Jimi Bani

Bani is a Torres Strait Islander (Mabuiag Island) of the Wadagadum people, where his father was a tribal chief.^[1]

Bani was playing in the Queensland State basketball league in Cairns in 2004, when he answered a 'no experience needed' advertisement for actors to appear in the 2006 SBS drama miniseries RAN: Remote Area Nurse. He landed a main role in the series, alongside Susie Porter.^[2] Keen to further his acting career, he attended the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where he studied alongside fellow actor Jai Courtney, graduating in 2007.^[3][4][2]

Directly after graduating from WAAPA, Bani scored a lead role in a world-premiere stage production of Jandamarra for Black Swan State Theatre Company at the 2008 Perth International Arts Festival.^[2] That same year, he appeared in Yibiyung for Company B and Malthouse Theatre.^[1] He then performed in Romeo and Juliet for Sydney Theatre Company and a stage version of The Sapphires in 2010, for the Black Swan State Theatre Company and Company B, touring internationally to London and Korea.^[1]

In 2012, Bani appeared in ABC1's series, The Straits as crime family member, Marou Montebello. He also landed the titular role of indigenous activist Eddie Koiko Mabo in biographical telemovie Mabo.^[1][3][5] Both series were nominated for awards. Later that year, Bani played Peter Gibson in the third episode of Redfern Now, an ABC1 six-part series produced by Blackfella Films.^[6]

From late 2013 through 2014, Bani performed in a stage production of The Shadow King for which he received a Helpmann Awards nomination.^[7] The play was produced by the Malthouse Theatre in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals – Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Melbourne Festival, Perth International Arts Festival and Sydney Festival.^[8]

Bani was a member of Queensland Theatre's National Artistic Team, to assist Artistic Director Sam Strong with its 2017 season.^[9] That same year, he appeared in a Queensland Theatre production entitled My Name is Jimi, which he co-created with Jason Klarwein who also directed the production. The performers included members of his family in a performance which "... whisks you away to his island for an evening of music, dance, stand-up and storytelling. Four generations of one family take the stage, as Jimi’s grandmother, mother, son and brothers help him spin yarns of totems, traditions and childhood memories".^[10] The show was also performed at the Sydney Festival in 2018.^[11]

In early 2022, Bani delivered a critically acclaimed performance as George in a State Theatre Company South Australia production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.^[12][13] Later in 2022, Bani and Jason Klarwein staged an adaptation of Othello at Queensland Theatre, set in the Torres Straits. It was originally premiered at Cairns Indigenous Art Fair in 2021. Bani played Othello as a member of the Torres Straits Light Infantry Battalion during World War II. The production was staged in three languages; Kala Lagaw Ya, Yumplatok and English.^[14] Performing cultural songs and dances alongside Bani, were his three brothers.^[14][15]

In 2024, Bani voiced the character of Red, a kangaroo in the animated feature film The Lost Tiger.^[16][17]

Together with The Straits co-star, Aaron Fa'aoso, Bani runs Cairns film and television production company, Lone Star, teaching writing, directing, acting and cinematography to young people. The company has also produced numerous short films.^[2]

Bani is a father of five children with partner Idelia, and together they live in Cairns, Queensland. He has three brothers – Richard, Gabriel Bani and Conwell. Bani's great-grandfather was a member of the Torres Strait Light Infantry.^[15]