Denise Roberts

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]

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]

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]

Source: ^[6][1]