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Denise Roberts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the American politician, see Denise Roberts (politician).

Denise Roberts
EducationEnsemble Theatre (2005)
Australian Film, Television and Radio School (1998)
Metro Screen (2003)[1]
OccupationsActress, director, teacher
Years active1980–present
Known forG.P.
Packed to the Rafters

Denise Roberts, is an Australian actress, director, and founder of film and television acting school Screenwise in Sydney.[1] She is known for her roles on TV in 1980s/90s medical drama G.P. and 2009 series Packed to the Rafters.[1]

Early life and education

[edit]

Roberts became passionate about screen acting as a young child, but as screen acting schools did not exist at the time, she attended theatre school for instead.[2] Her mentor was Hayes Gordon, with whom she studied under for three years at Sydney's Ensemble Theatre, graduating in 2005.[1]

In her later career, Roberts studied script editing (1996) and producing (1998) at Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), followed by directing (2003) at Metro Screen.[1]

Career

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Roberts has worked in theatre, film and television since 1980. She came to fame playing Julie Winters in the ABC TV medical drama G.P. for seven years, from 1989 to 1996.[1] Her portrayal earned her nominations at the Logie Awards, the People's Choice Awards and the AACTA Awards, including an AACTA win for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama.[3] During her tenure on G.P., she also taught film and television for Hayes Gordon, at his Ensemble Studios.

Roberts was the creator and Associate Producer of the ABC's 1995 drama miniseries, Correlli, which gave Hugh Jackman his big Australian break. She also featured in two episodes.[1]

In 1998, Roberts starred in Road to Nhill, which saw her nominated for a Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Supporting Actress award.[1][3] The same year, the 10-minute, 16mm short thriller Stairwell (1998), which Roberts directed, was screened at the LA International Short Film Festival.[1]

From 2001 to 2003, Roberts played town matriarch Isabelle Turnbull in Always Greener[1] and had a starring role as university registrar Jessica Andrews in Roberts 7's HeadLand from 2005 to 2006.[1] She played the role of Helen Jones in 2007 television film Joanne Lees: Murder in the Outback,[1] a retelling of the real-life Peter Falconio case. That same year, she starred as Aunty Barbara in mockumentary feature film Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance.[1]

From 2009, Roberts played the recurring guest role of Bonnie Bright, the Scottish psychic sandwich lady in Channel 7's Packed to the Rafters, and again in 2012.[1] She also played Faye in the feature film Subdivision,[4] which premiered in August 2009. The following year, she played the regular role of Inspector Diane Pappas in the Nine Network police drama Cops L.A.C..[5]

In 2013, Roberts featured in psychological thriller Nerve, alongside Gary Sweet, who played her character's husband.[2] In 2014, she starred in television film Schapelle, playing Schapelle's mother Rosleigh Rose Corby, which saw her nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well and a Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress in a Television Drama.[1][3]

Further accolades followed with Best Supporting Actress nominations for Roberts' roles in 2015 film Nerve at the International World Film Festival, and 2016 thriller Concealed at the Sydney Indie Film Festival.[3]

From 2020 to 2022, Roberts played the ongoing role of Bev Boyce in web series Grey Nomads.[1]

Roberts' television guest credits are numerous, and have included A Country Practice, Sons and Daughters, Home and Away, Rafferty's Rules, E Street, Correlli, Snowy River: The McGregor Saga, Wildside, Pizza, All Saints, Underbelly: Razor, The Moodys, Wonderland, Five Bedrooms and God's Favorite Idiot[1] – the latter opposite American actress Melissa McCarthy. Her other film credits include Going Sane (1987), The Dish (2000) and Opal Dream (2006).[1]

Roberts' theatre performances include starring roles in the one-woman theatre shows Late Nite Catechism and Shirley Valentine.[1] Further stage credits include The Vagina Monologues and Lovers at Versailles, the latter of which earned her a Chief Glugs Award at the 2004 Glugs Theatrical Awards Excellence Behind the Scenes.[3] She also starred in Charitable Intent, which earned her a Sydney Theatre Critics Award nomination in 2006.[1][3]

Roberts has also directed numerous theatre productions, including Lovers at Versailles at the Playhouse (Sydney Opera House)[6] as well as Fully Committed, Educating Rita and The Oldest Profession all for Ensemble Theatre.[1]

Teaching

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Roberts is the founder and principal director of Screenwise, a Sydney-based film and television school for actors, established in 2000.[7][1]

Tutors at the school have included industry names such as Nicholas Hope, Terry Serio, Katherine Hicks, Gary Sweet, Susie Porter, Rachael Blake, Roxane Wilson, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Claire van der Boom, Felix Williamson, Maya Stange, Philip Quast, Peter Mochrie, Martin Dingle-Wall, Teo Gebert, Rhondda Findleton, Felicity Price, Alexandra Davies and director/producer Peter Andrikidis.[8][9]

