Deborah Jane Mailman, AM (born 14 July 1972) is an Australian television film actress, and singer. She was the first Aboriginal actress to win the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and had gone on to win four more both in television and film. The awards are now known as the AACTA Awards. Mailman first gained recognition for the 1998 film Radiance for which she won her first AFI award. She is well known for having played the character Kelly Lewis on the successful Australian television series, The Secret Life of Us. She is also well known for her current role as Cherie Butterfield in the successful Australian drama series Offspring. She also portrayed the role of Lorraine in the rotating cast of the acclaimed Australian TV series about daily Aboriginal life Redfern Now. Mailman is currently part of the main cast of the television program Cleverman, she portrays the role of Aunt Linda. She starred in lead roles in the acclaimed films Rabbit-Proof Fence, Oddball, The Sapphires, and Paper Planes.

Contents

1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Filmography 5 Awards and nominations

5.1 AACTA Awards 5.2 Logie Awards 5.3 FCCA Awards 5.4 Helpmann Awards 5.5 Other awards

6 References 7 External links

Early life[edit] Mailman grew up in Mount Isa
Mount Isa in north-west Queensland.[1] She is one of five children born to Wally Mailman, a famous rodeo rider and horseman, and Jane (Heeni) Mailman, the daughter of a preacher and talented musician. She has both Indigenous Australian (Bidjara) and Māori (Ngati Porou and Te Arawa) heritage. In 1992, she graduated from Queensland
Queensland University of Technology Academy of the Arts with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Performing Arts. Since then she has worked extensively in Australian film, television and theater as well as many contributions overseas.[2] Career[edit]

Mailman at Australian Film Walk of Fame at Randwick Ritz, The Spot Festival

Mailman played the role of Kate in a La Boite Theatre production of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew in 1994.[3][4] Other early stage roles include solo show The Seven Stages of Grieving (which she co-wrote with Wesley Enoch) for Kooemba Jdarra, Queensland
Queensland Theatre Company's 1997 revival of Louis Nowra's play Radiance, and Cordelia in King Lear
King Lear for Bell Shakespeare in 1998.[5][6] In 1998, Mailman made her film debut as Nona in the Australian independent film Radiance (based on the play), for which she won the AFI Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.[1] From here she has since become one of Australia's most prominent local actors especially through her lead role on The Secret Life of Us, a role for which she was twice awarded Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series at the Logies
Logies (2002 and 2004). She stayed during the shows entire duration (2001–2006). Mailman was featured prominently in the Leah Purcell
Leah Purcell documentary Black Chicks Talking (2001), where she candidly discussed her thoughts about her Aboriginal heritage.[7] In 2006, she took part in a four-part television documentary series with Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman called Going Bush, where the pair set off on a journey from Broome to Arnhem Land spending time with Indigenous communities along the way.[8] She appeared in the Play School TV series and was part of The Actors Company for the Sydney Theatre Company (2006–2007).[9] She appeared in the film Rabbit-Proof Fence.[5] She played a lead role in the 2010 musical film Bran Nue Dae.[10] In the play The Sapphires and the subsequent film of the same name she played the role of singer Gail McCrae. She was awarded an Inside Film Award for her short film Ralph, which starred Madeleine Madden.[11] From 2010 to 2014, she played the role of Cherie Butterfield in Channel Ten's Offspring drama series.[12] In 2012, she starred in Redfern Now, an indigenous mini-series for the ABC.[13] On 29 January 2015, Mailman co-hosted the AACTA Awards
AACTA Awards with Cate Blanchett.[14] Mailman started as Maureen Prescott in Paper Planes, released 15 January 2015. She then appeared as Mayor Lake in Oddball and the voice of Blinky Bill's mother in Blinky Bill the Movie. Personal life[edit] Mailman's partner is advertising executive Matthew Coonan. They have two sons, Henry and Oliver.[15] Deborah has four siblings. Filmography[edit]

Mailman and actor Barry Otto
Barry Otto in 2012

Year Film Role Notes

1998 Radiance Nona

2000 The Third Note Tina Short film

2000 The Monkey's Mask Lou

2001–05 The Secret Life of Us Kelly Lewis / Narrator TV series (Seasons 1–4, Episodes 1–86)

