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.
Sigrid Thornton | |
|---|---|
 Thornton in 2012 | |
| Born | Sigrid Madeline Thornton 12 February 1959 Canberra, Australia |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Spouse | Tom Burstall (1981–present) |
| Children | 2 |
Biography
editEarly years
editThornton 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
editShe acted in TV series Homicide in 1973 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
editThornton'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 Chekhov's The Seagull for the Sydney Theatre Company.
On 11 September 2024, Thornton was named for the 2025 season for the Melbourne Theatre Co play Mother Play.[12]
Recent film and television work
editIn 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.[13]
In 2011, Thornton starred in Face to Face, an independent Australian film directed by Michael Rymer.[14]
In 2012, she participated in Who Do You Think You Are.[15]
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.[16]
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.
In 2021 Thornton would film the feature film Slant and critics praised Thornton's role as 'career best'.[17]
The "Sigrid Factor"
editIn 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.[18] 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
editThornton 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.[19] 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.[20]
In 2023 Thornton would receive a star on the Randwick Walk of Fame.[21]
In August of 2024 Thornton's mother Merle Thornton passed away aged 93. Merle was a well known activist whom Sigrid looked up to. Sigrid said of her mother's passing that she was proud of her mother.[22]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The F.J. Holden | Wendy | Feature film |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| The Pact | Susan Tuttle | Feature film | |
| 2003 | Inspector Gadget 2 | Mayor Wilson | Feature film |
| 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 |
| Face to Face | Claire Baldoni | Feature film | |
| 2014 | BFFs | Jacqueline | Feature film |
| 2016 | Scare Campaign | Vicki | Feature film |
| 2023 | Slant | Vivianne Verity | Feature film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Homicide | Erica Johnston | TV series, 1 episode |
| Certain Women | 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 |
| Bobby Dazzler | Anastasia | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1977 | The Sullivans | Buffy Turnbull | TV series, 24 episodes |
| Young Ramsay | Annette Murray | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1978 | Father, Dear Father In Australia | Sue Glover | TV series, 14 episodes |
| 1978-80 | Cop Shop | Tracy McBean / Karen / Helen Davis | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1978 | Glenview High | Georgiana | TV series, 1 episode |
| Case for the Defence | Mandy Lattimer | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Chopper Squad | Mandy Paramor | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1979–80 | Prisoner | Roslyn Coulson | TV series, 30 episodes |
| 1980 | Skyways | Olivia Baker | TV series, 1 episode |
| The Last Outlaw | Kate Kelly | TV miniseries, 4 episodes | |
| Lawson's Mates | Hannah | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Players in the Gallery | TV film series, 1 episode | ||
| 1981 | I Can Jump Puddles | Mabel | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| Bellamy | Fiona | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Outbreak of Love | Anthea Langton | TV miniseries | |
| 1982 | 1915 | Frances | TV miniseries, 7 episodes |
| 1983 | All The Rivers Run | Philadelphia Gordon | TV miniseries, 8 episodes |
| The Boy in the Bush | Monica Ellis | TV miniseries, 4 episodes | |
| 1984 | 26th Annual TV Week Logie Awards | Best Lead Actress in TV Mini Series All The Rivers Run Winner | TV special |
| 1987 | Great Expectations: The Untold Story | Bridget Tankerton | TV movie |
| The Far Country | Jennifer Morton | TV miniseries, 2 episodes | |
| 1988-1991 | Paradise | Amelia Lawson | TV series, 56 episodes |
| 1993 | Ernie and Denise | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| The Feds | Christine McQuillan | TV movie pilot | |
| 1994 | G.P. | Renee Jackson | TV series, 1 episode |
| Trapped In Space (aka Breaking Strain) | Issacs | TV movie | |
| 1996 | Whipping Boy | Cass Meridith | TV movie |
| 1998; 2010 | Hey Hey It's Saturday | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1998–2000 | SeaChange | Laura Gibson | TV series, lead role, 47 episodes |
| 2000 | The New Adventures of Ocean Girl | Narrator | TV series, 10 episodes |
| 2002 | Island Life | Narrator | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 2005 | MDA | Dr. Robyn Masterton | TV series, 4 episodes |
| Little Oberon | Lola Green | TV movie | |
| 2006 | Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King | Mrs. Anges Sternwood | TV miniseries, episode 1 |
| 2008 | Dream Life | Mrs Buchanan | TV movie |
| 2010 | Underbelly: The Golden Mile [23] | Gerry Lloyd | TV series, 7 episodes |
| Hey Hey It's Saturday [24] | Herself ("Red Faces" segment) | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2013 | #7 Days Later | Molly | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2014 | The Code [25] | Lara Dixon | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 2015 | Peter Allen: The Boy Next Door [26] | Judy Garland | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2016–2018 | Wentworth [27] | Sonia Stevens | TV series, 26 episodes |
| 2017 | David Stratton: A Cinematic Life | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Sando | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| Orange Is the New Brown | Dr. Vulva, Nigella Lawson | TV series 2 episodes | |
| 2019 | Lambs of God | Rose Stanford | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| SeaChange [28] | Laura Gibson | TV series, 13 episodes | |
| 2020 | Brazen Hussies | Narrator | TV special |
| 2021 | Amazing Grace [29] | Diane Cresswell | TV series, 8 episodes |
Self / Interviews
