Danielle Cormack (born 26 December 1970) is a stage and screen actress from New Zealand. She was one of the original core cast of the long-running soap opera Shortland Street, though she is also known for her role as the Amazon Ephiny in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess, Cynthia Ross in The Cult, and Shota in Legend of the Seeker. Other works include the 2009 film, Separation City, and the Australian series Rake. She also portrayed notorious Sydney underworld figure Kate Leigh in Underbelly: Razor. Her most notable work in recent years was her portrayal of Bea Smith in the Foxtel prison drama Wentworth, in which she starred for four years before leaving the show in 2016.
Personal life
Cormack has one child with fellow actor Pana Hema Taylor, Te Ahi Ka, born 19 March 2010. Cormack has another son, Ethan (born in 1996), from a previous relationship. In an interview with LOTL Magazine, Cormack revealed that she has had long-term relationships with people of both genders, though didn't state what label she identified with in the article. Cormack's current partner is Adam Anthony, a Canadian director/producer.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1993 | Snap | Felicity | Short film |
1993 | Game with No Rules, AA Game with No Rules | Vera Smith | Short film |
1994 | Last Tattoo, TheThe Last Tattoo | Molly | |
1997 | Topless Women Talk About Their Lives | Liz | |
1998 | Via Satellite | Chrissy / Carol | |
1999 | Siam Sunset | Grace | |
1999 | Channelling Baby | Bunnie | |
2000 | Price of Milk, TheThe Price of Milk | Lucinda | |
2004 | Without a Paddle | Toni | |
2004 | Stringer | Butcher | |
2004 | Together | Rose | Short film |
2005 | Pool, TheThe Pool | Jane | Short film |
2005 | River Queen | Viola | |
2006 | Mirage | Various | Short film |
2006 | Cross My Heart | Krystal | Short film |
2006 | Perfect Creature | Margaret Sparrow | |
2008 | Song of Good, AA Song of Good | Rachel Cradle | |
2009 | Separation City | Pam Nicholson | |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1987–89 | Gloss | Tania Veitch | Main role |
1992–93 | Shortland Street | Alison Raynor | Main role |
1994 | High Tide | Meghan Kelly | Episode: "Sitting Ducks" |
1995 | High Tide | Jill McMillan | Episode: "Dead Heat" |
1995 | Call Up, TheThe Call Up | Stacey | Television film |
1995 | Overnight | Kelly | Television film |
1995–2001 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Ephiny | Recurring role (8 episodes) |
1997 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | Lady Marie DeValle | Episode: "Les Contemptibles" |
1997–99 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | Ephiny | Episodes: "Prodigal Sister", "Sky High" |
2000 | Jack of All Trades | Katherine | Episode: "A Horse of a Different Color" |
2000 | Cleopatra 2525 | Raina | Episodes: "Mind Games", "Trial and Error", "Out of Body" |
2000 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Samsara | Episode: "Lifeblood" |
2004 | Maiden Voyage | Lynn Fabrizio | Television film |
2006 | Maddigan's Quest | Maddie | Main role (13 episodes) |
2007 | Rude Awakenings | Dimity Rush | Main role (11 episodes) |
2008 | City Homicide | Shirley Steadman | Episode: "Taniwha" |
2008 | Strip, TheThe Strip | Amy | Episodes: "1.11", "1.12", "1.13" |
2008–10 | Legend of the Seeker | Shota | Recurring role (6 episodes) |
2009 | Buzzy Bee and Friends | Elle-Gator (voice) | Recurring role (14 episodes) |
2009 | Cult, TheThe Cult | Cynthia Ross | Main role (13 episodes) |
2010 | Forever New Zealand | Catherine | Television film |
2010–16 | Rake | Scarlet Meagher | Main role (32 episodes) |
