Pamela Rabe
Pamela Rabe (TV 2014-21) | |
|---|---|
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) |
| Spouse | |
| Awards | AACTA Award — The Well AACTA Award — Wentworth See all awards |
Pamela Rabe
Early life
Rabe was born in Oakville, Ontario, Canada in 1959. The seventh of eight children, she graduated from the Playhouse Acting School in Vancouver.[1] Rabe relocated to Australia in 1983 with Australian director, Roger Hodgman.[2] They were married in 1984.[citation needed]
Career
Theatre
Rabe is a prolific contributor to theatrical life in her adopted country in acting and directing, across a wide range of genres - musicals, comedy and drama. She is a long-standing collaborator with the Sydney Theatre Company and the Melbourne Theatre Company. Rabe was once described by Melbourne theatre critic Alison Croggon as having the sort of presence that "makes shy people swallow hard and lesser mortals involuntarily bow".[3]
Some of her other high-profile acting roles include Amanda Wingfield in
In 2005, she performed an experimental play called Woman-Bomb,[7] in which she inhabited the body and mind of a suicide bomber.
In 2010, she starred in the Melbourne stage production of David Mamet's play Boston Marriage.[8]
In 2012, Rabe received a
In late 2017, Rabe played the roles of Helene Alving in
Rabe turned her hand to theatre directing in 2009, and has directed several high-profile plays for Australian theatre companies, including the Australian premiere of In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play), and Elling for the Melbourne Theatre Company. Rabe was nominated for a Green Room Award for best direction on both occasions. In 2012, Rabe was invited to be a member of the guest triumvirate who programmed the Melbourne Theatre Company season for that year.[10][11]
In 2023 Rabe joined the international tour of The Confessions.[12]
Film
In 1989, Rabe made her film debut with a minor role in Against the Innocent. Her second role came in 1993 when she was cast in John Duigan's romantic comedy Sirens (with Hugh Grant and Sam Neill). Rabe's first leading role was in the 1995 film Vacant Possession. Following this, she appeared in 1996's Cosi (with Ben Mendelsohn, Barry Otto, and Toni Collette), Lust and Revenge (directed by Paul Cox).
In 1997, she appeared in
Television
Rabe's Australian television credits include an early guest role on the soap opera A Country Practice, recurring roles on the family series Ocean Girl and The Secret Life of Us, and a lead role in the short lived series Mercury.
In September 2013, it was announced that Rabe would join the cast of the Australian prison drama series
In 2017, Rabe played the role of Maude in the 6-part TV series Fucking Adelaide, which premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival in October 2017.[13][14]
In 2018 Rabe would guest appear in Wentworth in Series 6, film mini series 'The Hunting' and continue performing in theatre.
Rabe would return to theatre in 2020 for the play 'Monster'[15] but the performances where put on hold due to COVID restrictions, it was finally announced that Monster would go ahead in 2022 but Rabe would withdraw from the play and the role went to Alison Whyte, Rabe also performed a vocal performance of Shakespeare works in 2021 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Rabe joined the cast of Deadloch and Bay of Fires[16] in 2022.[17]
Other work
Rabe served on the board of the Australian Film Institute from 1999–2002[18] and is a former member of the Board of Directors of NIDA. Rabe also serves on the board of the Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne.[19]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Against the Innocent | American Woman | |
| 1993 | Sirens | Rose Lindsay | |
| 1995 | Vacant Possession | Tessa | |
| 1996 | Così
|
Ruth | |
| Lust and Revenge | Obnoxious Woman | ||
| 1997 | Paradise Road | Mrs. Tippler | |
| The Well | Hester | ||
| 2004 | The Boy Who Feeds Cats | Narrator | Voice; short film |
| 2013 | For Those Who Can Tell No Tales | Mum | |
| 2015 | Symphony of the Wild | Narrator | Voice |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | A Single Life | Margaret Bennett | Television film |
| 1987 | Nancy Wake | Madeleine | Miniseries |
| 1990 | A Country Practice | Marnie Rose | Season 10 - "My Sister's Keeper" (Parts 1 & 2) |
| 1993 | Seven Deadly Sins | Greed | Miniseries |
| 1995 | Ocean Girl | Commander Byrne | Recurring role; season 2 - 10 episodes |
| 1996 | Mercury | Claire Bannister | Leading role; season 1 - 13 episodes |
| The Bite | Samira Nazib | Miniseries | |
| 1997 | Frontier | Rosa Campbell Praed | Miniseries |
