Danielle Cormack
Cormack in 2011
Born (1970-12-26) 26 December 1970 (age 53)
Auckland, New Zealand
OccupationActor Producer Director
Years active1987–present
Known forWentworth”, “Rake”, “Underbelly”, “Madam”
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2009; div. 2013)​
[1]
Children2

Danielle Cormack (born 26 December 1970) is a New Zealand stage and screen actress.[2][3] She was one of the original cast members of the long-running soap opera Shortland Street, though she is also known for her role as the Amazon Ephiny in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess, Cynthia Ross in The Cult, and Shota in Legend of the Seeker. Other works include the 2009 film, Separation City, and the Australian series Rake.[4]

Career

Cormack also portrayed notorious Sydney underworld figure Kate Leigh in Underbelly: Razor, Doctor Rory Finch in Jack Irish.

Cormack also starred as Bea Smith in the Foxtel prison drama Wentworth, in which she starred for four years before leaving the show in 2016. The role of Bea Smith originally played by Val Lehman[5] in Prisoner.[6]

Cormack has since appeared regularly at Wentworth related events in the US and the UK, and hosted the 2023 New Jersey Event.[7]

Cormack alongside fellow Wentworth cast member Nicole da Silva started the production company FourOneOne, and have produced the play 'Whose Afraid' in 2022 and in 2023 directed Short Film Why We Fight [8].

Cormack has since appeared in numerous television productions including The Secrets She Keeps, Year Of, Erotic Stories [9] and more.

In 2022 Cormack narrated SBS documentary series Life on the Outside[10] where the show showed what life is like for inmates of prison who have just been released and how they got their lives back on track. Cormack also went to provide humanitarian aid to children in Ukraine.[11]

Personal life

Cormack has two children: Te Ahi Ka with fellow actor Pana Hema Taylor, born 19 March 2010 and Ethan (born in 1996), from a previous relationship.[12] In an interview with LOTL Magazine, Cormack mentioned that she has had long-term relationships with both men and women, and indicated that she prefers to avoid applying labels to patterns of sexuality.[13]

Cormack is an ambassador for SHINE for Kids.[14]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Snap Felicity Short film
A Game with No Rules Vera Smith Short film
1994 The Last Tattoo Molly
1997 Topless Women Talk About Their Lives Liz
1998 Via Satellite Chrissy / Carol
1999 Siam Sunset Grace
Channelling Baby Bunnie
2000 The Price of Milk Lucinda
2004 Without a Paddle Toni
Stringer Butcher
Together Rose Short film
2005 The Pool Jane Short film
River Queen Viola
2006 Mirage Various Short film
Cross My Heart Krystal Short film
Perfect Creature Margaret Sparrow
2008 A Song of Good Rachel Cradle
2009 Separation City Pam Nicholson

