Merridy Eastman

Theatre

After graduating from NIDA in 1983 ^[3], Eastman performed in several productions with the State Theatre Company in South Australia. In 1989 she appeared in Toe Truck Theatre Company's production of Hating Alison Ashley, adapted from the book of the same name, at Sydney's Seymour Centre.^[4] The following year she played Valeria in Gale Edwards's production of The Rover both for the Adelaide Festival and then at the York Theatre in the Seymour Centre ^[5]. In 1990 Eastman began working for the Melbourne Theatre Company appearing in many productions over the next ten years including The Heidi Chronicles^[6], This Old Man Comes Rolling Home^[7],The House of Blue Leaves^[8], A Christmas Carol^[9], Noel Coward's Hay Fever^[10], Gulliver's Travels^[11],The Dutch Courtesan with Geoffrey Rush^[12], the stage adaptation of Morris Gleitzman's novel Blabber Mouth for the MTC and Arena Theatre Company^[13], The Comedy of Errors^[14], and Absurd Person Singular^[15]. Describing her performance as Lady Cynthia Muldoon in Tom Stoppard's The Real Inspector Houndfor the MTC,The Age critic Helen Thomson wrote, "Merridy Eastman brings her own particular brand of air-headed inconsequence with excellent effect to the role".^[16].

Eastman also played Helena for the Australian Shakespeare Company's outdoor productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream in both Melbourne and Sydney, directed by Glenn Elston, from 1993 to 1995^[3][17], and played Grumio in their production of The Taming of the Shrew at the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens ^[18]. In late 1996, Eastman played Amelia in the Playbox Theatre Company's production of Hannie Rayson's Competitive Tenderness at The Malthouse.^[19], and was nominated for Best Female Supporting Actor in a Drama at the 14th Green Room Awards.^[20]

In 2001, Eastman played Miss Pearl in the Sydney Theatre Company's production of Dymphna Cusack's Morning Sacrifice at the Wharf Theatre.^[21] In 2003 she starred in Noises Off at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre as Dotty Otley. The Age critic Helen Thomson wrote: "[Eastman] is one of the few actors in Australia who can reduce an audience to hysterics just by standing in front of it."^[22]

In 2003 Eastman appeared alongside Miriam Margolyes in the MTC-STC production of Blithe Spirit ^[23] including a season at the Sydney Opera House.^[24]. From 2004 to 2010 Eastman lived in Germany, and did not return to the stage until 2016, performing alongside Sophie Hensser in the romantic comedy A History of Falling Things at the Ensemble Theatre.^[25]. In 2019 Eastman appeared again at the Ensemble Theatre in Melanie Tait's The Appleton Ladies Potato Race.^[26]. For her performance in Robert Askins' black comedy Hand to God at the Old Fitz Theatre^[27], Eastman won Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production at the 2022 Sydney Theatre Awards.^[28] In 2025, she played the Nurse in Bell Shakespeare's production of Romeo and Juliet that included a season at the Theatre Royal in Hobart, ^[2] before the company concluded their national tour at the Sydney Opera House.

Film and television

After graduating from NIDA, Eastman became a presenter on Play School from 1985 until 1989.^[2] Her television appearances have included A Country Practice^[29], Boys from the Bush^[30], Halifax f.p.^[31],Neighbours^[3], ABC The Glynn Nicholas Show^[32],Good Guys, Bad Guys, The Man from Snowy River, Home and Away^[33], Blue Heelers^[34], Flat Chat^[35], All Saints,^[36], the documentary film City of Dreams ^[37] in which she played architect Marion Mahony Griffin, and a guest role in the comedy drama series Rake.

From 2001 until 2003, Eastman played Eileen Unn in the Seven Network drama/comedy series Always Greener.^[38]. And from 2011 to 2013 Eastman joined the cast of Packed to the Rafters^{[1] [39]} playing Donna, best friend to Julie Rafter (Rebecca Gibney)^{[40] [36] [41]}. Eastman reprised her role for Back to the Rafters, a revival of Packed to the Rafters, which aired on Amazon Prime Video in September 2021.^[42]

Writing

In addition to her acting career, Eastman is also the author of three humorous memoirs published by Allen & Unwin^[2]. Her first, There's A Bear In There, a national bestseller, tells the story of her time working as a weekend receptionist at a brothel in Sydney for ten months.^[39] This book was followed by Ridiculous Expectations about Eastman's time on a British book tour and how she met her German husband.^[2] The third memoir How Now Brown Frau follows Eastman's time living in Bavaria and becoming a mother, while the fourth I Knew We Weren't Spanish! details her search for the truth about her father's family, and discovering her hidden Aboriginal ancestry. .^[2]. She has also been a contributing writer to two anthologies: Penguin's Thanks for The Mammaries and Just Between Us from Pan Macmillan.^[43] Eastman contributed to the book of the 2008 Australian musical comedy Breast Wishes, which raises awareness and money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.^[44] In 2013, she joined the Wentworth Courier as the Urban Goddess columnist.^[45]

Film and television

Theatre

• Source:^[46]