2002 Rabbit-Proof Fence Mavis

2006 The Book of Revelation Julie

2009 Bran Nue Dae Roxanne

2010– Offspring Cherie Butterfield TV series

2012 Mental Sandra

2012 The Sapphires Gail McCrae

2012 Mabo Bonita

2012 Redfern Now Lorraine TV series (Episode 3: Raymond) (Episode 7:Where the Heart Is)

2013 The Darkside

2014-18 Jack Irish Cynthia TV series

2015 Paper Planes Maureen

2015 Oddball Mayor Lake also narrator

2015 Redfern Now: Promise Me Lorraine TV movie

2015 Blinky Bill the Movie Blinky's mum Voice

2016 Tomorrow When the War Began Kath Mackenzie TV series

2016-17 Cleverman Aunty Linda TV series

2016 Black Comedy Guest Cast TV series

2016 Wolf Creek Bernadette O'Dell TV series

2016 A Few Less Men Police Officer

2016 Please Like Me Siobhan TV series (Episode 4.6 'Souvlaki')

2017 Little J & Big Cuz Big Cuz Animated TV series

2017 Three Summers

Film

2017 Get Krack!n Prime Minister Burney TV series (Episode 1.7)

2017 Djali Gracie Phillips Short film

2018 Mystery Road Kerry Thompson TV mini-series

2018 Bite Club Anna Morton TV series

Awards and nominations[edit]

Mailman's plaque at the Australian Film Walk of Fame, Ritz Cinema, Randwick, Sydney

AACTA Awards[edit]

Year Category Film Result

1998 Best Leading Movie Actress Radiance Won

2003 Best Leading TV Actress The Secret Life Of Us Won

2010 Best Supporting Movie Actress Bran Nue Dae Won

Best Supporting TV Actress Offspring Won

2013 Best Leading Movie Actress The Sapphires Won

Best Supporting Movie Actress Mental Nominated

2016 Paper Planes Nominated

Best Leading TV Actress Redfern Now Nominated

Logie Awards[edit]

Year Category Film Result

2002 Most Outstanding Actress The Secret Life Of Us Won

2003 Nominated

2004 Won

2013 Mabo Won

Most Popular Actress Nominated

2016 Most Outstanding Actress Redfern Now: Promise Me Won

FCCA Awards[edit]

Year Category Film Result

2010 Best Supporting Actress Bran Nue Dae Nominated

2013 Best Actress The Sapphires Nominated

Helpmann Awards[edit]

Year Category Production Result

2003 Best Female Actor in a Play The Seven Stages of Grieving Nominated

2005 Best Female Actor in a Play The Sapphires Nominated

2007 Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play The Lost Echo Won

Other awards[edit]

Year Category Result

2003 NAIDOC Person of the Year Won

2003 Female Actor of the Year Won

In 2012, Mailman was a recipient of the Queensland
Queensland Greats Awards.[16] References[edit]

^ a b Lehmann, Megan (9 November 2013). "Darkside star Deborah Mailman moves amid kindred spirits". The Australian. Retrieved 16 January 2015.  ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.  inspirational-stories/deborah-mailman ^ AusStage ^ Bryant, Nick (October 2012). "The Mailman express: An actress on a roll". The Monthly. Retrieved 7 April 2015.  ^ a b Prior, Sian (11 March 2002). "Smashing through". The Age. Retrieved 7 March 2016.  ^ https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/6417 ^ Jopson, Debra (15 June 2002). "Look at us now". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2016.  ^ Dwyer, Michael (26 January 2006). "Home and away". The Age. Retrieved 16 January 2015.  ^ "The Actors Company's short, fraught life". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2016.  ^ Hawker, Philippa (8 August 2009). "Indigenous film's world premiere introduces some Bran Nue stars". The Age. Retrieved 7 March 2016.  ^ "Ralph". Retrieved 30 September 2015.  ^ "Deborah Mailman". Offspring. Network Ten. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010. [dead link] ^ Knox, David (28 May 2012). "Cameras roll on Redfern Now". TV Tonight. Retrieved 7 April 2015.  ^ Domjen, Briana (11 January 2015). " Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman and Cate Blanchett to co-host the AACTA Awards". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 January 2015.  ^ Sunday Herald Sun ^ "2012 Queensland
Queensland Greats recipients". Queensland
Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017. 

External links[edit]

Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman on IMDb

v t e

AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Monica Maughan (1971) Jacki Weaver
Jacki Weaver (1972) Judy Morris (1973) Julie Dawson (1974/1995) Helen Morse (1976) Pat Bishop (1977) Angela Punch McGregor (1978) Michele Fawdon (1979) Tracy Mann (1980) Judy Davis
Judy Davis (1981) Noni Hazlehurst (1982) Wendy Hughes (1983) Angela Punch McGregor (1984) Noni Hazlehurst (1985) Judy Davis
Judy Davis (1986) Judy Davis
Judy Davis (1987) Nadine Garner
Nadine Garner (1988) Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep (1989) Catherine McClements
Catherine McClements (1990) Sheila Florance
Sheila Florance (1991) Lisa Harrow (1992) Holly Hunter
Holly Hunter (1993) Toni Collette
Toni Collette (1994) Jacqueline McKenzie
Jacqueline McKenzie (1995) Judy Davis
Judy Davis (1996) Pamela Rabe
Pamela Rabe (1997) Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman (1998) Sacha Horler
Sacha Horler (1999) Pia Miranda
Pia Miranda (2000) Kerry Armstrong (2001) Maria Theodorakis (2002) Toni Collette
Toni Collette (2003) Abbie Cornish
Abbie Cornish (2004) Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett (2005) Emily Barclay
Emily Barclay (2006) Joan Chen
Joan Chen (2007) Monic Hendrickx (2008) Frances O'Connor (2009) Jacki Weaver
Jacki Weaver (2010) Judy Davis
Judy Davis (2011) Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman (2012) Rose Byrne
Rose Byrne (2013) Sarah Snook
Sarah Snook (2014) Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet (2015) Odessa Young
Odessa Young (2016) Emma Booth (2017)