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
1987–89 Gloss Tania Veitch Main role
1992–93 Shortland Street Alison Raynor Main role [15]
1994 High Tide Meghan Kelly Episode: "Sitting Ducks"
1995 High Tide Jill McMillan Episode: "Dead Heat"
The Call Up Stacey Television film
Overnight Kelly Television film
1995–01 Xena: Warrior Princess Ephiny Recurring role (8 episodes)
1997 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Lady Marie DeValle Episode: "Les Contemptibles"
1997–99 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Ephiny Episodes: "Prodigal Sister", "Sky High"
2000 Jack of All Trades Katherine Episode: "A Horse of a Different Color"
Cleopatra 2525 Raina Episodes: "Mind Games", "Trial and Error", "Out of Body"
Xena: Warrior Princess Samsara Episode: "Lifeblood"
2004 Maiden Voyage Lynn Fabrizio Television film
2006 Maddigan's Quest Maddie Main role (13 episodes)
2007 Rude Awakenings Dimity Rush Main role (11 episodes)
2008 City Homicide Shirley Steadman Episode: "Taniwha"
The Strip Amy Episodes: "1.11", "1.12", "1.13"
2008–10 Legend of the Seeker Shota Recurring role (6 episodes)
2009 Buzzy Bee and Friends Elle-Gator (voice) Recurring role (14 episodes)
The Cult Cynthia Ross Main role (13 episodes)
2010 Forever New Zealand Catherine Television film
2010–16 Rake Scarlet Meagher Main role (32 episodes)
2011 East West 101 Angela Travis Episodes: "Jerusalem", "Behold a Pale Horse", "Revelation"
Underbelly: Razor Kate Leigh Main role (13 episodes)
2012 Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Anna Ross Episode: "Queen of the Flowers"
Buzzy Bee and Friends Elle-Gator (voice) Episodes: "2.1", "Memories", "Oscar's Ups and Downs"
2013–16 Wentworth Bea Smith Main role (46 episodes) [16]
2016 Deep Water[17] Brenda MacIntosh 4 part miniseries on SBS[18]
Stake Out Davina "Hijacking Hijinks"
2018 Patricia Moore Marnie 9 epsodes [19]
Jack Irish Rory Finch 5 episodes [20]
Secret City Karen Koutoufides Main role
2019 Fresh Eggs Lulu TV series
My Life Is Murder Nikki Malone / Nicole Buttera TV series, episode: "The Locked Room"
2022 The Secrets She Keeps Vicky Michaelson Season 2 (6 episodes) [21]
2023 Year Of Lucinda Prichard 9 episodes
Erotic Stories Ginger 1 episode (The Deluge) [22] [23]
TBA Madam TBA TBA [24]
Self/ Podcast / Interviews
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2022 Life on the Outside Self/Narrator Documentary 3 episodes [25]
2019 Wentworth: Behind the Bars Self TV Special
2017 Cram Self 1 episode [26]
2016 An Audience With the Cast of Wentworth Self TV Special [27]

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1993 East Sylv Mercury Theatre, Auckland
1994 East Sylv Zurich Arts Festival – Lucerne, Switzerland
1996 Spare Prick Lucinda Basement Theatre, Auckland
1996 Return of the Summer Street Seven Lucinda Basement Theatre, Auckland
1997 Arcadia Chloe Coverly Auckland Theatre Company
1999 Trainspotting Various New Zealand Tour
2001 The Blue Room Alison / Various Auckland Theatre Company
2001 A Streetcar Named Desire Stella Auckland Theatre Company
2002 The Bellbird Flo Auckland Theatre Company
2003 The Shape of Things Evelyn Auckland Theatre Company
2003 The Vagina Monologues Various New Zealand Tour
2004 Skin Tight Elizabeth New Zealand Tour
2004 Caligula Caesonia Auckland Theatre Company
2004 Sex with Strangers Robyn Herald Theatre, Auckland
2005 Sex with Strangers Prostitute Herald Theatre, Auckland
2005 A Clockwork Orange Various Silo Theatre, Auckland
2006 The Case of Katherine Mansfield Katherine Mansfield Herald Theatre, Auckland
2007 The Case of Katherine Mansfield Katherine Mansfield Downstage Theatre, Wellington
2008 The Hypocrite Dorine Melbourne Theatre Company
2008 Rock 'n' Roll Lenka Melbourne Theatre Company & Sydney Theatre Company
2010 Christ Almighty Three Wise Men The Basement Theatre, Auckland
2011 Yellow Moon Hollie B Sharp
2012 Top Girls Marlene Silo Theatre
2014 Rupert Anna Murdoch Theatre Royal, Sydney
2015 Boys Will Be Boys Astrid Wentworth Sydney Theatre Company
2016 Straight Steph Kings Cross Theatre
2018 The Misanthrope Alceste Bell Shakespeare, with Griffin Theatre[28]
2018 Hedda Hedda Queensland Theatre Company[29]
2020 Every Brilliant Thing (Director) Silo Theatre, Auckland[30]
2022 Whose Afraid Cast Belvoir St
2023 Blessed Union [31] Cast Belvoir St