Successful actors who were former students include Chris Hemsworth, Isabel Lucas, Todd Lasance, Samantha Noble, Andy Whitfield and Tabrett Bethell.[8]

Awards

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Year Title Award Category Result Ref.
1991 G.P. Logie Awards Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress on Australian Television Nominated [3]
1993 People's Choice Awards Most Popular Actress in a Television Drama series Nominated [3]
G.P. (episode: "Alone") Australian Film Institute Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama Won [3]
1994 G.P. Variety Club Television Drama Awards Best Actress in a Television Drama Won [3]
People's Choice Awards Most Popular Actress in a Television Drama Series Nominated [3]
Logie Awards Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress on Australian Television Nominated [3]
1998 Road to Nhill Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Supporting Actress Nominated [3]
2004 Lovers at Versailles Chief Glugs Award Excellence Behind the Scenes Won [3]
2006 Charitable Intent Sydney Theatre Critics Awards Best Actress in a Lead Role Nominated [3]
2015 Nerve International World Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Nominated [3]
Schapelle AACTA Awards Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama Nominated [1][3]
Logie Awards Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress in a Television Drama Nominated [1][3]
2016 Concealed Sydney Indie Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Nominated [3]

Film

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As actor

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Boy Who Had Everything Rita Feature film
1986 For Love Alone Mrs. Ashley Feature film
1987 Going Sane Mrs. Chubb Feature film
1997 Road to Nhill Gwen Feature film
2000 The Dish Bronwyn Feature film
2003 Kangaroo Jack Tansy Feature film
2006 Opal Dream Vera Dunkley Feature film
One Last Shot Waitress Short film
2007 Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance Barbara Feature film (mockumentary)
Boys Own Story Aunt Eileen Short film
2009 Subdivision Faye Feature film
Benefit Mother Short film
2010 Dying Ice Elder Short film
Anyone You Want Jenny
2012 Leech Betty Short film
2013 Nerve Sally Livingston Feature film
2014 The Half Dead The See-er Post-production
2015 Spirit of the Game Sister Bingham Feature film
2017 Concealed Irene Feature film
TBA Shadow Wars The See-er Post-production
TBA Juvenescence Headmistress Audrey Hammersmith Post-production

As producer / director / writer

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1998 Stairwell Director / Producer Short film [1]
2005 So Darn Hot! Producer Short film
2006 Well Baked Producer Short film
2008 Under a Red Moon Associate Producer Feature film
2009 The Mad Chase Producer Short film
2010 The Rose Producer Short film
2012 Contamination Director Short film [1]
2013 Good Neighbours Director Short film [1]
2015 After Party Executive Producer Short film
2016 Shadowbox Producer Short film
Our Father Producer Short film
No Good Deed Producer Short film
In the Stars Producer Short film
Anything for Family Producer Short film
An Honest Way Producer Short film
A Gathering Producer Short film
2025 Love Shack Producer Short film
Pet World: Team Building Producer Short film
Echo Writer / Director/ Producer Short film

Television

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As actor

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Year Title Role Notes
1981 Bellamy Bev Episode: "Bet Your Life"
1984 A Halo for Athuan Maizy TV film
1985 A Country Practice Patient / Kristine Cox 3 episodes: "Walk Tall: Parts 1 & 2", "Work Experience: Part 2"
1986 Hector's Bunyip Gladys Glum TV film
1986–1987 Sons and Daughters Kidnapper Episode: "1.799"
Monica Episode: "1.972"
1987 Two Friends Jessie TV film
Rafferty's Rules Mrs. Bridges Episode: "Kids"
1988; 1989 Home and Away Woman Customer Season 1, episode 51
Nola Dibble Season 2, episode 258
1989 Fields of Fire III Mrs. Anderson Miniseries
1989; 1990 E Street Myra Season 1, episode 2-3
Myra Episode: "The Reverend & the Doctor?"
1989–1996 G.P. Julie Winters 317 episodes
1992 Sinbad the Sailor Voice Animated TV film
1995 Correlli Helen Buckley 2 episodes: "Solitary", "Lock-Down"
1996 The Man from Snowy River (aka Snowy River: The McGregor Saga) Mary Kelly Episode: "The Grand Opening"
1998; 2005 All Saints Janice McGregor Episode: "A Little Magic"
Margaret Episode: "Funny Games"
1999 Wildside Sheryl Cunningham Episode: "2.19"
2000; 2003 Grass Roots Evelyn Savage Episode: "The Whole Year"
Christina Episode: "Investigation"
2001 Water Rats Meredith Dillon Episode: "The Thin Edge"
Pizza Jackie / Mum Stanko 2 episodes: "Politically Incorrect Pizza", "Girlfriend Pizza"
2001; 2002 BackBerner Beryl Todd Episode: "3.4"
Various Episode: "1.134"
2001–2003 Always Greener Isabelle Turnbull 50 episodes
2004 Home and Away Valerie Squires Season 17, 8 episodes
2005–2006 Headland Jessica Andrews 26 episodes
2007 Joanne Lees: Murder in the Outback Helen Jones TV film
2009 East West 101 Janet Miller Episode: "Men of Conscience"
2009; 2012 Packed to the Rafters Bonnie Bright 3 episodes: "Having It All", "Look Into My Eyes", "Putting the House in Order"
Episode: "Sign of the Times"
2010 Cops L.A.C. Detective Inspector Diane Pappas 13 episodes
2011 Underbelly: Razor Alice Twiss Miniseries, episode: "Jerusalem Revisited"
Blood Brothers Sue O'Farrell TV film
2012 Mrs Biggs Annie Pitcher 2 episodes: "1.3", "1.4"
2013 Cliffy Molly TV film
Wonderland Episode: "The Exes"
2014 Schapelle Rosleigh Rose TV film

