloyd TV series, 7 episodes
2010 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself - Red Faces TV series, 1 episode
2012 Who Do You Think You Are? Herself SBS TV series, 1 episode
2013 #7 Days Later Molly TV series, 1 episode
2014 The Code Lara Dixon ABC TV series, 6 episodes
2015 Peter Allen: The Boy Next Door Judy Garland TV mini-series, 2 episodes
2015 4th AACTA Awards Herself TV special
2016–2018 Wentworth Sonia Stevens TV series, 26 episodes
2017 David Stratton: A Cinematic Life Herself TV series, 2 episodes
2018 Sando Herself TV series, 2 episodes
2018 Wentworth: Season 6 Behind The Scenes Herself TV special
2018 The 60th Annual TV Week Logie Awards Herself TV special
2018 Orange Is the New Brown Dr. Vulva, Nigella Lawson TV series 2 episodes
2018 Studio 10 Herself TV series, 1 episode
2018 Anh's Brush With Fame Herself TV series, 1 episode
2019 The 61st Annual TV Week Logie Awards Herself TV special
2019 The Daily Edition Herself TV series, 1 episode
2019 Lambs of God Rose Stanford TV mini-series, 2 episodes
2019 Today Herself TV series, 1 episode
2019;2022 Today Extra Herself TV series, 1 episode
2019 SeaChange Laura Gibson TV series, 13 episodes
2020 News Breakfast Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
2020 Brazen Hussies Herself - Narrator TV special
2021 Amazing Grace Diane Cresswell TV series, 8 episodes
2022 ABC 90 Celebrate! Herself ABC TV special
2022 Today Extra Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
2022 This Is Your Life: Rebecca Gibney Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode

Awards and nominations

In 2019, Thornton won the Chauvel Award, which acknowledges significant contribution to the Australian screen industry.[19]

Year Association Category Work Result[20]
1975 Sammy Award Best Television Juvenile Performance Homicide Won
1979 Australian Film Institute Award Best Actress in a Leading Role Snapshot Nominated
1979 Silver Logie Best Actress in a Miniseries/Telemovie 1915 Nominated
1984 Silver Logie Best Actress in a Miniseries/Telemovie All the Rivers Run Won
1990 Viewers for Quality Television Award Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series Paradise Nominated
1999 Australian Caption Centre Personality of the Year Nominated
Silver Logie Most Outstanding Actress SeaChange Nominated
2000 Silver Logie Most Outstanding Actress Won
Silver Logie Most Popular Actress Nominated
Gold Logie Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated
2001 Gold Logie Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated
Silver Logie Most Popular Actress Nominated
Silver Logie Most Outstanding Actress Nominated
2003 Mo Awards[21] Best Female Actor in a Play Won
2003 Helpmann Award Best Female Actor in a Play The Blue Room Nominated
2005 AACTA Award AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Little Oberon Nominated
2015 AACTA Award AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door Won

References

Notes

  1. ^ Sigrid Thornton: biography and credits
  2. ^ Morris 1970, p. [page needed].
  3. ^ a b Griffin, Michelle (18 September 2005). "The Sigrid weapon". The Age. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  4. ^ Warden, Ian (2 April 1984). "Familiar damsel saved from ravagingly good shipwreck". The Canberra Times. p. 26. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  5. ^ Wallace, Lisa (14 September 1987). "An Australian miniseries for everyone". The Canberra Times. p. 6. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  6. ^ Idato, Michael; Lallo, Michael (17 October 2018). "Nine revives ABC drama SeaChange – with Sigrid Thornton at the helm". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Thornton, Graham red hot in the Blue Room" by Helen Thomson, The Age, 16 January 2003
  8. ^ A Little Night Music Archived 3 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Opera Australia
  9. ^ "Sigrid Thornton shines as Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire" by Jay Hanna, Perth Now, 20 March 2014
  10. ^ "Event Details: Sigrid Thornton in Diary of a Nobody"
  11. ^ "Anthony Warlow returns to Australian stage for Fiddler on the Roof". Herald Sun. 13 September 2015.
  12. ^ McWhirter, Erin (8 September 2009). "Sigrid Thornton plays hard cop in Underbelly The Golden Mile". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  13. ^ "Face to Face". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  14. ^ "Season 2, episodes – Who Do You Think You Are". SBS. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  15. ^ Thomas, Sarah (5 November 2015). "Sigrid Thornton joins Wentworth as part of Foxtel's home-grown roster for 2016". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  16. ^ Salt 2001, p. [page needed].
  17. ^ Quinn, Karl (5 December 2015). "'There is no endgame': Sigrid Thornton on a life embracing change". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  18. ^ Thornton, Sigrid (28 March 2006). "National Press Club Address: Expanding Horizons". National Press Club, Council of the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  19. ^ "The Chauvel Award". Gold Coast Film Festival. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  20. ^ Thornton, Sigrid. "Biography". sigridthornton.com. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  21. ^ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2022.

Sources

  • Morris, Jill (April 1970). A Looking Glass on Yesterday. Brisbane: Captain Cook Bicentennary Committee.
  • Salt, Bernard (2001). The Big Shift. Hardie Grant Publishing. ISBN 978-1-876719-29-6.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sigrid Thornton.
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