Elena Carapetis

Elena Carapetis (born 26 February 1970) is an Australian actress and writer, best known for her role as Jackie Kassis in Heartbreak High, as well as numerous other television series and theatre roles.

She graduated from Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) with a degree in Performing Arts (Acting) in 1996.

Elena Carapetis has appeared onstage in numerous productions. Her first public performance was in Tonight We Improvise at Adelaide University's Little Theatre on 10 June 1987. This was followed by appearances in Dogg's Hamlet, Cahoot's Macbeth in 1988.

In 1990, she appeared in The Courtyard of Miracles at the Lion Theatre, Adelaide.

In 1993, Elena performed in As You Like It at the Little Theatre, Adelaide.

In 1997, she appeared in Features of Blown Youth at The Queens Theatre, Adelaide.

In 2002, she performed in Parthenon Air at the Sidetrack Theatre, Marrickville.

In 2004, Elena appeared in a production of Translations and Hot Fudge with the State Theatre Company of South Australia.

In March 2005, Elena first performed in It's A Mother! at the Sidetrack Theatre, Marrickville, as part of theGreek Festival of Sydney. She would return to this show in 2006 as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and in 2007 as part of Melbourne's Arts House program.

In 2006 Elena again performed in Translations, this time at the Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne and the Beckett Theatre, Southbank. In the same year, she appeared in 4:48 Psychosis at The Queens Theatre Stables, Adelaide.

In 2007 Elena played in Assassins, Triple Threat, and This Uncharted Hour.

In 2008, she appeared in Helly's Magic Cup at The Space, Adelaide.

In 2009, she appeared in The Things We Do For Love at the Dunstan Playhouse. She had a leading role in the film Offside.

In 2010, Elena performed in Ruby Bruise at the Waterside Theatre, Port Adelaide.

In 2011, appeared in transumer: deviate from the norm at the Waterside Hall, Port Adelaide.

In 2012, she played all "the other" roles in the play Truck Stop, including a doctor, counselor, mother and grungy teenage boy.

Stage plays

Helen Back

Carapetis wrote the stage play Helen Back in 2011. It has been performed in several places, including Sydney and Adelaide. The play made the shortlist for the drama award at the 2012 Adelaide Festival Awards.

The Good Son

Her play The Good Son will have its world premiere at the Bakehouse Theatre in April 2015. Presented by THE OTHER ONES, it will be directed by Corey McMahon, and feature Eugenia Fragos, Renato Musolino, Adriana Bonaccurso and Demitrios Sirilas.

Television

In 2007, a script written by Carapetis was selected out of 1,700 submissions as an episode of the 25x5min series Marx and Venus on the SBS.

• Her mother is Greek Cypriot and her father is from the Greek island of Icaria. Elena is fluent in Greek.
• She is currently developing a play called The Good Sonwith assistance from Arts SA.
• Elena appeared in the short film Dusk, which made the shortlist at the 2008 Tropfest Short Film Festival.
• She has worked extensively as a voice over artist on advertising campaigns.