Peta Gia Wilson (born 18 November 1970)[1] is an Australian actress, lingerie designer and model. She is best known as Nikita in the television series La Femme Nikita.[2]

Peta Wilson
Wilson in 2004
Born
Peta Gia Wilson

(1970-11-18) 18 November 1970 (age 53)
Occupation(s)Actress, designer, model
Years active1995–present
Known forNikita in La Femme Nikita
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
PartnerDamian Harris (1997–2002)
Children1

Biography

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Early life

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Wilson was born in Sydney on 18 November 1970. She is the daughter of the caterer Karlene White Wilson and Darcy Wilson, a former Warrant Officer in the Australian Army.[3] She spent several years in Papua New Guinea when her father was stationed there. Her parents divorced in 1982.[4]

Career

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Wilson worked first as a model in Australia and in Europe before moving to Los Angeles in 1991. There she studied acting with Arthur Mendoza at the Actors Circle Theatre, and with Tom Waits at the TomKat Repertory Group. After five years of study, she was hired for some small roles in independent films such as Naked Jane and Loser.

In 1996, she was preparing to continue her studies at an acting school in New York City, but decided to audition first for a new television show being produced for the USA cable TV channel in North America. Over 200 actresses auditioned for the starring role, and Wilson was chosen. The show was called La Femme Nikita, based on the French action thriller movie La Femme Nikita (1990).[5][6]

The hour-long series was produced by a combination of Canadian and American companies. It ran for five years and 96 episodes (22 episodes per season for four years, and another eight episodes in its fifth and final TV year). Most were filmed in and around Toronto, Ontario.[citation needed] Wilson's co-stars were Roy Dupuis, Don Francks, Alberta Watson and Eugene Robert Glazer. Wilson was twice nominated for the annual Gemini Award for "Best Performance by An Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role".

 
Peta Wilson with Jack Nicholson and Vladimir Putin in 2001

In 2001, Wilson took part in the Moscow International Film Festival, where she met Russian president Vladimir Putin, who confessed to being a fan of hers.[7] She portrayed real-life actress Anny Ondra in the television movie Joe and Max (2002).

She also appeared as the vampire Mina Harker in the 2003 film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

During 2006, she appeared on an Australian TV mystery anthology drama Two Twisted. and had a small role in the movie Superman Returns as the character Bobbie-Faye, a NASA spokeswoman.

In 2009, Wilson starred in an Australian independent film Beautiful. She guest starred on CSI: Miami (2010) and The Finder (2012).

In 2012, she launched a lingerie label, Wylie Wilson,[8] with a flagship store in Los Angeles.

In 2013, Wilson received the Best Actress Award at the Cinerockom International Film Festival for her performance as CIA agent Marla Criswell in the short film Liberator.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Wilson lived with her longtime boyfriend, director Damian Harris, from 1997 until their separation in 2002.[3][9] They have a son named Marlowe.[10]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 The Sadness of Sex Girl of His Dreams
1995 Naked Jane Marissa
1996 Loser Alyssha Rourke
1997 One of Our Own Corporal Jennifer Vaughn
2000 Mercy Vickie Kittrie
2003 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Dr. Mina Harker Feature film
2006 Superman Returns Bobbie-Faye Feature film
2007 Gardens of the Night Sarah
2009 Beautiful Sherrie Feature film
2010 Errand Boy Genie Short film
2011 Somewhere Tonight Girl With Something Extra (voice) Credited as Vera Lune
2012 Liberator Marla Criswell Short film
2015 Dutch Kills Ladye Bishop

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1996 Woman Undone The Receptionist TV movie
1996 Strangers Martha Episode: "Going Without"
1996 Highlander Inspector Episode: "Promises"
1997 Vanishing Point Motorcycle Girl TV movie
1997–2001 La Femme Nikita Nikita Main role
2001 Other People Harriet Stone TV pilot
2001 A Girl Thing Alex Mini-series
2002 Joe and Max Anny Ondra TV movie
2004 False Pretenses Dianne / Deedee TV movie
2005 Jonny Zero Aly 2 episodes: "Bounty", "Diamonds & Guns"
2006 Two Twisted Mischa Sparkle Episode: "A Flash Exclusive"
2009 Malibu Shark Attack Heather TV movie
2010 CSI: Miami Amanda Episode: "Sudden Death"
2012 The Finder Pope Episode: "Little Green Man"
2017 Michael Hutchence: The Last Rockstar Herself TV documentary
2021 Troppo Eve TV series

Nominations

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Year TV Show Award Result
1998 La Femme Nikita Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Nominated
1998 La Femme Nikita OFTA Television Award Best Actress in a Cable Series Nominated
1998 La Femme Nikita Saturn Award Best Genre TV Actress Nominated
1999 La Femme Nikita Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Nominated
2003 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Peta Wilson babe page – Watch this actress on FreeOnes". www.freeones.co.uk.
  2. ^ Cheney, Alexandra. "'La Femme Nikita' Star Peta Wilson on the 'Nikita' Remake with Maggie Q". WSJ. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Peta Wilson Biography (1970–)". www.filmreference.com.
  4. ^ "Peta Gia Wilson". www.hollywood.com. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Peta Wilson". www.littlereview.com. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  6. ^ Wilson, Peta (1 August 1997). "Interview with Peta Wilson". EW.com (Interview). Interviewed by Snierson, Dan. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Putin's Last Love: Foreign Actress Makes Sensational Confession". RU: Pravda. 31 July 2003. Archived from the original on 7 July 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  8. ^ "Peta Wilson Is Wylie Wilson". US: Huffington Post. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Peta Wilson Biography". petawilsonsite.com. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  10. ^ "La Femme Nikita's Peta Wilson reveals all". The Advertiser. 9 September 2007. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012.

Further reading

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  • Heyn, Christopher. "A Conversation with Peta Wilson". Inside Section One: Creating and Producing TV's La Femme Nikita. Introduction by Peta Wilson. Los Angeles: Persistence of Vision Press, 2006. pp. 66–74. ISBN 0-9787625-0-9. In-depth conversation with Peta Wilson about her role as Nikita on La Femme Nikita, as well as her approach to acting.
  • Connolley, Dawn. "Nuthin' Fancy Luv, I'm Australian". La Femme Peta: The Unauthorized Biography of Peta Wilson. Toronto, ECW Press, 2000. pp. 1–32. ISBN 1-55022-385-2. Unauthorised biography of Peta Wilson culled from various pre-published sources.
  • Edwards, Ted. La Femme Nikita X-Posed: The Unauthorized Biography of Peta Wilson and Her On-Screen Character. Prima Lifestyles, 1998, ISBN 0-7615-1454-6.
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