| 2001 | Stingers | Eve Reisner | Episode: "True Colours" |
| 2003 | The Secret Life of Us | Luciana | Recurring role; season 3 - 9 episodes |
| CrashBurn | Andy | Episode: "Seven Letters or Less" | |
| 2005 | Holly's Heroes | Mrs. Rocacelli | 3 episodes |
| 2014–2021 | Wentworth | Joan Ferguson | Leading role Seasons 2–5, 8 Special guest role Season 6−7 |
| 2017 | Fucking Adelaide | Maude | All 6 episodes |
| 2019 | The Hunting | Principal De Rossi | Miniseries |
| Wentworth: Behind the Bars | Self | TV Special | |
| 2020 | Wentworth: Behind The Bars 2 | ||
| 2021 | Rosehaven | Margaret | Season 5 |
| Wentworth Unlocked[20] | Self-host | TV special | |
| 2023 | Deadloch | Margaret Carruthers | 6 episodes |
| Bay of Fires | Magda | ABC TV series |
Stage (selected partial credits)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | The Bacchae | Theban Woman | |
| 1979 | All's Well That Ends Well | Helen | |
| 1980 | The Red Devil Battery Sign | Helena | |
| 1980-81 | The Man Who Came To Dinner | Mrs Dexter | |
| 1981 | The Notebook of Trigorin | Cook | Understudy |
| Wings | Nurse | ||
| 1982 | See How They Run | Lady Montague | |
| A Midsummer Nights Dream | Helena | ||
| See How They Run | Ida | ||
| 1981-82 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Fleur-de-lys | |
| 1983 | The Winter's Tale | Emillia | |
| 1983-84 | 84 Charing Cross Road | Margot | |
| 1983 | The Maid's Target | Aspatia | |
| 2007 | The Art of War | Crystal | Sydney Theatre Co |
| A Mid-Summers Night Dream | |||
| 2008 | Gallipoli | ||
| The Serpent's Teeth | Catherine Pavic | ||
| 2009 | The War of the Roses | Richard III | |
| God of Carnage | Veronique Vallon | MTC | |
| 2010 | Boston Marriage | Anna | MTC |
| Do Not Go Gentle | Bowers | FortyFive Downstairs | |
| 2011 | Hamlet | Gertrude | MTC |
| Grey Gardens | Little Edie | The Production Company | |
| 2012 | Les Liaison Dangereuses | Marquise de Merteuil | Sydney Theatre Co |
| 2013 | The Cherry Orchard | Ranevskaya | MTC |
| 2014 | The Glass MenagerIe | Amanda | Belvoir |
| 2015 | Footfalls | May | State Theatre of South Australia |
| 2016 | The Glass MenagerIe | Amanda | Belvoir/Malthouse |
| 2017 | Ghosts | Helen Alving | Belvoir |
| My Fair Lady | Mrs Higgins | Gordon Frost Organization | |
| Testament of Mary | Mary | Malthouse Theatre | |
| 2018 | The Children | Hazel | MTC |
| Dance of Death | Alice | Belvoir | |
| 2019 | Cat on a hot tin Roof | Big Mama | Sydney Theatre Co |
| 2021 | The Last Season | Summer | Force Majeure |
| The Cherry Orchard [21] | Ranevskaya | Belvoir | |
| 2023 | The Confessions[22] | International Tour | |
| 2024 | August: Osage County[23] | Belvoir | |
| Seventeen | Jess | MTC |
Honours
Rabe was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours for "significant service to the performing arts as a performer and director".[24]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Format | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Theatre | Green Room Award | Female Actor in a Leading Role (Drama)[25] | Gertrude Stein and a Companion | Won |
| 1991 | Theatre | Green Room Award | Female Actor in a Featured Role (Music Theatre) | The Wizard of Oz | Won |
| 1993 | Theatre | Green Room Award | Female Actor in a Leading Role (Drama)[26] | Lost in Yonkers | Won |
| 1997 | Theatre | Green Room Award
|
Female Actor in a Featured Role (Music Theatre) | A Little Night Music | Nominated |
| 1997 | Film | AACTA Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role | The Well | Won |
| 1997 | Film | Stockholm International Film Festival | Best Actress | Won | |
| 1998 | Film | Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards
|
Best Actor - Female
|
Nominated | |
| 1998 | Theatre | Mo Awards[27] | Supering Musical Theatre Performer of the Year | herself | Won |
| 2002 | Theatre | Helpmann Award
|
Best Female Actor in a Musical | The Wizard of Oz | Nominated |
| 2002 | Theatre | Green Room Award
|
Female Actor in a Featured Role (Music Theatre) | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Theatre | Helpmann Award
|
Best Female Actor in a Play | Dinner | Nominated |
| 2007 | Theatre | Helpmann Award
|
Best Female Actor in a Play | Mother Courage and Her Children | Nominated |
| 2008 | Theatre | Green Room Award
|
Female Performer - Theatre (Companies) | The Season At Sarsaparilla
|
Won |
| 2009 | Theatre | Helpmann Award
|
Best Female Actor in a Play | War of the Roses
|
Nominated |
| 2011 | Theatre | Green Room Award
|
Director - Theatre (Companies) | In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) | Nominated |
| 2011 | Theatre | Green Room Award