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The 2024 TV Week Logie Awards | Herself on screen | TV Special |
| 2023 | Today Extra | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| Sunrise | Guest (with Tom Burlinson) | TV series, 1 episode | |
| The Morning Show | Guest (with Tom Burlinson) | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Studio 10 | Guest (with Tom Burlinson) | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Studio 10 10th Birthday Show | Guest (with Tom Burlinson) | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2022 | This Is Your Life: Rebecca Gibney | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2022, 2023 | Today Extra | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2022 | ABC 90 Celebrate! | Guest | TV special |
| 2020 | News Breakfast | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2019, 2022 | Today Extra | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Today | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| The Daily Edition | Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
| The 61st Annual TV Week Logie Awards | Herself | TV special | |
| 2018 | Anh's Brush with Fame [30] | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2018, 2023 | Studio 10 | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2018 | Wentworth: Season 6 Behind the Scenes | Herself | TV special |
| The 60th Annual TV Week Logie Awards | Herself | TV special | |
| 2016 | One Plus One | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2015 | The Daily Edition | Self | TV series, 1 episode |
| 4th AACTA Awards | Herself | TV special | |
| Mornings | Self | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2012 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2008-2011 | Inside Film Awards | Presenter | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2008 | Talking Heads | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2007 | What's Good For You | Host | TV series |
| 2006 | Ingenious Africa | Herself | TV series, 13 episodes |
| 2005 | 50 Years 50 Shows | Herself | TV Special |
| 2005 | Australia Unites: Reach Out to Asia | Herself | TV telethon special |
| 2004 | 2004 Australian Film Institute Awards | Herself | TV special |
| 2003 | ABC Australian Movie Screenings | Host | TV series, 4 episodes |
| Welcher & Welcher | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Greeks on the Roof | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Micallef Tonight | Herself - Cue card holder | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Enough Rope with Andrew Denton | Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2001 | Rove Live | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| The Micallef Program | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2000 | The Panel | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| The Big Schmooze | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1999 | O'Loughlin on Saturday Night | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1998 | World Vision: A Friend in Need | Herself | TV special |
| E! News | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Sunday | Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Race Around the World | Herself | TV series | |
| Laws | Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Australian Story | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| People's Choice Awards | Herself | TV special | |
| Witness | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Seven Nightly News | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| National Nine News | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| ABC News | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Denise | Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
| Recovery | Guest (with Cassandra Magrath) | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1997; 1998 | Ten News | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | World Vision: A Matter of Survival | Herself | TV special |
| 1996 | The 1996 Australian Film Institute Awards | Co-host | TV special |
| World Vision: A Christmas Wish | Herself | TV telethon special | |
| 1995 | 4 Quarters | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| AFL Grand Final | Guest | TV special | |
| World Vision Appeal: Vision For A Better World | Herself | TV telethon special | |
| Cinematheque | Herself | TV series | |
| 1994; 1995 | World Vision Appeal: Vision For A Better World | Herself | TV telethon special |
| 1994; 1998 | People's Choice Awards | Herself | TV special |
| 1994 | The Talk Show | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| Wildscreen - Sperm Wars | Herself | TV documentary | |
| One Family | Herself | TV special | |
| Australian Fashion Awards | Presenter | TV special | |
| Homicide... 30 Years On | Herself | TV special | |
| Review - A.F.I Awards | Herself | TV series special | |
| 1993-2005 | Good Morning Australia | Guest | TV series |
| 1993 | Tonight Live with Steve Vizard | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| Children at the Edge | Herself | TV special | |
| Inside Edition | Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1992; 1994 | People's Choice Awards | Herself | TV special |
| 1992 | In Sydney Today | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| The Morning Show | Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
| The World Tonight | Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1992-98 | The Midday Show | Guest | TV series, 5 episodes |
| 1991; 1992 | Tonight Live with Steve Vizard | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990 | 32nd Annual TV Week Logie Awards | Herself | TV special |
| 1989 | The Pat Sajak Show | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1988 | Reading Australian Film | Presenter | Video |
| The Comedy Company | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1982 | The Don Lane Show | Guest (with Jack Thompson & Tom Burlinson) | TV series, 1 episode |
| The Mike Walsh Show | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
Theatre
editAwards and nominations
editReferences
editNotes
- ^ Sigrid Thornton: biography and credits
- ^ Morris 1970, p. [page needed].