v t e

AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Melissa Jaffer/ Jacki Weaver
Jacki Weaver (1976) Veronica Lang (1977) Angela Punch McGregor (1978) Pat Evison (1979) Jill Perryman (1980) Judy Davis
Judy Davis (1981) Kris McQuade (1982) Linda Hunt
Linda Hunt (1983) Anna Maria Monticelli (1984) Annie Byron (1985) Lindy Davies (1986) Jan Adele (1987) Tina Bursill (1988) Victoria Longley (1989) Julia Blake (1990) Fiona Press (1991) Pat Thomson (1992) Judy Davis
Judy Davis (1993) Rachel Griffiths
Rachel Griffiths (1994) Amanda Douge (1995) Toni Collette
Toni Collette (1996) Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett (1997) Toni Collette
Toni Collette (1998) Sacha Horler
Sacha Horler (1999) Greta Scacchi
Greta Scacchi (2000) Rachael Blake (2001) Judi Farr (2002) Sacha Horler
Sacha Horler (2003) Lynette Curran (2004) Noni Hazlehurst (2005) Susie Porter
Susie Porter (2006) Emma Booth (2007) Toni Collette
Toni Collette (2008) Rachel Griffiths
Rachel Griffiths (2009) Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman (2010) Louise Harris
Louise Harris (2011) Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Mauboy (2012) Elizabeth Debicki
Elizabeth Debicki (2013) Susan Prior (2014) Judy Davis
Judy Davis (2015) Miranda Otto
Miranda Otto (2016) Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman (2017)

v t e

AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama

Lois Ramsey (2000) (a) Catherine McClements
Catherine McClements (2001) (a) Magda Szubanski
Magda Szubanski (2002) Essie Davis (2003) (b) Katie Wall (2004) (b) Anita Hegh (2005) Saskia Burmeister
Saskia Burmeister (2006) Vicki Saylor (2007) Madeleine West
Madeleine West (2008) Anni Finsterer (2009) Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman (2010) Diana Glenn
Diana Glenn (2011) Mandy McElhinney
Mandy McElhinney (2012) Kat Stewart
Kat Stewart (2013) Chelsie Preston-Crayford (2014) Sigrid Thornton
Sigrid Thornton (2015) Celia Pacquola
Celia Pacquola (2016)

Key: (a)= Winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role in a Television Drama Series (b)= Best Actress in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy

v t e

Equity Award for Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Rake, series 1 (2010): Box; Brazier; Carter; Cormack; Day; Dykstra; Joyce; Le Marquand; Morrell; Pickering; Roxburgh

East West 101, series 3 (2011): Farinacci; Fa'aoso; Hany; Lim; Nable; Porter; Roc

Redfern Now, series 1 (2012): Blair; Flanagan; Mailman; McGrath; Pell; Purcell; Rose; Sebbens; Yovich

Redfern Now, series 2 (2013): Blair; Clarkson Jones; Dingo; Flanagan; Hazlehurst; Madden; Page; Pistorius; Williscroft; Wyatt; Yovich

Rake, series 3 (2014): Allsop; Box; Brazier; Cormack; Day; Dykstra; Garvey; Joyce; Kaczmarek; Le Marquand; Lemon; Malcolm; Pickering; Roxburgh; Sacks

The Principal (2015): Adams; Coco; De Nawi; Denkha; Demitriades; Dimitriades; Foulkes; Hanna; Lekwape; Matangi; Romahn; Xanthis; Young; Zahalka

Cleverman
Cleverman (2016): Page-Lochard, Briggs; Collins; Corr; Dawson; Glen; Hick; Mailman; O'Connor; Towney; Walton.

v t e

Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play

Jane Harders (2003) Belinda McClory (2004) Zoe Carides (2005) Alison Bell (2006) Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman (2007) Julie Forsyth (2008) Marta Dusseldorp
Marta Dusseldorp (2009) Alison Whyte (2010) Anita Hegh (2011) Robyn Nevin (2012) Amber McMahon (2013) Robyn Nevin (2014) Helen Thomson (2015) Sarah Peirse (2016) Amber McMahon (2017)

Authority control

WorldCat Identities VIAF: 94969032 LCCN: nr97034578 ISNI: 0000 0000 6493 4436 SUDOC: 167602039 BNF: cb1675