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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Cate Blanchett and Ernie Dingo

1994
Juno Gemes

gelatin silver photograph, selenium toned on paper, edition 1/3 (sheet: 60.8 cm x 51.0 cm, image: 44.2 cm x 29.1 cm)

Ernie Dingo AM (b. 1956), television presenter and actor, is a Yamatji man. Dingo was born at Bullardoo Station and spent his teenage years in Geraldton, Western Australia, excelling in long-distance running and basketball. After making his stage acting debut in Perth, in 1978 he joined the Middar Dance Theatre; the following year he went to Victoria, where he spent several years as an Aboriginal Culture Officer. His first leading role came in 1987 when he played Robert Tudawali in the SBS telemovie Tudawali, for which he received a nomination for best actor in the 1987 Australian Film Industry Awards. International recognition came to him with his small part in Crocodile Dundee II in 1988. Subsequently he appeared in The Cowra Breakout, The Fringe Dwellers, Fast Forward, Bran Nue Dae and Mr Electric. Juno Gemes photographed him on the set of the television production Heartland with his co-star Cate Blanchett, who had graduated from NIDA two years before. A presenter on the long-running television travel program The Great Outdoors from 1993, Dingo is now one of Australia’s most popular television identities and is a designated Living National Treasure.

Purchased 2004
© Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Juno Gemes (age 50 in 1994)

Cate Blanchett AC (age 25 in 1994)

Ernie Dingo (age 38 in 1994)

Subject professions

Performing arts

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency