Rachel Griffiths
Rachel Griffiths Victoria, Australia[a] | |
---|---|
Education | |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1987–present |
Spouse | |
Children | 3 |
Awards | Full list |
Rachel Anne Griffiths
From 2001 to 2005, Griffiths portrayed massage therapist
She has also had roles in the films Blow (2001), portraying the mother of George Jung; the historical drama Ned Kelly (2003); Step Up (2006), and the Julian Assange television biopic Underground: The Julian Assange Story (2012). In 2016, she appeared in a supporting role in Mel Gibson's biographical war drama Hacksaw Ridge, and in the docudrama miniseries When We Rise, written by Dustin Lance Black.
Onstage, Griffiths appeared in a Melbourne-based production of Proof in 2002, which earned her a Helpmann Award, and later made her Broadway debut in a 2011 critically acclaimed production of Other Desert Cities. In addition to acting, she made her directorial debut with the short film Tulip in 1998, and directed several episodes of the Australian television series Nowhere Boys in 2015.
Early life
Griffiths was born on 18 December 1968 in Melbourne, Australia, and spent her early childhood on the Gold Coast. She is the daughter of Anna and Edward Martin Griffiths.[11] She has two older brothers, Ben, and Samuel.[12][13] She moved to Melbourne at age five, with her mother and two older brothers. Griffiths was raised Roman Catholic.[14][13] She recalled first being inspired to become an actress after watching the U.S. miniseries Roots as a child.[15]
Griffiths attended Star of the Sea College, a Catholic girls' high school in Brighton.[16] She earned a Bachelor of Education degree in drama and dance at Victoria College, Rusden(now part of Deakin University[17]).[18] After being rejected from the National Institute of Dramatic Art, Griffiths joined the Woolly Jumpers, a Geelong-based community theatre group.[1] In 1991, she wrote and performed the one-woman show Barbie Gets Hip, which played at the Melbourne Fringe Festival in 1991.[19]
Career
1994–2000: Early work and critical recognition
Griffiths portrayed Rhonda Epinstall, the best friend of
In 1997, Griffiths sparked controversy after attending uninvited the opening of the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia, while topless. She stated a wish to protest the views taken by the media and state government towards the new casino, inspired by the story of Lady Godiva.[21][22]
Griffiths joined forces again with Muriel's Wedding director
2001–2011: American television and further acclaim
In 2001, Griffiths appeared opposite Natasha Richardson in the English comedy Blow Dry,[23] playing a lesbian hairdresser who enters a hairstyling competition with her lover, followed by the Ted Demme-directed Blow (2001) opposite Johnny Depp and Ray Liotta, in which she played the mother of Boston cocaine magnate George Jung.[24] Nick Nunziata of IGN was critical of Griffiths' performance in the film, writing: "the only performance that doesn't ring true is that of Rachel Griffiths as Jung's mother...she just doesn't connect."[24]
The same year Griffiths appeared in Blow, she was cast as one of the leads in the HBO drama series
While starring on Six Feet Under, Griffiths continued to occasionally appear in the films, playing the supportive housewife of Dennis Quaid in the Walt Disney drama The Rookie (2002), and in the Australian biopic Ned Kelly (2003), opposite Heath Ledger, Geoffrey Rush, and Orlando Bloom.[30] In the spring of 2002,[31] she appeared in a Melbourne production of Proof by the American playwright David Auburn, for which she earned a Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play.[32] In 2004, she played a key role in the Hallmark film adaptation of the Kent Haruf novel Plainsong. In 2006, she became part of the ensemble cast, co-starring alongside
Griffiths made her Broadway debut in Other Desert Cities,[35] directed by Joe Mantello and co-starring Judith Light, Stockard Channing, and Stacy Keach, which began previews on 10 October 2011, opening on 3 November 2011 in Manhattan.[36][37] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised both Griffith's performance as well as the overall production, writing: "[The play] has acquired a riveting center in the raw performance of Rachel Griffiths, who makes a knockout New York stage debut. With discreet adjustments to the text and more penetrating characterizations all around from the sterling cast, the balance between comedy and intense family drama has been fine-tuned in richly satisfying ways".[38] Ben Brantley of The New York Times deemed her performance "a beautifully modulated Broadway debut".[39]
2012–2018: Return to Australia; directing
In 2012, Griffiths returned to live in her native Australia, after having lived and worked in the United States for a decade.[3] She expressed a desire to work less and spend more time with her children after having worked what she described as "80-hour-weeks" while appearing on Six Feet Under and Brothers & Sisters.[3]
In November 2013, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Griffiths was to play Julia Gillard in a television drama based on the book, The Stalking of Julia Gillard by Kerry-Anne Walsh.[40] But the project stalled as the proposal for the film was rejected by the Australian television networks.[41][42]
In 2015, she made her debut as a television director when she directed three episodes of the second series of the Australian teen drama Nowhere Boys.[43][44]
In 2016, Griffiths was cast opposite
In 2020, Griffiths starred in the Amazon Prime television show, The Wilds, as Gretchen Klein.