- ^ a b Griffin, Michelle (18 September 2005). "The Sigrid weapon". The Age. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ Warden, Ian (2 April 1984). "Familiar damsel saved from ravagingly good shipwreck". The Canberra Times. p. 26. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ Wallace, Lisa (14 September 1987). "An Australian miniseries for everyone". The Canberra Times. p. 6. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Thornton, Graham red hot in the Blue Room" by Helen Thomson, The Age, 16 January 2003
- ^ A Little Night Music Archived 3 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Opera Australia
- ^ "Sigrid Thornton shines as Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire" by Jay Hanna, Perth Now, 20 March 2014
- ^ "Event Details: Sigrid Thornton in Diary of a Nobody"
- ^ "Anthony Warlow returns to Australian stage for Fiddler on the Roof". Herald Sun. 13 September 2015.
- ^ Woodhead, Cameron (11 September 2024). "An unflinching footy play is coming back. And so is a David Williamson classic". The Age. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ McWhirter, Erin (8 September 2009). "Sigrid Thornton plays hard cop in Underbelly The Golden Mile". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ "Face to Face". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ "Season 2, episodes – Who Do You Think You Are". SBS. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Gogos, Christopher (8 December 2022). "Nikou's Slant wins Best Australian Film at Monster Fest". NEOS KOSMOS. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Salt 2001, p. [page needed].
- ^ Quinn, Karl (5 December 2015). "'There is no endgame': Sigrid Thornton on a life embracing change". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Writer, Staff. "Sigrid Thornton welcomed by Randwick City to the Film Walk of Fame | ScreenHub Australia - Film & Television Jobs, News, Reviews & Screen Industry Data". screen hub.
- ^ O'Flaherty, Antonia (21 August 2024). "Merle Thornton, who fought for the right for women to drink at public bars in Queensland, dies aged 93". ABC News. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Sigrid cops it for Underbelly | TV Tonight". 9 September 2009.
- ^ "Hey Hey: Guests | TV Tonight". 14 April 2010.
- ^ "Anthony LaPaglia, Sigrid Thornton join the Code. | TV Tonight". 17 August 2015.
- ^ "Sigrid: 'Judy championed Peter Allen to be his own man' | TV Tonight". 11 September 2015.
- ^ "Sigrid Thornton joins Wentworth | TV Tonight". 5 November 2015.
- ^ "No Sigrid, no SeaChange. | TV Tonight". 23 July 2019.
- ^ "Filming underway on Amazing Grace | TV Tonight". 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Anh's Brush with Fame: Sept 12 | TV Tonight". 11 September 2018.
- ^ "AusStage".
- ^ Thornton, Sigrid. "Biography". sigridthornton.com. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ "The Chauvel Award". Gold Coast Film Festival. Retrieved 6 April 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
edit- Plum Role for 14-year-old. Brisbane: Queensland Newspapers. November 1974.[not specific enough to verify]
- Denton, Andrew (2005). Enough Rope: Sigrid Thornton. Sydney: Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
External links
edit
- Sigrid Thornton at IMDb
- Official website
- Thornton, Sigrid (1959–) at The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia
- Sigrid Thornton on Instagram