As producer

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1994 Correlli Concept Creator / Associate Producer Miniseries [1]

Theatre

[edit]

Source: [6][1]

As actor

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1983 The Bear Mrs Popov Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1984 A Kind of Alaska Deborah
1985 When in Rome Margaret
1986 The Shadow Box Maggie
1987 Once a Catholic Mother Thomas Aquinas
1988 Talk of the Devil Mrs Maguire
1990 A Night with Robinson Crusoe Julie Ensemble Studios, Sydney for Festival of Sydney
1992 The Slab Boys Sadie Crossroads Theatre, Sydney with O'Punksky's Theatre Company for Festival of Sydney
Man of the Moment Sharon York Theatre, Sydney with Ensemble Theatre
1993 The Seahorse Gertrude Ensemble Studios, Sydney with Sydney Festival
1994 The Rise and Fall of Little Voice Sadie Adelaide Festival with STC
1999–2000 Shirley Valentine Shirley Valentine Ensemble Theatre, Sydney, Bridge Theatre, Sydney with STC / Blue Sky Ent [3]
Late Nite Catechism Sister Bridge Theatre, Sydney, IMB Theatre, Wollongong, Courtyard Studio, Canberra, North Adelaide Community Centre with Adrian Bohm Presents [3]
2000 Girls' Night Out Aunty Ivy Star City Showroom, Sydney with Jacobsen Entertainment
2001–2003 The Vagina Monologues Various roles Ensemble Studios, Sydney, Valhalla Cinema, Sydney, Acton Street Theatre, Canberra with Adrian Bohm Presents [3]
2005 Shirley Valentine Shirley Valentine Civic Theatre, Newcastle with Rock City Productions [3]
2006 Charitable Intent Amanda Ensemble Theatre, Sydney [3]

As director

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1996 Veronica's Room Director Ensemble Theatre, Sydney [1]
1997 RIP Ripper Director Rat Bag Theatre Company, Sydney [1]
Educating Rita Director Ensemble Theatre, Sydney [1]
1999 Beautiful Thing Director [1]
2000 Wit Associate Director [1]
2001 The Oldest Profession Director
2002–2003 Fully Committed Director Ensemble Studios, Sydney, Chapel Off Chapel, Melbourne
2004 Lovers at Versailles Director Sydney Opera House
2005 Shirley Valentine Director Civic Theatre, Newcastle with Rock City Productions [3]
2007 The Getaway Director Newtown Theatre, Sydney with Screenwise for Short+Sweet

Radio

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1982 Counter Talk Documentary drama [1]
1985 That's Democracy Documentary drama [1]
1987 Managing the Schools (Education Department) Documentary drama [1]
1989 History of Australia Narrator ABC (Educational) [1]
The Passing of Catherine Mrs Boyle ABC [1]

Publications

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Year Title Role Publisher Ref.
1995 Get Your Act Together: The Actor's Advisory Manual Author Federation Press [10][1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "Denise Roberts". Screenwise. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Screenwise's Denise Roberts". www.couturing.com. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Denise Roberts" (PDF). Liberty Artist Management. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  4. ^ "At The Movies". abc.net.au. 3 September 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ "COPS L.A.C. cast complete". TV Tonight. 17 March 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Denise Roberts". AusStage. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  7. ^ Natasha Lee (22 August 2004). "Hopefuls act the part". Sunday Telegraph (Sydney). Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  8. ^ a b Hunter, Brooke. "Denise Roberts Screenwise Interview". www.girl.com.au. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Screenwise Tutors". Screenwise. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Get your act together – Denise Roberts". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
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