Other ventures
In 2017, Griffiths worked promoting the "No Robe" campaign for the Art Series Hotels, which invited hotel guests to pose for nude portraits in their rooms and have them brought to life by artists.[49] She also serves on the board of the Sydney Contemporary art fair.[50]
Personal life
Griffiths married Australian artist Andrew Taylor on 31 December 2002 in the chapel of her high school, Star of the Sea College, in Melbourne.[51][1] In 2003, she and Taylor had a son, followed by a daughter in 2005. In 2009, she gave birth to her third child in Los Angeles;[52] Griffiths suffered a ruptured uterus giving birth.[53] She spent a total of three days undergoing surgery and recovered from the condition.[54]
In 2002, Griffiths stated she was an
After having lived and worked in the United States for nearly a decade while appearing on the series Six Feet Under and Brothers & Sisters, Griffiths returned to live in her native Australia in 2012.[3] Griffiths became a
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Muriel's Wedding | Rhonda Epinstall | |
1996 | Così | Lucy | |
Jude | Arabella | ||
Children of the Revolution | Anna | ||
1997 | Welcome to Woop Woop | Sylvia | |
My Son the Fanatic | Bettina/Sandra | ||
My Best Friend's Wedding | Samantha Newhouse | ||
1998 | Among Giants | Gerry | |
Hilary and Jackie | Hilary du Pré | ||
Amy | Tanya Rammus | ||
Divorcing Jack | Lee Cooper | ||
1999 | Me Myself I | Pamela Drury | |
2001 | Very Annie Mary | Annie Mary Pugh | |
Blow | Ermine Jung | ||
Blow Dry | Sandra | ||
2002 | The Hard Word | Carol | |
The Rookie | Lorri Morris | ||
2003 | Ned Kelly | Susan Scott | |
2006 | Step Up | Director Gordan | |
2009 | Beautiful Kate | Sally | |
2011 | Burning Man | Miriam | |
2013 | Patrick | Matron Cassidy | |
Saving Mr. Banks | Helen "Ellie" Morehead | ||
2016 | Mammal | Margaret | |
Hacksaw Ridge | Bertha Doss | ||
The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One | General Lynex | ||
2017 | Don't Tell | Joy Conolly | |
2022 | The King's Daughter | Abbess | Filmed in 2014 |
2023 | Anyone but You | Innie | |
Bring Him to Me | Veronica |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993–1994 | Secrets | Sarah Foster | Main role, 13 episodes |
1994 | Jimeoin | Various | Recurring role, 8 episodes |
1995 | Police Rescue | Shelley | 1 episode |
2001–2005 | Six Feet Under | Brenda Chenowith
|
Main role, 60 episodes |
2005 | Angel Rodriguez | Nicole | Television film |
2006–2011 | Brothers & Sisters | Sarah Walker | Main role, 109 episodes |
2008 | Comanche Moon | Inez Scull | Miniseries, 3 episodes |
2010 | Rake | Eddie Langhorn | 1 episode |
2012 | Underground: The Julian Assange Story | Christine Assange | Television film |
2013 | Paper Giants: Magazine Wars | Dulcie Boling | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
2013 | Camp | MacKenzie Granger | Main role, 10 episodes |
2014 | House Husbands | Belle | Main role, 7 episodes |
2016 | Indian Summers | Sirene | 3 episodes |
2016 | Barracuda | Samantha Taylor | 4 episodes |
2017 | When We Rise | Diane Jones | Miniseries, 4 episodes |
2018 | Dead Lucky | Grace Gibbs | Miniseries, 4 episodes |
2019–2021, 2024 | Total Control[58] | Rachel Anderson | Main role, 18 episodes |
2020 | The Wilds | Gretchen Klein | Main role, 18 episodes |
2021 | Aftertaste | Margot | Main role, 12 episodes |
2022 | Bali 2002 | Dr Fiona Wood | Miniseries, 4 episodes |
As director
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1998 | Tulip | Short film Also writer |
2015 | Nowhere Boys | Series 2, episode 8 Series 2, episode 9 Series 2, episode 10 |
2019 | Ride Like a Girl | Also producer |
Stage credits
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Macbett | Victoria College Rusden Campus Drama | [31] | |
1988 | Two Gentlemen of Verona | Victoria College Rusden Campus Drama | [31] | |
1988 | The Inspector | Victoria College Rusden Campus Drama | [31] | |
1989 | A Chaste Maid in Cheapside | Victoria College Rusden Campus Drama | [31] | |
1990 | A Fantasy in Three Dreams | Victoria College Rusden Campus Drama | [31] | |
1991 | Skin Deep | Victoria College Rusden Campus Drama | [31] | |
1991 | Barbie Gets Hip | Also writer; one-woman show performed at Melbourne Fringe Festival | [19] | |
1992 | Wednesday | With theatre group The Woolly Jumpers, Melbourne | [31] | |
1994 | The Grapes of Wrath | Melbourne Theatre Company | [59] | |
1994 | The Sisters Rosensweig | Melbourne Theatre Company | [31] | |
1996–97 | Sylvia | Sylvia | Melbourne Theatre Company | [60] |
1998 | A Doll's House | Nora | Melbourne Theatre Company | [61] |
2002 | Proof | Catherine | Melbourne Theatre Company | [62] |
2011–12 | Other Desert Cities | Brooke Wyeth | Broadway debut; 261 performances | [63] |
2012 | 8 | Exclusive two night-run; readings in Melbourne and Sydney | [31] |
Awards and nominations
Griffiths has received nominations for
Achieving further success overseas, Griffiths was nominated for the
Notes
- ^ Sources reporting on Griffiths' place of birth are conflicting: some, such as TV Guide[1] and AllMovie[2] claim she was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, while others, such as The Courier-Mail,[3] and The Age,[4] and Screen World[5] claim she was born in Melbourne.
- ^ Sources differ in regard to Griffith's exact date of birth, though they share in common the birth year of 1968. Rotten Tomatoes,[6] Playbill,[7] and The Boston Globe,[8] among others, list her birthdate as 18 December. Alternate sources claim 20 February[9][10] and 4 June.[2][5]
References
- ^ a b c "Rachel Griffiths Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ a b Marx, Rebecca Flint. "Rachel Griffiths Biography". AllMovie. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d NewsCore (25 May 2012). "Rachel Griffiths coming back to Australia to be 'normal person' again". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 19 April 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Short film award to Rachel Griffiths". The Age. 11 August 2002. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-557-83706-6.
- ^ "Rachel Griffiths". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Rachel Griffiths". Playbill. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ "This day in history". The Boston Globe. 17 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-312-33144-3.
- ^ "Rachel Griffiths". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Rachel Griffiths Biography (1968–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Lee, Linda (2 April 2000). "A NIGHT OUT WITH: Rachel Griffiths; Aussies in Town". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Rachel Griffiths Biography". Metacritic. 26 September 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ a b Anderson, Stephanie Marie (3 March 2017). "Rachel Griffiths on Tony Abbott, marriage equality, and 'When We Rise'". SBS. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ a b Spring, Alexandra (28 February 2017). "Rachel Griffiths: 'I think I have been a very poor and bad feminist'". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ Clohesy, Bernadette (15 December 2012). "Two of us: Kate Kennedy and Rachel Griffiths". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ "History of Deakin · Victoria College merger · Deakin History". history.deakin.edu.au. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Walden, Celia (20 March 2016). "Rachel Griffiths: 'I've never been beautiful enough not to be taken seriously'". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Ojumu, Akin (2 July 2000). "Rachel Griffiths". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ King, Susan (18 March 2020). "'Muriel's Wedding' Turns 25: Why the Flawed Heroine Was Ahead of Her Time". Variety. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ "Crown protest led to naked ambition". Melbourne Herald Sun. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ Feinstein, Howard (18 December 1998). "The Rachel capers". The Guardian. London.
