William McKenna (actor)

William McKenna is an Australian actor.

William McKenna
NationalityAustralian
OccupationActor
Years active2016–present
Notable workHarry Potter and the Cursed Child (2018–2020)

Career edit

On stage, he starred as Draco Malfoy's son Scorpius in the Melbourne staging of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child from 2018 to 2020,[1][2] a role for which he was nominated for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play at the 19th Helpmann Awards and won Best Performance in a Theatre Production at the 37th Green Room Awards.[3][4]

On television, he played Ben Ripley in Nowhere Boys[5] and Ed Kennedy in The Messenger, an adaptation of Markus Zusak's novel of the same name.[6][7]

 
William McKenna (far right) in a behind the scenes photo while filming Queen of Oz with Rachel Gordon, Niky Wardley, Catherine Tate, Jeff Gutheim, and Jenna Owen

In 2023, he starred as Matthew, a nervous personal assistant to the fictitious Australian monarch, in the BBC sitcom Queen of Oz,[8] created by English comedian Catherine Tate.[9]

Filmography edit

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2016 You're Skitting Me Various 26 episodes [10]
2016–2018 Nowhere Boys Ben Ripley Main role (seasons 3–4) [10]
2023 The Messenger Ed Kennedy Main role [7]
Queen of Oz Matthew[10] [11]

Short films edit

Year Title Role
2018 Skates Boy
Welcome Home Jessica's Friend
2021 Breathe Toby
2022 Go with Grace Gem

Theatre edit

Year Title Role Venue / Company Ref.
2018–2020 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Scorpius Malfoy Princess Theatre [1]
2022 Admissions Charlie Luther Mason Melbourne Theatre Company [12]
2023 Bernhardt/Hamlet Maurice Bernhardt [13]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Lallo, Michael (4 May 2019), "On the very stage where his great-grandparents met, a star is born", The Sydney Morning Herald
  2. ^ Lambert, Catherine (27 January 2020), "Teen's incredible rise from schoolboy to Harry Potter star", Herald Sun
  3. ^ Miller, Nick (6 April 2020). "Camp Dogs run away with Melbourne's annual theatre awards". The Age. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  4. ^ "2020 Nominations & Recipients – The Green Room Awards". Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  5. ^ Quinn, Karl (7 November 2016), "Nowhere Boys: Two Moons Rising review: New cast adds extra dimension to teen hit", The Sydney Morning Herald
  6. ^ The IF Team (28 November 2022), "'The Messenger' (Trailer)", if
  7. ^ a b Lallo, Michael (9 May 2023). "Will McKenna takes magic from the stage to the screen with The Messenger". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  8. ^ Reporters, Telegraph (7 February 2020). "What's on TV tonight: Best Interests, Sarah Beeny vs Cancer and more". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  9. ^ "BBC One – Queen of Oz, Series 1, Episode 1". BBC. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "William McKenna". Creative Representation. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Queen of Oz". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  12. ^ Byrne, Tim (11 February 2022). "Kat Stewart and William McKenna star in MTC's satire on privilege". Time Out Melbourne. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  13. ^ Byrne, Tim (9 March 2023). "Bernhardt/Hamlet review – Kate Mulvany is astonishingly good". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 May 2023.

External links edit