Sigrid Thornton
Template:Short description Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person
Sigrid Madeline Thornton Template:Post-nominals (born 12 February 1959) is an Australian film and television actress. Her television work includes Prisoner (1979–80), All the Rivers Run (1983), SeaChange (1998–2019) and Wentworth (2016–18). She also starred in the American Western series Paradise (1988–91). Her film appearances include Snapshot (1979), The Man from Snowy River (1982), Street Hero (1984) and Face to Face (2011). She won the AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama for the 2015 miniseries Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door.
Early life
Thornton was born in Canberra, the daughter of Merle, an academic and writer, and Neil Thornton, an academic.<ref>Sigrid Thornton: biography and credits</ref> She was raised in Brisbane, attending St. Peter's Lutheran College. For two years, from the age of seven, she lived in London, where she was a member of the Unicorn Theatre.<ref name="Unicorn">Template:Cite web</ref> She was bullied for her Australian accent in her time there.<ref name="TVT"/>
After the family's return to Brisbane, the family participated in an Anti-Vietnam war demonstration, leading to their arrest.<ref name="TVT"/> She attended Twelfth Night Theatre Junior Workshop and in 1970, at the age of 11 and during the Captain Cook Bicentenary Celebrations, Thornton appeared before Queen Elizabeth II as Rosa Campbell-Praed in Looking Glass on Yesterday.<ref name="Portrait">Template:Cite web</ref> She was a student of noted theatre director, Joan Whalley.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
Film and television
Through Twelfth Night Theatre, Thornton auditioned for Melbourne-based Crawford Productions who at the time, were scouting for talent interstate. She scored her guest professional job very soon afterwards at the age of 13, on Homicide. From there, the director recommended her for a guest part on Division 4.<ref name="Unicorn"/> She also guested on Matlock Police and Bluey, before accepting a recurring role on The Sullivans as Elizabeth 'Buffy' Turnbull in 1977.<ref name="ST"/> She studied drama briefly at university, before moving to Sydney and then Melbourne to pursue her acting career, after deciding to learn her craft on the job.<ref name="Unicorn"/>
Thornton made her film debut as Wendy in the 1977 coming-of-age film The FJ Holden, directed by Michael Thornhill,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in the same year as Maria in the film adaptation of Henry Handel Richardson's colonial Australian novel, The Getting of Wisdom, directed by Bruce Beresford.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1978, Thornton appeared in the Australian television sequel of the British comedy series Father, Dear Father in Australia<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Cop Shop.<ref name="ST"/> The same year, she played Angela in the horror film Snapshot (aka The Day After Halloween) directed by Simon Wincer,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> for which she was nominated for the 1979 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Feature Film.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1980, Thornton appeared in a recurring role as Roslyn Coulson in the Australian television drama Prisoner (known overseas as Prisoner: Cell Block H).<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> She also starred in 1981 film Duet for Four.<ref name="ST"/>
Thornton took on her breakthrough role of Jessica Harrison in the 1982 classic period film The Man from Snowy River opposite Tom Burlinson, making her a household name in Australia.<ref name="Portrait"/> She also starred as Frances in 1982 World War I miniseries 1915, and as Gloria in 1983 drama film Street Hero, alongside Vince Colosimo.<ref name="ST"/>
Thornton had a starring role in the 1984 historical miniseries All the Rivers Run,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> based on the 1958 novel of the same name by Nancy Cato. It was internationally successful, and earned her her first best actress Logie Award.<ref name="ST">Template:Cite web</ref> That same year, she starred in the miniseries The Boy in the Bush opposite Kenneth Branagh.<ref name="ST"/>
1986 saw Thornton appear in war film The Lighthorsemen, the TV adaptation of Nevil Shute's novel The Far Country,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with Gary Sweet, Peter Phelps and Jon Blake. The same year, she appeared in period drama miniseries Great Expectations: The Untold Story, upon which she also served as Associate Producer.<ref name="ST"/> In 1987, she starred opposite Michael York in the miniseries The Far Country,<ref name="ST"/> based on the novel of the same name by Neville Shute, and the film Slate, Wyn & Me as school teacher Blanche McBride, opposite Martin Sacks and Simon Burke.<ref name="ParkCircus">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1988, Thornton starred once again as Jessica in The Man from Snowy River II, the sequel to the original film. A syndication of All the Rivers Run, The Man from Snowy River and The Man from Snowy River II brought her to a wider international audience, and she became the first Australian actress to be offered a lead role in a US network prime time drama series, Paradise.,<ref name="ST"/> appearing as Amelia Lawson from 1988 to 1991. The role won her a Western Heritage Cowboy Hall of Fame award in 1999.<ref name="ST"/>
In 1992, Thornton starred in the film Over the Hill directed by George T. Miller and co-starring Olympia Dukakis. In 1996, she appeared in Love in Ambush directed by Carl Shultz.
