# Julie Nihill

Julie Nihill (born 1957 in Melbourne) is an Australian actress, voice artist, narrator, producer and writer, best known for her 12-year role as Chris Riley on the police drama Blue Heelers (1994–2006).

## Early life

Nihill was drawn to acting through her love of storytelling. She originally studied a Bachelor of Science (Biological Sciences) at La Trobe University, which she abandoned to pursue a career as an actress. She trained at Trinity College London, studying an Associate Diploma in Speech and Drama, and an Associate Diploma in Effective Speaking.

## Career

Nihill made her television debut in I Can Jump Puddles (1981) and her film debut in Careful, He Might Hear You (1983). This led to her first lead role in the ABC TV movie Every Move She Makes (for which she received a Penguin Award) and the miniseries Bodyline, in which Nihill played Jessie Bradman, Sir Donald Bradman's wife.
Nihill became a household face in 1994 when she was cast as publican and local Councillor Chris Riley on the police drama Blue Heelers. Nihill was one of only two actors (the other being John Wood) to star in the series for its entire run.
Nihill played guest roles in television programs including Prisoner: Cell Block H, Sons and Daughters, A Country Practice, Mother and Son, House Husbands, The Leftovers, and Picnic at Hanging Rock.
She is also a theatre performer, having worked with Australian theatre companies such as the Melbourne Theatre Company, the Sydney Theatre Company and the Tasmanian Theatre Company. She has performed numerous radio plays for the ABC, as well as commercial voice-over work and documentary narration. Nihill has also narrated a number of audiobooks.

## Personal life

Nihill was married to actor Richard Moir, and they had two daughters, actress Lucy Moir and director Bonnie Moir.
She runs an Australian production company called EarthStar Films.
Nihill has a Graduate Diploma in Education from Mercy College, Melbourne and is registered with the Victorian Department of Education. She is also a Human Potential and Transformation Coach and Facilitator, a qualification she obtained in California.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1982 | A Slice of Life | Pam | Feature film |
| 1982 | We of the Never Never | | Feature film |
| 1983 | Careful, He Might Hear You | Diana | Feature film |
| 1983 | Undercover | Design Room Girl | Feature film |
| 1985 | The Coca-Cola Kid | Marching Girl | Feature film |
| 1985 | Rebel | Joycie | Feature film |
| 1986 | Kangaroo | Vicki Calcott | Feature film |
| 1988 | Boundaries of the Heart | June Thompson | Feature film |
| 1990 | Deadly | Jeny | Feature film |
| 2000 | The Way of the Birds | Herself (Voice) | Film short |
| 2001 | Dalkeith | Sally | Feature film |
| 2015 | Holding the Man | Petrea, Pranic Healer (uncredited) | Feature film |
| 2016 | The Prince of Chinatown | Mother | Film short |
| 2017 | Pillars | Louisa | Film short |
| 2018 | Bird | Teacher | Film short |
| 2019 | The Diver | Cynthia | Film short |
| 2020 | Nursery | Carol | Film short |
| 2020 | The Way of the Birds | Narrator / The Mother | Animated short |
| 2020 | Love is a Lunatic City | Op-Shop Volunteer | Film short |
| 2021 | The Cutting Room | Fay | Film short |
| 2023 | Nursery | Carol | Film short |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1981 | I Can Jump Puddles | Young Woman | TV miniseries, 1 episode "Getting Your Breath" |
| 1981 | The Sullivans | Sue Matthews | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1982 | Holiday Island | Bernadine | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1982 | Home | Joy | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1982 | The Young Doctors | Linda Wilson | TV series, 8 episodes |
| 1982; 1983 | Prisoner | Lindy Peters / Nurse | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1983 | Starting Out | Tessa Staples | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1984 | Bodyline | Jessie Bradman | TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 1984; 1989 | A Country Practice | Michelle Hayden / Dinny | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1984 | Every Move She Makes | Alison Berger | TV movie |
| 1984 | The Cowra Breakout | Merle | TV miniseries, 4 episodes |
| 1985 | Sons and Daughters | Julie Webb | TV series, 16 episodes |
| 1986 | Tusitala | Belle Strong | TV miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 1987 | Army Wives | Jill | TV movie |
| 1988; 1991 | Rafferty's Rules | Cathy Gregory | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1989 | The Flying Doctors | Jilly Potter | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | Mother and Son | Receptionist | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994–2006 | Blue Heelers | Christine 'Chris' Riley | TV series, 507 episodes |
| 1995 | Banjo Paterson's The Man from Snowy River (aka Snowy River: The McGregor Saga) | Nora O'Reilly | TV series, season 2, 1 episode |
| 1998 | Good Morning Australia | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2012 | Winners & Losers | Pauline Brown | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2012 | The Mystery of a Hansom Cab | Mrs. Hableton | TV movie |
| 2014 | Worst Year of My Life, Again! | Ms Fowler | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2014 | The Greatest Love of All | Gary's Mum | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2017 | House Husbands | Bronwyn | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2017 | The Leftovers | Sharon | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2017 | True Story with Hamish & Andy | Ruth | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2018 | Picnic at Hanging Rock | Mrs. Horton | TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 2018 | The Doctor Blake Mysteries | Maggie Butson | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2018 | How to Stay Married | Mrs. Veteris | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2019 | Neighbours | Sister Grace | TV series, 1 episode |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Venue / Co. |
| 1980 | You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown | Patty | Universal Theatre, Melbourne & Anthill Theatre |
| 1985–86 | Mixed Doubles: Tom Thumb the Great | Princess Huncamunca / Foodle | Wharf Theatre with STC |
| 1985–86 | Mixed Doubles: Seduced | Miami | Wharf Theatre with STC |
| 1985–86 | Mixed Doubles: Family Favourites | Lucy | Wharf Theatre with STC |
| 1985–86 | Mixed Doubles: Suddenly Last Summer | Sister Felicity | Wharf Theatre with STC |
| 1986 | Wild Honey | Sacha | Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA |
| 1988–89 | Don's Party | Kath | Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Athenaeum with Kinselas |
| 1991 | Ursula (Adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s Women in Love) | Ursula | Crossroads Theatre, Sydney |
| 1991 | Molly in Bed (Soliloquy from James Joyce's Ulysses) | Clara Mason | Crossroads Theatre, Sydney |
| 1993 | Big Toys | Mag | Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Ford Theatre, Geelong, Monash University, West Gippsland Arts Centre, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat |
| 1995 | The Supper | Erika | Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Stables Productions |
| 2001 | Return Journey | Barmaid | Montsalvat, Melbourne |
| 2001 | The Fire & the Rose | One woman cabaret | Montsalvat, Melbourne |
| 2001 | Under Milk Wood | Polly Garter | Montsalvat, Melbourne |
| 2003 | Inheritance | Simon Phillips | Playhouse, Melbourne, Sydney Opera House with MTC / STC |
| 2006 | Secret Life of Shakespeare | Gertrude / Viola | |
| 2007 | The Glass Soldier | | Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC |
| 2014 | The Glass Menagerie | Amanda | Melbourne Fringe Festival |
| 2017 | Bakersfield Mist | Maude | Tasmanian Theatre Company |
| 2020 | Running with Emus | | La Mama, Melbourne |

## Awards

| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
| 1984 | Every Move She Makes | Penguin Award | Certificate of Commendation for a Single Performance by a Lead Actress in a One-off Drama | Won |
| 1985 | Bodyline | Logie Award | Best New Talent | Nominated |
| 1985 | Bodyline | Logie Award | Best Actress in a Miniseries | Nominated |
| 1988 | Boundaries of the Heart | Australian Film Institute Award | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Nominated |