# Essie Davis

Esther "Essie" Davis is an Australian actress and singer, best known for her roles as Phryne Fisher in Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and its film adaptation, Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears, and as Amelia Vanek in The Babadook. Other major works include a recurring role as Lady Crane in season six of the television series Game of Thrones, Sister Iphigenia in Lambs of God, and the role of Ellen Kelly in Justin Kurzel's True History of the Kelly Gang.

## Early life and education

Davis was born on 19 January, 1970 in Hobart, Tasmania, to renowned artist George Davis and Mary Davis, the youngest of seven children. She was raised in suburban Hobart, where her family (who were part of the inception of the Australian Green movement), grew and raised their own food including turkeys.
As a child, Davis was involved in community theatre, making her stage debut at age five at Hobart's Theatre Royal, playing the part of a moonbeam.
She was educated at Clarence High School; Rosny College; the University of Tasmania, where she was a member of the Old Nick Company; and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney.

## Career

Her acting career began with the Bell Shakespeare company when, straight out of NIDA, she was cast as Juliet in its 1993 production of Romeo and Juliet. She followed this with performances for the company in Hamlet and Richard III in 1993, and Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew in 1994.
Davis's film career started with her role in the 1995 Australian film Dad and Dave: On Our Selection, which starred Geoffrey Rush, Leo McKern and Joan Sutherland. Film roles continued in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, director Richard Flanagan's 1998 Tasmanian film The Sound of One Hand Clapping, and Girl with a Pearl Earring.
After further stage performances in Australia, including Gwendolen Fairfax in a national tour of The Importance of Being Earnest in 2000 and The School for Scandal for the Sydney Theatre Company in 2001, in 2003 she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Stella Kowalski opposite Glenn Close in Trevor Nunn's production of Tennessee Williams play A Streetcar Named Desire at the National Theatre in London. In 2004 she starred in a Broadway production of Tom Stoppard's Jumpers at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, for which she earned a Tony Award nomination. In 2005 she appeared as Mrs. Nellie Lovett in the BBC production of Sweeney Todd with Ray Winstone.
In the 2008 film, Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger she plays Esther's controlling mother. Also in 2008, she appeared in the film Australia with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, directed by Baz Luhrmann. The same year, Davis played Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof for the Melbourne Theatre Company.
Davis returned to Tasmania to launch the Tasmanian Theatre Company in 2008 and help support local theatre while encouraging youth to continue participating in the arts. In 2011, she received a Logie Award nomination for her role as Anouk in the Australian miniseries The Slap. In 2012, 2013 and 2015, Davis played Phryne Fisher, the central character in ABC Television's high-rating costume drama Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.
Davis starred in Jennifer Kent's 2014 debut feature The Babadook. For her work in the film Davis was nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, an AACTA International Award for Best Actress and a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Leading Actress.
In 2016, she joined the HBO series Game of Thrones in Season 6 as Lady Crane; this role did not continue into Season 7. In June 2016 she started filming The White Princess, playing Dowager Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth Woodville). In early January 2017, the producers released a video clip from the series as a brief trailer (teaser).
In 2018, Davis filmed the mini-series Lambs of God for Foxtel, playing the role of Sister Iphigenia. It was released July 2019 in Australia and has been sold to 46 other territories. For her performance as Sister Iphigenia, Davis has been nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Later the same year, Davis played Ellen Kelly in Justin Kurzel's True History of the Kelly Gang. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival 11 September 2019 and was released in Australian cinemas in 2020 by Transmission Films.
Also in 2018, Davis reprised her role of Phryne Fisher from the popular television series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries with a stand-alone action-adventure feature film, Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears With an AU$8m production budget, it wrapped production in late November 2018 and was released in cinemas in 2020.
In early 2019, Davis filmed the comedy-drama Babyteeth, playing the role of Anna. The film was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 76th Venice International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 4 September 2019.
In 2020, Davis finished filming The Justice of Bunny King, playing the title role. The film, co-starring Thomasin McKenzie, was shot in New Zealand.

