Marina Finlay (born 1961) was an Australian actress who in 1990 left acting to be an artist.

Finlay was born and grew up in Sydney, and is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). She learned to paint from Judy Cassab, for whom she was a model for 30 years.[1]

She began her career as an actor who played notable roles in television soap operas – Lucy Dunlop in The Young Doctors, Elizabeth Drysdale in Taurus Rising, Lainie Dobson in Prisoner and Laura Banning in Sons and Daughters.

In 1990 Finlay left acting to be a painter. She has had several portraits in the Portia Geach Memorial Award. In 2006 her portrait of Hugo Weaving was hung in the Archibald Prize Salon des Refusés. In 2018 she was an Archibald Prize finalist for her portrait of Peter and Susan O'Doherty, and their cat Coco.[1]

Also in 2018, she was the subject of the portrait by another Archibald Prize finalist, Karyn Zamel. Finlay is also the subject of a portrait by Zamel which was a finalist in the 2016 Portia Geach Memorial Award.[2]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Type
1985 An Indecent Obsession Sue Peddar Feature film
1988 Afraid to Dance Checkout Girl Feature film
1990 A Woman's Tale Prostitute Feature film
2000 After the Rain Tracey Feature film

Television edit

Year Title Role Type
1981 The Young Doctors Guest role: Lucy Dunlop TV series
1981 The Added Dimension Woman Video
1982 Taurus Rising Regular lead role: Elizabeth Drysdale TV series, 26 episodes
1983 Cop Shop TV series, 2 episodes
1983 Prisoner Recurring role: Lainie Dobson TV series, 13 episodes
1984 Special Squad Guest role: Suzie TV series, 1 episode
1986 The Flying Doctors Guest role: Debbie Wilson TV series, 1 episode
1986 Sons and Daughters Recurring role: Laura Banning TV series, 8 episodes
1987 Rafferty's Rules Guest role: Emma TV series, 1 episode
1996 Water Rats Guest role: Gretchen Hart TV series, 1 episode
1998 Home and Away Guest role: Christina TV series, 1 episode
2011 Crownies Guest role: Trudie TV series, 1 episode
2021 Talking Prisoner Herself Podcast series, 1 episode

References edit

  1. ^ a b Marina Finlay, Finalist, Archibald Prize 2018, Art Gallery of NSW.
  2. ^ Marina Finlay portrait by Karyn Zamel, Finalist, Archibald Prize 2018, Art Gallery of NSW.

External links edit