Denise Roberts, is an Australian actress, director, and founder of film and television acting school Screenwise in Sydney. She is known for her roles on TV in 1980s-90s medical drama G.P. and 2009 series Packed to the Rafters.

Career edit

Roberts has worked in theatre, film and television since 1980. She gained initial fame when she played Julie Winters in the ABC TV medical drama G.P. from 1989 to 1996. Roberts's mentor was Hayes Gordon, with whom she studied solidly for three years. During her seven-year stint on G.P., she taught film and television for Hayes at his Ensemble Studios.

In 2009 Roberts played the recurring role of Bonnie Bright in Channel 7's Packed to the Rafters and Faye on the feature film Subdivision[1] which premiered in August 2009.

Roberts played Helen Jones in Joanne Lees: Murder in the Outback, and starred as Aunty Barbara in the feature film Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance.[2] She is best known for her starring roles as the University Registrar Jessica Andrews in Roberts 7's HeadLand and the town matriarch Isabelle Turnbull in Always Greener, and for her seven years as Julie Winters in G.P. on ABC-TV. In 2010, she played Inspector Diane Pappas in the Nine Network police drama Cops L.A.C.[3]

Roberts has also directed numerous theatre plays, including Lovers At Versailles at the Playhouse - Sydney Opera House. The 10-minute 16 mm short thriller Stairwell, which Roberts directed, was screened at the LA International Short Film Festival. She is the creator and Associate Producer of the ABC's 10-part drama series, Correlli,[4] which gave Hugh Jackman his big Australian break.

Awards edit

Roberts was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role by the Sydney Theatre Critics for her role in the David Williamson play A Charitable Intent.[citation needed]

Other nominations and awards include a Chief Glugs Award for Excellence Behind the Scenes, an AFI Award, a Variety Club of Australia Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama, numerous Silver Logie and People's Choice nominations for Most Outstanding Actress on Australian Television, and a Film Critics Circle nomination for Best Supporting Actress alongside Cate Blanchett and Frances O'Connor.[citation needed]

In 2015 Roberts was nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama together with a Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress in a Television Drama, both for her portrayal as Rosleigh Rose Corby in Schapelle.[citation needed]

Teacher edit

Roberts is the founder and principal director of Screenwise, a Sydney-based film and television school for actors.[5][6]

Publications edit

  • Get Your Act Together, Federation Press, 1995.[7]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1984 A Halo for Athuan Maizy TV film
1985 The Boy Who Had Everything Rita Feature film
1986 For Love Alone Mrs. Ashley Feature film
1986 Hector's Bunyip Gladys Glum TV film
1987 Going Sane Mrs. Chubb Feature film
1997 Road to Nhill Gwen Feature film
1987 Two Friends Jessie TV film
2000 The Dish Bronwyn Feature film
2003 Kangaroo Jack Tansy Feature film
2006 Opal Dream Vera Dunkley Feature film
2006 One Last Shot Waitress Short film
2007 Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance Barbara Feature film (mockumentary)
2007 Boys Own Story Aunt Eileen Short film
2007 Joanne Lees: Murder in the Outback Helen Jones TV film
2009 Subdivision Faye Feature film
2009 Benefit Mother Short film
2010 Dying Ice Elder Short film
2010 Anyone You Want Jenny
2011 Blood Brothers Sue O'Farrell TV film
2012 Leech Betty Short film
2013 Nerve Sally Livingston Feature film
2013 Concealed Irene Feature film
2013 Cliffy Molly TV film
2014 The Half Dead The See-er Post-production
2014 Schapelle Rosleigh Rose TV film
2015 Spirit of the Game Sister Bingham Feature film

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1981 Bellamy Bev TV series, episode: "Bet Your Life"
1985 A Country Practice Patient / Kristine Cox TV series, episodes: "Walk Tall: Parts 1 & 2", "Work Experience: Part 2"
1986 Sons and Daughters Kidnapper TV series, episode: "1.799"
1987 Sons and Daughters Monica TV series, episode: "1.972"
1987 Rafferty's Rules Mrs. Bridges TV series, episode: "Kids"
1988 Home and Away Woman Customer TV series, season 1, episode 51
1989 E Street Myra TV series, season 1, episode 2-3
1989 Home and Away Nola Dibble TV series, season 2, episode 258
1989 Fields of Fire III Mrs. Anderson TV miniseries
1989-1996 G.P. Julie Winters TV series, 317 episodes
1990 E Street Myra TV series, episode: "The Reverend & the Doctor?"
1995 Correlli Helen Buckley TV series, episodes: "Solitary", "Lock-Down"
1995; 1999 Good Morning Australia Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1996 The Man from Snowy River Mary Kelly TV series, episode: "The Grand Opening"
1998 All Saints Janice McGregor TV series, episode: "A Little Magic"
1999 Good Morning Australia Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1999 Wildside Sheryl Cunningham TV series, episode: "2.19"
2000 Grass Roots Evelyn Savage TV series, episode: "The Whole Year"
2001 Water Rats Meredith Dillon TV series, episode: "The Thin Edge"
2001 Pizza Jackie / Mum Stanko TV series, episodes: "Politically Incorrect Pizza", "Girlfriend Pizza"
2001 BackBerner Beryl Todd TV series, episode: "3.4"
2001-2003 Always Greener Isabelle Turnbull TV series, 50 episodes
2002 BackBerner Various TV series, episode: "1.134"
2003 Grass Roots Christina TV series, episode: "Investigation"
2004 Home and Away Valerie Squires TV series, season 17, 8 episodes
2005 All Saints Margaret TV series, episode: "Funny Games"
2005-2006 Headland Jessica Andrews TV series, 26 episodes
2009 East West 101 Janet Miller TV series, episode: "Men of Conscience"
2009 Packed to the Rafters Bonnie Bright TV series, episodes: "Having It All", "Look Into My Eyes", "Putting the House in Order"
2010 Cops L.A.C. Diane Pappas TV series, 13 episodes
2011 Underbelly Alice Twiss TV miniseries, episode: "Jerusalem Revisited"
2012 Packed to the Rafters Bonnie Bright TV series, episode: "Sign of the Times"
2012 Mrs Biggs Annie Pitcher TV series, episodes: "1.3", "1.4"
2013 Wonderland Guest role: TV series, episode: "The Exes"

References edit

  1. ^ "At The Movies". abc.net.au. 3 September 2009.
  2. ^ "Film details". imdb.com. 15 March 2007.
  3. ^ "COPS L.A.C. cast complete". TV Tonight.com.au. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  4. ^ "IMDB-Correlli". imdb.com. 26 July 1997.
  5. ^ Natasha Lee (22 August 2004). "Hopefuls act the part". Sunday Telegraph (Sydney). Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Denise Roberts". Screenwise. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Federation Press". federationpress.com.au. 21 July 1995.

External links edit