## Personal life

Davis met future husband, film director Justin Kurzel while performing as Catherine in Belvoir Street Theatre’s production of A View from the Bridge in 1996. He was the costume and set designer for the play. They married in 2002 and have twin daughters together. The couple have collaborated both on screen and stage on numerous occasions.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1993 | The Custodian | Jilly | Feature film |
| 1995 | Dad and Dave: On Our Selection | Kate Rudd | Feature film |
| 1996 | Lilian's Story | Zara | Feature film |
| 1996 | River Street | Wendy Davis | Feature film |
| 1997 | Blackrock | Detective Gilhooley | Feature film |
| 1997 | The Two-Wheeled Time Machine | Young Alice | Short film |
| 1997 | The Ripper | Evelyn Bookman | TV film |
| 1998 | The Sound of One Hand Clapping | Jean | |
| 2003 | The Matrix Reloaded | Maggie | Feature film |
| 2003 | The Pact | Helene Davis | Feature film |
| 2003 | Girl with a Pearl Earring | Catharina Vermeer | Feature film |
| 2003 | Code 46 | Doctor | |
| 2003 | The Matrix Revolutions | Maggie | Feature film |
| 2003 | After the Deluge | Beth | TV film |
| 2003 | Temptation | Julie | TV film |
| 2005 | Isolation | Orla | |
| 2006 | Charlotte's Web | Mrs. Phyllis Arable | Feature film |
| 2006 | Sweeney Todd | Mrs. Lovett | TV film |
| 2006 | The Silence | Juliet Moore | TV film |
| 2008 | Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger | Grace Blueburger | Feature film |
| 2008 | Australia | Catherine "Cath" Carney Fletcher | Feature film |
| 2010 | South Solitary | Alma Stanley | |
| 2010 | The Wedding Party | Jane | |
| 2010 | Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole | Marella (voice) | Animated feature film |
| 2011 | The Last Time I Saw Michael Gregg | Lottie | Video |
| 2011 | Burning Man | Karen | |
| 2014 | A Poet in New York | Caitlin Thomas | TV film |
| 2014 | The Babadook | Amelia Vanek | Feature film |
| 2016 | Assassin's Creed | Mary Lynch | Feature film |
| 2017 | Mindhorn | Patricia Deville | |
| 2019 | Babyteeth | Anna Finlay | Feature film |
| 2019 | True History of the Kelly Gang | Ellen Kelly | |
| 2020 | Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears | Phryne Fisher | TV film |
| 2021 | The Justice of Bunny King | Bunny King | |
| 2021 | Nitram | Helen | Feature film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | Water Rats | Senior Detective Nicola Bourke | TV series, 2 episodes: "Blood Trail", "Dead or Alive" |
| 1998 | Kings in Grass Castles | Mary Costello | TV miniseries |
| 1998 | Murder Call | Judy St. John | TV series, season 2, episode 9: "Deadfall" |
| 2000 | Halifax f.p. | Alison Blount | TV series, episode: "The Spider and the Fly" |
| 2001 | Corridors of Power | Sophie | TV series, season 1, episode 4 |
| 2002 | Young Lions | Julie Morgan | TV series, season 1, episode 2: "Mardi Gras" |
| 2003 | Enter the Matrix | Maggie (voice) | Video game |
| 2011 | Cloudstreet | Dolly Pickles | TV miniseries |
| 2011 | The Slap | Anouk | TV series |
| 2012–2015 | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Phryne Fisher | TV series |
| 2014 | Funny or Die Presents | Amelia | TV series, episode: "The Babadooks of Hazzard" |
| 2016 | Game of Thrones | Lady Crane | TV series, 3 episodes: "The Door" "Blood of My Blood" "No One" |
| 2017 | The White Princess | Elizabeth Woodville | TV series |
| 2017 | Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams | Vera | TV series, episode: "Human Is" |
| 2017 | The Last Post | Martha Franklin | TV series |
| 2019 | Lambs of God | Sister Iphigenia | TV series |
| 2022 | Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities | Nancy Bradley | TV series, episode: "The Murmuring" |
| 2024 | One Day | Alison Mayhew, Dexter's Mum | Netflix series, 4 episodes |
| 2025 | Apple Cider Vinegar | Natalie Dal-Bello | 3 episodes |
| 2025 | Alien: Earth | Dame Silvia | Upcoming TV series |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | The Heiress | Lavinia Penniman | NIDA Parade Studio, Sydney |
| 1992 | Electra | Clytemnestra | NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney |
| 1992 | Crimes of the Heart | Babe Botrelle | NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney |
| 1992 | As You Like It | Attendant | NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney |
| 1992 | Images de Moliere | | NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney |
| 1993 | Romeo and Juliet | Juliet | Theatre Royal Sydney, Melbourne Athenaeum, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Canberra Theatre with Bell Shakespeare |
| 1993 | Hamlet | Player Queen / Court Lady | Theatre Royal Sydney, Melbourne Athenaeum, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Canberra Theatre with Bell Shakespeare |
| 1993 | Richard III | Jane Shore / Citizen | Theatre Royal Sydney, Melbourne Athenaeum, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Canberra Theatre with Bell Shakespeare |
| 1994 | The Taming of the Shrew | Katherina | Newcastle Civic Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, University of Sydney, Canberra Theatre, Regal Theatre, Perth, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Princess Theatre, Launceston with Bell Shakespeare |
| 1994 | Macbeth | Second Witch / Gentlewoman | Newcastle Civic Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, University of Sydney, Canberra Theatre, Regal Theatre, Perth, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Princess Theatre, Launceston with Bell Shakespeare |
| 1996 | A View from the Bridge | Catherine | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1996 | Night on Bald Mountain | Stella Summerhayes | Playhouse, Adelaide, Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney with STCSA |
| 1998 | Macbeth | Lady Macbeth | Space Theatre, Adelaide with STCSA |
| 1998 | The Idiot | Aglaya | Space Theatre, Adelaide with STCSA |
| 1999 | Twelfth Night | Viola | Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA |
| 1999 | The Rose Tattoo | Rosa | Opera Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA |
| 2000–2001 | The Importance of Being Earnest | Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax | Regal Theatre, Perth, Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Civic Theatre, Auckland, Theatre Royal Sydney, Manchester, Theatre Royal, Bath, Savoy Theatre, London |
| 2001 | The School for Scandal | Lady Teazle | Sydney Opera House with STC |
| 2002 | A Streetcar Named Desire | Stella Kowalski | Royal National Theatre, London |
| | The Cripple of Inishmaan | Helen | STC |
| 2003–2004 | Jumpers | Dorothy Moore | Lyttelton National Theatre, London, Piccadilly Theatre, London, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York |
| 2008 | Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Margaret | Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC |
| 2009 | Tot Mom | Nancy Grace | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC |
| 2021 | The Maids | Claire | Playhouse Theatre, Hobart with Archipelago Productions |