|
Female Actor in a Leading Role (Music Theatre) | Grey Gardens | Won |
| 2012 | Theatre | Helpmann Award
|
Best Female Actor in a Musical | Won | |
| 2012 | Theatre | Green Room Award
|
Director - Theatre (Companies) | Elling | Nominated |
| 2015 | Theatre | Helpmann Award
|
Best Female Actor in a Play | The Glass Menagerie | Won |
| 2015 | Theatre | Helpmann Award
|
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play | Beckett Triptych Footfalls | Nominated |
| 2015 | Television | ASTRA Awards | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor - Female | Wentworth (season 2) | Nominated |
| 2015 | Television | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Wentworth (season 3) | Won |
| 2016 | Television | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | Wentworth (season 3) | Nominated |
| 2016 | Television | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Wentworth (season 4) | Nominated |
| 2017 | Television | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Wentworth (season 5) | Nominated |
| 2018 | Television | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | Wentworth (season 5) | Won |
| 2018 | Theatre | Helpmann Award
|
Best Female Actor in a Play | The Children | Won |
| 2020 | Television | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Wentworth (season 8 – P1) | Nominated |
| 2021 | Television | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Wentworth (season 8 – P2) | Nominated |
| 2022 | Television | TV Tonight Awards | Favourite Female | Wentworth (season 8 – P2) | Nominated |
References
- ^ a b "Pamela Rabe". 16th Street. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011.
- Herald-Sun. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "Theatre Notes". August 2004.
- ^ "Sarsaparilla steals the Melbourne Limelight". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
- ^ "Richard III, thy name is woman". Sydney Morning Herald. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ Lalak, Alex (19 January 2009). "Review: The War Of The Roses, starring Cate Blanchett". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Womb with a view". The Age. 28 June 2005. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
- ^ Croggon, Alison (11 June 2010). "Pamela Rabe on a roll as a woman behaving badly". The Australian. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Sarah Peirse in MTC's the Children, a nightmare vision of the 'quake' to come". 18 January 2018.
- ^ "Melbourne Theatre Company announces 2012 Season" at www.australianstage.com.au
- ^ "Multi-layered Rabe mixes it on Melbourne stage" by Robin Usher at www.smh.com.au
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ Daniela Frangos (2 October 2017). "Fucking Adelaide to Premiere at Adelaide Film Festival". Broadsheet Adelaide. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ "Fucking Adelaide". IMDB. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ Wild, Stephi. "Malthouse Theatre Announces Part 2 Of Its 2022 Season Featuring Three New Australian Works". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ "More cast join Bay of Fires for ABC | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (20 February 2022). "Amazon Starts Production of 'Deadloch' Comedy Series in Australia (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ "National Institute of Dramatic Art". 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ Malthouse Theatre - Our Team
- ^ Says, Aesthetic (5 August 2021). "Airdate: Wentworth Unlocked | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ Boon, Maxim (7 June 2021). "Bevloir's take on Chekov great 'The Cherry Orchard' is Absolutely Fabulous". Time Out Sydney. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ "The Confessions by Alexander Zeldin To Play A Limited Run at The National Theatre as Part of International Collaboration". 19 September 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ "Sri Lankan Australian epic family saga to return to Australian stage following hit UK tour". ABC News. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ "Ms Pamela Rabe". Australian Honours Search Facility. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Promptings". Saturday Extra. The Age. 27 February 1988. p. 9.
- ^ "Playbox tops stage awards". The Age. 18 February 1993. p. 14.
- ^ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
Further reading
- Pamela Rabe in Melbourne Magazine, 30 July 2010
- A Woman of Substance, The Age, 23 April 1994
External links
- Pamela Rabe at IMDb
- Pamela-Rabe.com
Awards for Pamela Rabe | |
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