2011 | East West 101 | Angela Travis | Episodes: "Jerusalem", "Behold a Pale Horse", "Revelation" |
2011 | Underbelly: Razor | Kate Leigh | Main role (13 episodes) |
2012 | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Anna Ross | Episode: "Queen of the Flowers" |
2012 | Buzzy Bee and Friends | Elle-Gator (voice) | Episodes: "2.1", "Memories", "Oscar's Ups and Downs" |
2013–2016 | Wentworth | Bea Smith | Main role |
2016 | Deep Water | Brenda MacIntosh | 4 part miniseries will be premiered on SBS at 8:30pm Wednesday October 5th, 2016 |
Theatre
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1993 | East | Sylv | Mercury Theatre, Auckland |
1994 | East | Sylv | Zurich Arts Festival - Lucerne, Switzerland |
1996 | Spare Prick | Lucinda | Basement Theatre, Auckland |
1996 | Return of the Summer Street Seven | Lucinda | Basement Theatre, Auckland |
1997 | Arcadia | Chloe Coverly | Auckland Theatre Company |
1999 | Trainspotting | Various | New Zealand Tour |
2001 | Blue Room, TheThe Blue Room | Alison / Various | Auckland Theatre Company |
2001 | Streetcar Named Desire, AA Streetcar Named Desire | Stella | Auckland Theatre Company |
2002 | Bellbird, TheThe Bellbird | Flo | Auckland Theatre Company |
2003 | Shape of Things, TheThe Shape of Things | Evelyn | Auckland Theatre Company |
2003 | Vagina Monologues, TheThe Vagina Monologues | Various | New Zealand Tour |
2004 | Skin Tight | Elizabeth | New Zealand Tour |
2004 | Caligula | Caesonia | Auckland Theatre Company |
2004 | Sex with Strangers | Robyn | Herald Theatre, Auckland |
2005 | Sex with Strangers | Prostitute | Herald Theatre, Auckland |
2005 | Clockwork Orange, AA Clockwork Orange | Various | Silo Theatre, Auckland |
2006 | Case of Katherine Mansfield, TheThe Case of Katherine Mansfield | Katherine Mansfield | Herald Theatre, Auckland |
2007 | Case of Katherine Mansfield, TheThe Case of Katherine Mansfield | Katherine Mansfield | Downstage Theatre, Wellington |
2008 | Hypocrite, TheThe Hypocrite | Dorine | Melbourne Theatre Company |
2008 | Rock 'n' Roll | Lenka | Melbourne Theatre Company & Sydney Theatre Company |
2010 | Christ Almighty | Three Wise Men | The Basement Theatre, Auckland |
2011 | Yellow Moon | Hollie | B Sharp |
2012 | Top Girls | Marlene | Silo Theatre |
2014 | Rupert | Anna Murdoch | Theatre Royal, Sydney |
2015 | Boys Will Be Boys | Astrid Wentworth | Sydney Theatre Company |
2016 | Straight | Steph | Kings Cross Theatre |
Awards
Year | Award | Category | Production | Result |
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1997 | New Zealand Film and TV Awards | Best Actress | Topless Women Talk About Their Lives | Won |
1999 | Channelling Baby | Nominated |
2000 | The Price of Milk | Nominated |
Fantasporto International Film Festival | Siam Sunset | Won |
2005 | Drifting Cloud International Film Festival | Best Performance | Together | Won |
2006 | TV Guide Best on the Box People's Choice Awards | Best Actress | Maddigan's Quest | Nominated |
48 Hour Film Festival | Best Manic Performance | Mirage | Won |
Richmond Road Short Film Festival | Best Performance Female | Together | Won |
2009 | Aotearoa Film & Television Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film | Separation City | Nominated |
2010 | Qantas Television Awards | Best Performance by Actress in General Television | The Cult | Won |
2011 | Equity Awards | Best Ensemble Cast | Rake | Won |
2012 | Logie Award | Most Popular Actress | Underbelly: Razor & East West 101 | Nominated |
2014 | Outstanding Actress | Wentworth | Nominated |
2015 | ASTRA Award | Most Outstanding Female Actor | Won |
Logie Award | Most Outstanding Actress | Won |