Sigrid Thornton

Sigrid Madeline Thornton (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'' (2016–2018). 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''.

Biography

Early years

Thornton was born in Canberra, the daughter of Merle, an academic and writer, and Neil Thornton, an academic. She was raised in Brisbane, attending St. Peter's Lutheran College. For two years, she lived in London, where she was a member of the Unicorn Theatre.

Back in Brisbane she attended Twelfth Night Theatre Junior Workshop and in 1970, during the Captain Cook Bicentenary Celebrations, Thornton appeared before Queen Elizabeth II as ''Rosa Campbell-Praed'' in ''Looking Glass on Yesterday''. Thornton was a student of noted theatre director, Joan Whalley.

Career

She acted in TV series ''Homicide'' and ''Division 4'' in 1975. She also appeared on The Sullivans, as Elizabeth "Buffy" Turnbull.

In 1977, Thornton made her film debut as Wendy in '' The FJ Holden'' directed by Michael Thornhill, and in the same year as Maria in the film adaptation of Henry Handel Richardson's colonial Australian novel, ''The Getting of Wisdom'' (1977) directed by Bruce Beresford. In 1978, Thornton appeared in the Australian television sequel of the British comedy series '' Father, Dear Father in Australia'' and ''Cop Shop'',. The same year she played Angela in the film ''Snapshot'' (aka ''The Day After Halloween'') directed by Simon Wincer, for which role she was nominated for Australian Film Awards Best Actress in a Feature Film in 1979.

In 1980, she appeared as Roslyn Coulson in the Australian television drama ''Prisoner'' (known overseas as ''Prisoner: Cell Block H''). Thornton starred in 1981 in '' Duet for Four''. In 1982, she took on the roles of ''Jessica Harrison'' in the films ''The Man from Snowy River'' and its sequel in 1988 ''The Man from Snowy River II''. In 1983, she marked an appearance in '' Street Hero''. She starred in 1983's miniseries ''All the Rivers Run''. 1986 saw her in '' The Lighthorsemen'', the TV adaptation of Nevil Shute's novel ''The Far Country'', '' Great Expectations: The Untold Story'' and ''Slate, Wyn & Me''.

From 1988 to 1991, she appeared as Amelia Lawson in the American television drama series ''Paradise''. Syndication of ''All the Rivers Run'' and ''The Man from Snowy River'' and ''The Man from Snowy River II'' brought her to a wider international audience.

In 1991, she starred in '' Over the Hill'' directed by George T. Miller and in 1996, ''Love in Ambush'' directed by Carl Shultz. She starred as ''Laura Joy Gibson'' in the Australian television series ''SeaChange'' from 1998 to 2000, winning the Most Outstanding Actress award in 1999 and 2000.

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. 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.

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.

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. The same year, Thornton played the part of Golde in ''Fiddler on the Roof'' at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne.

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 returns to the stage for Anton Checkov's ''The Seagull'' for The Sydney Theatre Company.

Recent film and television work

In 2002, Thornton starred in Australian thriller ''The Pact'', directed by Strathford Hamilton, written by Hugh O'Brien.

In 2003, Thornton appeared in ''Mittens'' directed by Emma Freeman. In 2004, she played a geneticist in a four-episode arc on ''MDA''. She shaved her head for her role in the 2005 telemovie ''Little Oberon''.

Thornton hosted the Nine Network's ''What's Good For You''.

In 2010, she appeared in '' Underbelly: The Golden Mile'' as recurring character Geraldine "Gerry" Lloyd, an Australian Federal Police detective and investigator for the Wood Royal Commission.

In 2011, Thornton starred in '' Face to Face'', an independent Australian film directed by Michael Rymer.

In 2012, she participated in ''Who Do You Think You Are.''

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.

Thornton returned for season 5 of ''Wentworth'' as a main cast member and served as the main antagonist in season 6, until her characters death in episode 7, "The Edge".

In 2018, she appeared in '' Anh's Brush with Fame''.

In 2021 Thornton would film the feature film Slant and critics praised Thornton's role as 'career best'.

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. 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 Tom Burstall and has two children. She is known for her work with World Vision, the Royal Children's Hospital, Vision Australia, Reach Foundation and other charitable causes. 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 and is involved in helping to sustain and develop the industry.

Filmography

FILM

TELEVISION

Awards and nominations

In 2019, Thornton won the Chauvel Award, which acknowledges significant contribution to the Australian screen industry.

References

Notes

Sources
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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thornton, Sigrid
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