Australians in Hollywood : Biographical Notes

Toni Collette
Toni Collette (b. 1972) was raised in the Western Sydney suburb of Blacktown . After 18 months at NIDA she dropped out to work in a stage production of Uncle Vanya. Director P. J. Hogan initially considered her “too thin” to play the title role in Muriel’s Wedding (1994), but Collette put on 18 kilos to win the part, which brought her international recognition and an AFI best actress award. She has gone on to appear in an array of British and American films: The Pallbearer (1996), Emma (1996), Clockwatchers (1997), Velvet Goldmine (1998), Shaft (2000), About a Boy (2002) and The Hours (2002). Her memorable performance as mother to the troubled Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense (1999) earned a supporting actress Oscar nomination. She has also continued to make Australian films, including The Boys (1999), Dirty Deeds (2002) and Japanese Story (2003).

Back