Awards

Year Award Category Production Result
1997 New Zealand Film and TV Awards Best Actress Topless Women Talk About Their Lives Won
1999 Channelling Baby Nominated
2000 The Price of Milk Nominated
Fantasporto International Film Festival Siam Sunset Won
2005 Drifting Cloud International Film Festival Best Performance Together Won
2006 TV Guide Best on the Box People's Choice Awards Best Actress Maddigan's Quest Nominated
48 Hour Film Festival Best Manic Performance Mirage Won
Richmond Road Short Film Festival Best Performance Female Together Won
2009 Aotearoa Film & Television Awards Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film Separation City Nominated
2010 Qantas Television Awards Best Performance by Actress in General Television The Cult Won
2011 Equity Awards Best Ensemble Cast Rake Won
2012 Logie Award Most Popular Actress Underbelly: Razor & East West 101 Nominated
2014 Outstanding Actress Wentworth Nominated
Logie Awards Most Outstanding Drama Series Nominated
Most Outstanding Actress Nominated
2015 ASTRA Award Most Outstanding Female Actor Won
AACTA Award Wentworth Best Lead Actress in a Drama Nominated
Logie Award Most Outstanding Actress Wentworth Won
Most Outstanding Drama Series Wentworth Won
2016 AACTA Award Best Actress in a Drama Wentworth Nominated
Logie Award Most Outstanding Drama Series Wentworth Nominated
2017 Most Outstanding Actress Wentworth Pending
Most Outstanding Drama Series Wentworth Pending

References

  1. ^ "Wentworth star Danielle Cormack reconciled to 'judgement' over 'modern, blended family'". Stuff. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Danielle Cormack – Actor Profile & Biography". Johnson & Laird. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Danielle Cormack". IMDb. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  4. ^ NZ On Screen biography with permission via Creative Commons
  5. ^ "Prisoner originals meet Wentworth cast | TV Tonight". 24 April 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  6. ^ "TV WEEK". TV WEEK. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  7. ^ https://www.wentworthcon.com/new-jersey[bare URL]
  8. ^ "Instagram".
  9. ^ Knox, David (28 September 2023). "Airdate: Erotic Stories | TV Tonight". TV Tonight.
  10. ^ "Would you invite a former prisoner into your home?". The West Australian. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  11. ^ Nissen, Wendyl (June 2022). "Danielle Cormack's brave mission into a warzone". Now To Love. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Danielle Cormack: Love without barriers". NZ Woman's Weekly. 7 September 2012. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  13. ^ Franich, Sanya. "Danielle Cormack And The Remarkable Lightness Of Bea". LOTL Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  14. ^ "Looking for New National Youth Advisory Council Members". Shine for Kids. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  15. ^ Harrop, Nick (11 January 2024). "Why Danielle Cormack left Shortland St". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  16. ^ Know, David (4 October 2012). "Wentworth cast on the inside | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  17. ^ "SBS cast revealed for Deep Water | TV Tonight". 18 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Three-way drama battle looming". TV Tonight. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  19. ^ "Danielle Cormack, Les Hill to star in digital series 'Patricia Moore'". IF Magazine. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  20. ^ Knox, David (4 December 2017). "Danielle Cormack, Tom Gleeson to guest on Jack Irish. | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Australian Television: The Secrets She Keeps: Episode guide: Series 2".
  22. ^ Knox, David (27 April 2023). "Production begins on Erotic Stories for SBS | TV Tonight". TV Tonight.
  23. ^ Knox, David (28 September 2023). "Airdate: Erotic Stories | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  24. ^ Knox, David (29 September 2023). "Rachel Griffiths leads NZ dramedy Madam | TV Tonight". TV Tonight.
  25. ^ Perry, Kevin. "DANIELLE CORMACK presents ground-breaking new series LIFE ON THE OUTSIDE - Tonight on SBS - TV Blackbox". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  26. ^ Knox, David (6 December 2017). "Cram: Dec 6, 7. | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  27. ^ Knox, David (27 April 2016). "Airdate: An Audience with the cast of Wentworth | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  28. ^ "The Misanthrope". Sydney Opera House. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  29. ^ "Hedda". Queensland Theatre Company. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  30. ^ Sills, Ethan (16 November 2020). "Theatre review: Every Brilliant Thing, Silo Theatre". NZ Herald. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  31. ^ "Belvoir on Instagram: "❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍💟💙🤎🖤 Happy Mardi Gras from the BLESSED UNION fam & all the staff here at Belvoir! However you choose to celebrate it, we hope you have a fabulous night!"".

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Danielle Cormack.
Authority control databases
Equity Award for Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Categories