- ^ Falk, Ben (3 April 2001). "Review – Blow Dry". BBC. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ a b Nunziata, Nick (27 August 2001). "Blow". IGN. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Rachel Griffiths". GoldenGlobes.com. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ "The 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". SAG Awards. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "The 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". SAG Awards. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ Neal, Rome (16 July 2003). "'Six Feet Under' On Top of Emmys". CBS News. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ McWhirter, Erin (22 May 2007). "Family comes first". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ "Another shot at justice for Ned Kelly". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 June 2002. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Performer: Rachel Griffiths". AusStage. Retrieved 20 April 2018 – via Ausstage.edu.au.
- ^ "Past nominees and winners". Helpmann Awards Official Site. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Mitchell, Peter (15 October 2009). "Rachel Griffiths misses out on Emmy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ Larry McMurtry's Comanche Moon. December 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2020 – via www.amazon.com.
- ^ Healy, Patrick (7 October 2011). "Rachel Griffiths joining 'Other Desert Cities'". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ Gans, Andrew; Hetrick, Adam (21 July 2011). "Rachel Griffiths and Judith Light Will Join Stockard Channing in Broadway's Other Desert Cities".
- ^ Lunden, Jeff (24 December 2011). "A Homecoming For Rachel Griffiths on Broadway". National Public Radio (NPR). Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ Rooney, David (3 November 2011). "Other Desert Cities: Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ Brantley, Ben (3 November 2011). "Painful Family Secrets Laid Bare". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 November 2013 – Rachel Griffiths to play Julia Gillard in TV drama By Jessica Wright and Christine Sams
- ^ Australian Business Review, 8 June 2015 – Networks reject Julia Gillard TV drama starring Rachel Griffiths
- ^ The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 June 2015 – Networks reject Julia Gillard telemovie starring Rachel Griffiths because 'everyone hates' the former PM By Michael Lallo
- ^ Mathieson, Craig (13 November 2014). "Nowhere Boys: Rachel Griffiths directs in ABC3's second season". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ "Nowhere Boys: Episodes 8–13 Guide (Series 2)". Australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (21 March 2016). "Guy Pearce, Mary-Louise Parker, Rachel Griffiths to Star in ABC Gay Rights Miniseries 'When We Rise'". Variety. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Maddox, Garry (21 October 2016). "Rachel Griffiths on Hacksaw Ridge film role: 'He beat me and he drank'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ SBS Movies Staff (27 October 2016). "Mel Gibson's 'Hacksaw Ridge' leads AACTA Awards nominations". SBS. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "SBS drama Dead Lucky sells to Sundance". TV Tonight. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Rachel Griffiths poses for intimate hotel artwork". 9 News (Australia). 9 May 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Taylor, Andrew (16 August 2015). "Why marriage cramps Rachel Griffiths' art collection". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ "Griffiths gets hitched". Los Angeles Times. 3 January 2003. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
- ^ People Staff (4 August 2009). "Rachel Griffiths' Sweet Clementine". People. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ Fenton, Andrew (4 June 2014). "House Husbands actress Rachel Griffiths grabs second chance at life after nearly dying in childbirth". News.com.au. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- YouTube
- ISBN 1-56980-214-9.
- ^ "'Haunted house on the hill': Rachel Griffiths describes abuse history at destroyed Melbourne church". ABC. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ Taylor Thompson-Fuller (25 January 2020). "Australian honours roll for the Arts".
- ^ "Total Control filming third and final series | TV Tonight". June 2023.
- ^ "The Grapes of Wrath (1994)". AusStage. Retrieved 20 April 2018 – via Ausstage.edu.au.
- ^ Watson, Russell (28 April 1998). "Griffiths to Play Nora in Melbourne Doll's House". Playbill. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ Roberts, Jo (26 May 2003). "Actress misses party". The Age. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "Other Desert Cities". Playbill. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
External links
- Rachel Griffiths at IMDb
- Rachel Griffiths at the Internet Broadway Database