Thornton starred in the Australian television series SeaChange from 1998 to 2000, as Laura Joy Gibson,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> alongside David Wenham and Tom Long. She was made to audition four times before she was cast.<ref name="Anh"/> The role won her a 2000 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress.<ref name="ST"/>
Thornton played Susan in 2002 Australian thriller The Pact opposite Peter O’Brien, Robert Mammone and Essie Davis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2003, she appeared in Mittens directed by Emma Freeman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2004, she played a geneticist in a four-episode arc on legal drama MDA. She shaved her head for her role as ovarian cancer-stricken artist, Lola in the 2005 telemovie Little Oberon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The following year, she hosted the Nine Network's Logie Award-winning 2006 health and lifestyle program What's Good For You.
In 2010, Thornton appeared in the third series of the Underbelly franchise, Underbelly: The Golden Mile, as recurring character Geraldine 'Gerry' Lloyd, an Australian Federal Police detective and investigator for the Wood Royal Commission.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She then starred alongside Vince Colosimo and Matthew Newton in Face to Face, an independent 2011 Australian film directed by Michael Rymer,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> based on the David Williamson play of the same name.
Thornton participated a 2012 episode of genealogy documentary series Who Do You Think You Are,<ref name="wdytya">Template:Cite web</ref> tracing her family's origins, including their political activism. In 2014, she appeared in Netflix series The Code.<ref name="ST"/>
In 2016, Thornton appeared in the fourth season of SoHo drama series Wentworth for seven episodes, as a special guest star. She portrayed the character of Sonia Stevens (initially played by Tina Bursill in Prisoner), a woman on remand for the suspected murder of her best friend.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She returned for season 5 as a main cast member, and served as the main antagonist in season 6, until her character's death in episode 7, "The Edge". That same year, she starred in the 2016 miniseries Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door, winning her the AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Judy Garland.<ref name="ST"/>
Thornton was the subject of an episode Anh's Brush with Fame, in 2018, recounting intimate stories of her life, while sitting for a portrait session by actor, comedian and author Anh Do.<ref name="Anh"/>
The series SeaChange was rebooted in 2019, in which Thornton resumed her role as Laura Gibson, and also served as Executive Producer. The series picked up 20 years after the original, and starred Brooke Satchwell as Laura's grown daughter. It topped the ratings with its debut episode.<ref name="ST"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2020, Thornton narrated the women's liberation documentary feature Brazen Hussies, also appearing via secretly filmed footage shot by ASIO, when as a teenager she demonstrated against the South African Springbok tour.<ref name="ST"/> In 2021, she appeared in Channel 9 drama, Amazing Grace.<ref name="ST"/>
Thornton starred in 2022 independent Australian dark comedy thriller Slant, alongside Pia Miranda. Critics praised her role as 'career best'.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From 2024 to 2025, she appeared in several episodes of light-hearted detective series Darby and Joan, opposite Bryan Brown and Greta Scacchi, playing the supporting role of Miranda McNeill, Brown's character's wife.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Thornton appeared as a contestant in the 2025 season of reality series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Stage highlights
Thornton's stage performances include a 2002/03 touring production of The Blue Room directed by Simon Phillips for the Melbourne Theatre Company opposite Marcus Graham.<ref>"Thornton, Graham red hot in the Blue Room" by Helen Thomson, The Age, 16 January 2003</ref> In 2009 she made her debut with Opera Australia in its production at Melbourne's Arts Centre as Desiree Armfeldt in Sondheim and Wheeler's A Little Night Music, directed by Stuart Maunder.<ref>A Little Night Music Template:Webarchive, Opera Australia</ref>
In 2014, she won critical acclaim for her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire for the Black Swan State Theatre Company in Perth.<ref>"Sigrid Thornton shines as Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire" by Jay Hanna, Perth Now, 20 March 2014</ref>
In 2015, she appeared in the premiere of Stephen Beckett's play Diary of a Nobody, inspired by the 1892 novel The Diary of a Nobody, at the Princess Theatre, Launceston, Tasmania.<ref>"Event Details: Sigrid Thornton in Diary of a Nobody"</ref> The same year, Thornton played the part of Golde in Fiddler on the Roof at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
As of September 2022 Sigrid made her stage debut for the Sydney Theatre Company in the premiere stage play The Lifespan of a Fact to rave reviews and in 2023 she returned to the stage for Anton Chekhov's The Seagull for the STC.
