# Nicole da Silva

Nicole da Silva is an Australian actress, best known for her roles as Stella Dagostino in the series Rush (2008–2011), and as Franky Doyle in the show Wentworth (2013–2018, 2019). She has made appearances in series such as Carla Cametti PD (2009) and Doctor Doctor (2016–2021).

## Early life and education

Nicole da Silva was born in Sydney. Her family is from Portugal.
She obtained her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Sydney's Theatre Nepean, now known as Western Sydney University, in 2003.

## Career

Da Silva's first on-screen credit came in the Seven Network medical drama show All Saints, in which she played Sasha Fernandez for 11 episodes in 2005. In 2007, she played Erica "EC" Eulestra in the Fox8 series Dangerous, a role that earned her a Logie Award nomination.
Da Silva gained notable recognition in the Network Ten police drama series Rush, in which she appeared in all 70 episodes in four seasons as Stella Dagostino in the story based on the real-life Victoria Police Critical Incident Response Team, with the plot exploring both the personal and working lives of the team. Da Silva during the filming of one series of the show broke her leg while filming a scene.
She played one of the main roles as Lisa Testro in the show Carla Cametti PD (2009) for six episodes, but the series was cancelled after just one season.
Da Silva is probably best known for her role in the SoHo TV drama series Wentworth, in which she appeared from 2013 to 2018 as Franky Doyle. This role earned Da Silva the ASTRA Award for the Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor (Female) in 2014, and several other nominations.
In 2015, da Silva made her big-screen debut as Nana in Sophie Mathisen's romantic comedy Drama, starring Agnès Boury, Julien Bravo, and Jonathan Burteaux. In 2016, while working on Wentworth, da Silva was cast for the role of Charlie Knight in the Nine Network medical drama show Doctor Doctor, in the story of a rising heart surgeon's life and his problems that converted him from a big-city doctor into a small-town doctor. She appeared in all five seasons of the show while also appearing on Wentworth.
In 2023 da Silva appeared in Paramount Plus drama One Night alongside Yael Stone, Jodie Whittaker, and others.
Da Silva also appeared in the second season of Foxtel series Love Me (Australian TV series) in 2023.

## Production company

Da Silva and Wentworth co-star Danielle Cormack started the production company Four One One Productions. They produced the play Who's Afraid? in 2022, which was their first production with their company. In 2023 da Silva and Cormack directed the short film Why We Fight with Four One One.

## Other activities

In February 2014, she was announced as the first National Champion of UN Women Australia, for which she supported women's empowerment and gender equality at events around the country.
As of 2024 Da Silva is an ambassador for SmartFone Flick Fest (SF3), a film festival held annually in Sydney.

## Personal life

In April 2018, da Silva announced that she was expecting her first child with her ex-partner, John, and gave birth to a daughter in July 2018.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2005 | All Saints | Sasha Fernandez | Recurring; season 8 (11 episodes) |
| 2006 | Home and Away | Jane Simms | Guest; season 19, episode 26 (#4126) |
| 2007 | Dangerous | Erica "EC" Eulestra | Main; season 1 (8 episodes) |
| 2007 | East West 101 | Lily | Guest; season 1, episode 4: "Haunt for the Killer" |
| 2008–2011 | Rush | Stella Dagostino | Main; seasons 1–4 |
| 2009 | Carla Cametti PD | Lisa Testro | Main; season 1 (6 episodes) |
| 2011 | Cop Hard | Syvan | Recurring; season 1 (2 episodes) |
| 2012 | Stuffed | Easter | TV short |
| 2013–2018; 2019 | Wentworth | Franky Doyle | Main (season 1–6); guest (season 7) |
| 2016 | Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street | Dvora Henwick | Guest; season 2, episode 14: "Gortimer and the Jacks of All Trades" |
| 2016–2021 | Doctor Doctor | Charlie Knight | Main |
| 2019 | Harrow | Danica | Guest; season 2, episode 7 |
| 2023 | Love Me | Amy | 4 episodes |
| 2023 | One Night | Simone | 6 episodes (main cast) |
| 2024 | Bump | Jane | Guest: season 5 episode 4 |

### Film appearances

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2022 | Carmen | Julienne | Film |
| 2018 | The Tangle | Francesca | also Associate Producer |
| 2015 | Drama | Nana | Feature film |
| 2008 | The List | Subiaco's Ex-wife | Short film |
| 2006 | Final Call | Pharmacist | Short film |

### Other appearances

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2022 | Hot of the Press | Self | 1 episode |
| 2019 | Wentworth: Behind the Bars | Self | TV Special |
| 2017 | Have You Been Paying Attention? | Herself | Guest Quiz Master |
| 2016 | Lady Parts TV | Self | 1 episode |
| 2016 | An Audience with the Cast of Wentworth | Self | TV Special |

## Stage

On 19 August 2024, da Silva was announced as part of Ensemble Theatre's The Lover & The Dumb Waiter for its 2025 season. In 2022, da Silva appeared in Who's Afraid? alongside Danielle Cormack.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2025 | The Lover & The Dumb Waiter | | Ensemble Theatre |
| 2023 | The Memory of Water | Vi | Ensemble Theatre |
| 2022 | Whose Afraid? | Cast | Belvoir St |
| 2012 | Blood Wedding | Wife | Malthouse Theatre |
| 2011 | A Behanding in Spokane | Marilyn | MTC |
| 2009 | This is Our Youth | Jessica Goldman | Fortyfive Downstairs |
| 2009 | The Hayloft Project | Mary | STC |
source:

## Awards

| Year | Award | Category | TV show | Result |
| 2008 | Logie Award | Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New Talent | Dangerous | Nominated |
| 2014 | ASTRA Award | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor (Female) | Wentworth | Won |
| 2015 | ASTRA Award | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor (Female) | Wentworth | Nominated |
| 2015 | Logie Award | Most Outstanding Actress | Wentworth | Nominated |