## Awards and nominations
### Film and television

| Year | Ceremony | Category | Work | Result |
| 1995 | Australian Film Institute Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Dad and Dave: On Our Selection | Nominated |
| 2000 | Australian Film Institute Awards | Best Actress in a Telefeature or Mini-Series | Halifax f.p.: The Spider and The Fly | Nominated |
| 2003 | Australian Film Institute Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy | After the Deluge | Won |
| 2006 | Screamfest Horror Film Festival | Festival Trophy | Isolation | Won |
| 2011 | Film Critics Circle of Australia | Best Supporting Actor- Female | South Solitary | Won |
| 2012 | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Cloudstreet | Nominated |
| 2012 | ASTRA Awards | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Female | Cloudstreet | Nominated |
| 2012 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | The Slap | Nominated |
| 2012 | Film Critics Circle of Australia | Best Actress – Supporting Role | Burning Man | Nominated |
| 2013 | AACTA Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Burning Man | Nominated |
| 2013 | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Nominated |
| 2014 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Nominated |
| 2014 | Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival | Best Actress | The Babadook | Won |
| 2014 | Sitges Film Festival | Best Actress | The Babadook | Won |
| 2014 | Toronto After Dark Film Festival | Best Actress | The Babadook | Won |
| 2014 | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress | The Babadook | Nominated |
| 2014 | Detroit Film Critics Society | Best Actress | The Babadook | Nominated |
| 2014 | Houston Film Critics Society | Best Actress | The Babadook | Nominated |
| 2014 | Online Film Critics Society | Best Actress | The Babadook | Nominated |
| 2014 | San Francisco Film Critics Circle | Best Actress | The Babadook | Nominated |
| 2014 | Alliance of Women Film Journalists | Best Breakthrough Performance | The Babadook | Nominated |
| 2014 | Village Voice Film Poll | Best Actress | The Babadook | 3rd place |
| 2015 | Saturn Awards | Best Actress | The Babadook | Nominated |
| 2015 | Empire Awards | Best Newcomer- Female | The Babadook | Nominated |
| 2015 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | Best Leading Actress | The Babadook | Won |
| 2015 | AACTA International Awards | Best Actress | The Babadook | Nominated |
| 2015 | Dorian Awards | Film Performance of The Year – Female | The Babadook | Nominated |
| 2016 | Logie Awards | Gold Logie | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Nominated |
| 2016 | Logie Awards | Best Actress | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Nominated |
| 2016 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Nominated |
| 2019 | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Lambs of God | Nominated |
| 2020 | Film Club's The Lost Weekend | Best Supporting Actress | Babyteeth | Won |
| 2020 | AACTA Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Babyteeth | Won |
| 2021 | AACTA Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nitram | Won |

### Stage

| Year | Ceremony | Category | Title | Work |
| 1993 | Sydney Theatre Critics Awards | Best Newcomer | Romeo and Juliet | Nominated |
| 2002 | Helpmann Awards | Best Female Actor in a Play | The School for Scandal | Nominated |
| 2003 | Olivier Awards | Best Performance in a Supporting Role | A Streetcar Named Desire | Won |
| 2004 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Play | Jumpers | Nominated |