On 11 September 2024, Thornton was named for the 2025 season for the MTC play Mother Play.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other
Thornton has served on several industry boards including the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, Film Victoria and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).<ref name="Key"/> She has been MC for Australian appearances by Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama and for the Centenary of Federation joint sittings of the Australian Parliament.<ref name="Saxton"/>
The "Sigrid Factor"
In his book The Big Shift, about changing Australian demographics and culture, Bernard Salt coined the term the "Sigrid factor" pointing out that Australian towns in which movies had been made featuring Thornton had prospered since that time.Template:Sfn More broadly he referred to changing Australian cultural values which were well reflected in the types of places in which Sigrid Thornton had acted: the Riverland during the 1980s All the Rivers Run and the coast in the 2000s SeaChange.
Personal life and advocacy
Thornton is married to actor and director Tom Burstall, having first met when she was just 18.<ref name="Brush">Template:Cite web</ref> Together they have two children.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
She is known for her work with World Vision, the Royal Children's Hospital, Vision Australia, Reach Foundation and other charitable causes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She has lobbied successive governments to keep libraries open and to resource the Australian film and television industry. She has been appointed to several federal and state film bodies, including Film Victoria<ref name=":0" /> and is involved in helping to sustain and develop the industry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2023 Thornton received a star on the Randwick Walk of Fame.<ref name="Staff Writer">Template:Cite web</ref>
On Anh’s Brush With Fame, Thornton recounted how her father Neil Thornton enlisted in the army, and was sent to Japan in 1945 as part of a clean-up force following the atomic bomb being dropped in Hiroshima. His exposure to radiation led to him being diagnosed with Neurasthenia, which saw him suffer from chronic pain in the last ten years of his life.<ref name="Anh">Template:Cite web</ref>
In August 2024, Thornton's mother Merle Thornton died aged 93. Merle was a well known activist whom Sigrid looked up to. Sigrid said of her mother's passing that she was proud of her mother and everything she achieved.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2025, while appearing on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, Thornton revealed that she had been diagnosed with ADHD, saying that it provided clarity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 11 February 2025, Thornton was eliminated from the jungle alongside Tina Provis. Thornton held the record of 33 minutes in the Viper Room surrounded by 170 snakes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The F.J. Holden | Wendy | Feature film |
| The Getting of Wisdom | Maria | Feature film | |
| 1978 | The King of the Two Day Wonder (aka The Wargame) | Christy | Feature film |
| 1979 | Snapshot (aka The Day After Halloween) | Angela | Feature film |
| 1982 | Duet for Four | Caroline Martin | Feature film |
| The Man From Snowy River | Jessica Harrison | Feature film | |
| 1984 | Street Hero | Gloria | Feature film |
| 1985 | Niel Lynne (aka Best Enemies) | Fennimore | Feature film |
| 1987 | Slate, Wyn & Me | Blanche McBride | Feature film |
| The Lighthorsemen | Anne | Feature film | |
| 1988 | The Man from Snowy River II | Jessica | Feature film |
| 1992 | Over the Hill | Elizabeth | Feature film |
| 1997 | Love In Ambush | Shelley Kincaird | Feature film |
| 2000 | Arctic Adventure | Lucy (voice) | Film animated short |
| 2002 | Living with Happiness | Mother (voice) | Film animated short |
| The Pact | Susan Tuttle | Feature film | |
| 2003 | Inspector Gadget 2 | Mayor Wilson | Feature film |
| Mittens | Mother | Film short | |
| 2008 | Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! | Herself | Feature film documentary |
| 2011 | The Telegram Man | Barbara Lewis | Film short |
| Face to Face | Claire Baldoni | Feature film | |
| 2014 | BFFs | Jacqueline | Feature film |
| 2016 | Scare Campaign | Vicki | Feature film |
| 2023 | Slant | Vivianne Verity | Feature film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Type | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Homicide | Erica Johnston | 1 episode | |
| Certain Women | TV series | |||
| 1975 | Division 4 | Wendy Sherlock | 1 episode | |
| 1975; 1976 | Matlock Police | Cathy Simpson / Simone Foley | 2 episodes | |
| 1976 | Bluey | Helen Laughton | 1 episode | |
| Bobby Dazzler | Anastasia | 1 episode | ||
| 1977 | The Sullivans | Buffy Turnbull | 24 episodes | |
| Young Ramsay | Annette Murray | 1 episode | ||
| Father, Dear Father In Australia | Sue Glover | 14 episodes | ||
| 1978 | Glenview High | Georgiana | 1 episode | |
| Case for the Defence | Mandy Lattimer | 1 episode | ||
| Chopper Squad | Mandy Paramor | 1 episode | ||
| The Truckies | 1 episode | |||
| 1978–1980 | Cop Shop | Tracy McBean / Karen / Helen Davis | 3 episodes | |
| 1979–1980 | Prisoner | Roslyn Coulson | 30 episodes | |
| 1980 | Skyways | Olivia Baker | 1 episode | |
| The Last Outlaw | Kate Kelly | Miniseries, 4 episodes | ||
| Lawson's Mates | Hannah | 1 episode | ||
| Players in the Gallery | Film series, 1 episode | |||
| 1981 | I Can Jump Puddles | Mabel | Miniseries, 2 episodes | |
| Bellamy | Fiona | 1 episode | ||
| Outbreak of Love | Anthea Langton | Miniseries | ||
| 1982 | 1915 | Frances | Miniseries, 7 episodes | |
| 1983 | All The Rivers Run | Philadelphia Gordon | Miniseries, 8 episodes | |
| The Boy in the Bush | Monica Ellis | Miniseries, 4 episodes | ||
| 1987 | Great Expectations: The Untold Story | Bridget Tankerton | TV movie | |
| The Far Country | Jennifer Morton | Miniseries, 2 episodes | ||
| 1988 | Reading Australian Film | Presenter | Video | |
| 1988–1991 | Paradise | Amelia Lawson | 56 episodes | |
| 1993 | The Feds | Christine McQuillan | TV movie pilot | |
| Children at the Edge | Presenter | Documentary | ||
| 1994 | G.P. | Renee Jackson | 1 episode | |
| Trapped In Space (aka Breaking Strain) | Issacs | TV movie | ||
| Wildscreen – Sperm Wars | Narrator | Documentary | ||
| One Family | Narrator | Documentary | ||
| Australian Fashion Awards | Host | TV special | ||
| 1996 | Whipping Boy | Cass Meridith | TV movie | |
| 1998 | World Vision: A Friend In Need | Presenter | Documentary
~ | |
| Australian Story | Subject | 1 episode | ||
| 1998–2000 | SeaChange | Laura Gibson | 47 episodes | |
| 2000 | The New Adventures of Ocean Girl | Narrator | 10 episodes | |
| 2002 | Island Life | Narrator | 6 episodes | |
| 2003 | ABC Australian Movie Screenings | Host | 4 episodes | |
| Welcher & Welcher | Satirised version of herself | 1 episode | ||
| 2005 | MDA | Dr. Robyn Masterton | 4 episodes | |
| Little Oberon | Lola Green | TV movie | ||
| 2006 | Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King | Mrs. Anges Sternwood | Miniseries, episode 1 | |
| Ingenious Africa | Host | 13 episodes | ||
| 2007 | What's Good For You | Host | TV series | |
| 2008 | Dream Life | Mrs Buchanan | TV movie | |
| 2010 | Underbelly: The Golden Mile<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Gerry Lloyd | 7 episodes | |
| 2012 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Subject | 1 episode | |
| 2013 | #7 Days Later | Molly | 1 episode | |
| 2014 | The Code | Lara Dixon | 6 episodes | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2015 | Peter Allen: The Boy Next Door | Judy Garland | Miniseries, 2 episodes | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2016–2018 | Wentworth | Sonia Stevens | 26 episodes | <ref name="TVT">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2018 | Orange Is the New Brown | Dr. Vulva / Nigella Lawson | 2 episodes | |
| Anh's Brush with Fame<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Subject | 1 episode | ||
| 2019 | Lambs of God | Rose Stanford | Miniseries, 2 episodes | |
| SeaChange | Laura Gibson | 13 episodes | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| 2020 | Brazen Hussies | Narrator | TV film documentary | |
| 2021 | Amazing Grace | Diane Cresswell | 8 episodes | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2025 | I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! | Contestant | TV series | |
| 2025 | Darby and Joan | Miranda McNeil | 6 episodes |
Theatre
<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Accolades
Thornton has received numerous awards and honours through her career, including a Centenary Medal in 2002 and a Top 100 Australian Entertainers of the Century accolade from the Variety Club. In 2018, she was honoured with the Screen Legend Award by CinefestOZ film festival and in 2019 she received the Chauvel Award at the Gold Coast Film Festival.<ref name="Saxton">Template:Cite web</ref> Thornton was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2019.<ref name="Key">Template:Cite web</ref>
Awards and nominations
References
Notes Template:Reflist
Sources
Further reading
External links
- Template:IMDb name
- Template:Official website
- Template:Australian Women and Leadership
- Sigrid Thornton on Instagram
Template:EquityAward TVMiniSeriesTeleMovieCast Template:Authority control
- 1959 births
- 20th-century Australian actresses
- 21st-century Australian actresses
- Actresses from Brisbane
- Actresses from Canberra
- Australian film actresses
- Australian soap opera actresses
- Australian stage actresses
- Officers of the Order of Australia
- Living people
- Logie Award winners
- People educated at St Peters Lutheran College
- People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder