Danielle Cormack

Danielle Cormack
Danielle Cormack
	Cormack in 2011
Born	1970 or 1971 (age 53–54); Auckland, New Zealand
Occupation	Actress/Producer/Director
Years active	1987–present
Known for	Wentworth; Rake; Underbelly;
Partner	Pana Hema Taylor (2009–2013)
Children	2

Danielle Cormack (b.1970 or 1971)^[1] is a New Zealand stage and screen actress. She was one of the original cast members 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.^[2]

Acting career

Danielle Cormack is a stage and screen actress from New Zealand.^[3] She portrayed notorious Sydney underworld figure Kate Leigh in Underbelly: Razor, and doctor Rory Finch in Jack Irish.^[4]

From 2012 she starred as Bea Smith in the Foxtel prison drama Wentworth, for four years, before leaving the show in 2016. The role of Bea Smith was originally played by Val Lehman.^[5] in Prisoner.^[6] Cormack has since appeared regularly at Wentworth-related events in the US and the UK, and hosted the 2023 New Jersey Event.^[7]

In 2022 Cormack narrated SBS documentary series Life on the Outside, which showed what life is like for newly-released inmates of prison.^[8]

In 2023 she appeared in Erotic Stories on SBS Television.^[9] In the same year, she was named as part of the cast for New Zealand dramedy series Madam.^[10] Cormack was also named in the cast for Stan Australia drama Year Of.^[11]

She served as executive producer for the short film Oi (2024).^[12] On 8 December 2024, Cormack was announced in the cast for series 3 of Foxtel legal drama The Twelve.^[13]

Cormack, alongside Wentworth cast member Nicole da Silva, started the production company Four One One,^[14] and together they produced their first play Whose Afraid in 2022.^[15] Cormack and da Silva in 2023 directed the short film Why We Fight. Why We Fight was nominated for an AACTA award for Short Film.^[16]^[17]

Other activities

In 2018, Cormack while working alongside aid agency ChildFund, helped build a water tank that would supply villages in Uganda.^[18]

Cormack went to provide humanitarian aid to children in Ukraine, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.^[19]

As of January 2024^[update] Cormack is an ambassador for SHINE for Kids.^[20]

Personal life

Cormack was in a relationship with Pana Hema Taylor from 2009 until 2013.^[1] She has two children: one with Taylor, and one from a previous relationship.^[21]

In an interview with LOTL magazine in 2016, Cormack said that she had had long-term relationships with both men and women, and indicated that she prefers to avoid applying labels to patterns of sexuality.^[22]

Cormack is an avid motorbike fan and often goes on motorbike rides to manage stress.^[23]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1993	Snap	Felicity	Short film
1993	A Game with No Rules	Vera Smith	Short film
1994	The 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	The Price of Milk	Lucinda
2004	Without a Paddle	Toni
	Stringer	Butcher
	Together	Rose	Short film
2005	The Pool	Jane	Short film
2005	River Queen	Viola
2006	Mirage	Various	Short film
	Cross My Heart	Krystal	Short film
	Perfect Creature	Margaret Sparrow
2008	A Song of Good	Rachel Cradle
2009	Separation City	Pam Nicholson

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref
1987–89	Gloss	Tania Veitch	Main role
1992–93	Shortland Street	Alison Raynor	Main role	^[24]
1994	High Tide	Meghan Kelly	Episode: "Sitting Ducks"
1995	High Tide	Jill McMillan	Episode: "Dead Heat"
	The Call Up	Stacey	Television film
	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"
	Cleopatra 2525	Raina	Episodes: "Mind Games", "Trial and Error", "Out of Body"
	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	The 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	The 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"
2013–16	Wentworth	Bea Smith	Main role (46 episodes)	^[25]
2016	Deep Water	Brenda MacIntosh	4 part miniseries on SBS	^[26]
2016	Stake Out	Davina	"Hijacking Hijinks"
2018	Patricia Moore	Marnie	9 episodes	^[27]
	Jack Irish	Rory Finch	5 episodes	^[28]
	Secret City	Karen Koutoufides	Main role
2019	Fresh Eggs	Lulu	TV series
2019	My Life Is Murder	Nikki Malone / Nicole Buttera	TV series, episode: "The Locked Room"
2022	The Secrets She Keeps	Vicky Michaelson	Season 2 (6 episodes)	^[29]
2023	Year Of	Lucinda Prichard	9 episodes
2023	Erotic Stories	Ginger	1 episode (The Deluge)	^[30] ^[31]
2024	Madam	Deziyah	TV series: 8 episodes	^[32]
2024	Double Parked	Edie	TV series 1 episode
2025	The Twelve		TV series; series 3
TBA	The Last Anniversary	Kate Kennedy	TV series

Other appearances
Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref
2022	Life on the Outside	Self/Narrator	Documentary 3 episodes	^[33]
2019	Wentworth: Behind the Bars	Self	TV Special
2017	Cram	Self	1 episode	^[34]
2016	An Audience With the Cast of Wentworth	Self	TV Special	^[35]

Theatre

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref
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	The Blue Room	Alison / Various	Auckland Theatre Company
2001	A Streetcar Named Desire	Stella	Auckland Theatre Company
2002	The Bellbird	Flo	Auckland Theatre Company
2003	The Shape of Things	Evelyn	Auckland Theatre Company
2003	The 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	A Clockwork Orange	Various	Silo Theatre, Auckland
2006	The Case of Katherine Mansfield	Katherine Mansfield	Herald Theatre, Auckland
2007	The Case of Katherine Mansfield	Katherine Mansfield	Downstage Theatre, Wellington
2008	The 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
2018	The Misanthrope	Alceste	Bell Shakespeare, with Griffin Theatre	^[36]
2018	Hedda	Hedda	Queensland Theatre Company	^[37]
2020	Every Brilliant Thing	(Director)	Silo Theatre, Auckland	^[38]
2022	Whose Afraid	Cast	Belvoir St
2023	Blessed Union	Cast	Belvoir St	^[39]

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Production	Result
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
2000	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	Logie Award	Outstanding Actress	Wentworth	Nominated
	Logie Awards	Most Outstanding Drama Series		Nominated
	Logie Awards	Most Outstanding Actress		Nominated
2015	ASTRA Award	Most Outstanding Female Actor		Won
	AACTA Award	Best Lead Actress in a Drama	Wentworth	Nominated
	Logie Award	Most Outstanding Actress	Wentworth	Won
	Logie Award	Most Outstanding Drama Series	Wentworth	Won
2016	AACTA Award	Best Actress in a Drama	Wentworth	Nominated
2016	Logie Award	Most Outstanding Drama Series	Wentworth	Nominated
2017		Most Outstanding Actress	Wentworth	Nominated
2017		Most Outstanding Drama Series	Wentworth	Nominated

References

^ ^a ^b "Wentworth star Danielle Cormack reconciled to 'judgement' over 'modern, blended family'". Stuff. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
^ NZ On Screen biography with permission via Creative Commons
^ "Danielle Cormack – Actor Profile & Biography". Johnson & Laird. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
^ Knox, David (4 December 2017). "Danielle Cormack, Tom Gleeson to guest on Jack Irish. | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
^ "Prisoner originals meet Wentworth cast". TV Tonight. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ "TV WEEK". TV WEEK. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
^ "Meet the cast of Wentworth in New Jersey!". Wentworth Con. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
^ "Would you invite a former prisoner into your home?". The West Australian. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ Knox, David (28 September 2023). "Airdate: Erotic Stories | TV Tonight". TV Tonight.
^ Yossman, K. J. (28 September 2023). "'Six Feet Under' Star Rachel Griffiths to Lead Escort Agency Comedy-Drama Series 'Madam' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
^ Harris, Rachel (15 May 2023). "STAN original Series YEAR OF, an original drama about friendship and family in the wake of a shocking event". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
^ "Oi". MIFF 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
^ Knox, David (8 December 2024). "The Twelve season 3 cast unveiled | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
^ "About". FOUR ONE ONE PRODUCTIONS. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
^ "Who's Afraid | Four One One Productions – Australian Stage Online". australianstage.com.au. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
^ "One Chat With One Night's Nicole da Silva". Paramount Australia & New Zealand | Corporate. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
^ Writer, Staff. "Best Documentary and Best Short Film Nominees Announced". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
^ "Danielle Cormack meets her Ugandan daughter". Now to Love – New Zealand. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
^ Nissen, Wendyl (June 2022). "Danielle Cormack's brave mission into a warzone". Now To Love. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ "Looking for New National Youth Advisory Council Members". Shine for Kids. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
^ "Danielle Cormack: Love without barriers". NZ Woman's Weekly. 7 September 2012. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
^ Franich, Sanya. "Danielle Cormack And The Remarkable Lightness Of Bea". LOTL Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
^ Ilic, Nikolina (7 March 2022). "Meet The Women Dispelling The Myth That Motorcycles Are For Men". Women's Health Australia. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
^ Harrop, Nick (11 January 2024). "Why Danielle Cormack left Shortland St". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ Knox, David (4 October 2012). "Wentworth cast on the inside | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ Knox, David (18 March 2016). "SBS cast revealed for Deep Water | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ "Danielle Cormack, Les Hill to star in digital series 'Patricia Moore'". IF Magazine. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ Knox, David (4 December 2017). "Danielle Cormack, Tom Gleeson to guest on Jack Irish. | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ "Australian Television: The Secrets She Keeps: Episode guide: Series 2".
^ Knox, David (27 April 2023). "Production begins on Erotic Stories for SBS | TV Tonight". TV Tonight.
^ Knox, David (28 September 2023). "Airdate: Erotic Stories | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ Knox, David (29 September 2023). "Rachel Griffiths leads NZ dramedy Madam | TV Tonight". TV Tonight.
^ Perry, Kevin (15 March 2022). "DANIELLE CORMACK presents ground-breaking new series LIFE ON THE OUTSIDE – Tonight on SBS – TV Blackbox". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ Knox, David (6 December 2017). "Cram: Dec 6, 7. | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ Knox, David (27 April 2016). "Airdate: An Audience with the cast of Wentworth | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ "The Misanthrope". Sydney Opera House. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
^ "Hedda". Queensland Theatre Company. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
^ Sills, Ethan (16 November 2020). "Theatre review: Every Brilliant Thing, Silo Theatre". NZ Herald. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
^ "Belvoir on Instagram: "❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍💟💙🤎🖤 Happy Mardi Gras from the BLESSED UNION fam & all the staff here at Belvoir! However you choose to celebrate it, we hope you have a fabulous night!"".

External links

[Reconciled-1] "Wentworth star Danielle Cormack reconciled to 'judgement' over 'modern, blended family'". Stuff. Retrieved 13 February 2024.

[2] NZ On Screen biography with permission via Creative Commons

[3] "Danielle Cormack – Actor Profile & Biography". Johnson & Laird. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2019.

[4] Knox, David (4 December 2017). "Danielle Cormack, Tom Gleeson to guest on Jack Irish. | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 9 December 2024.

[5] "Prisoner originals meet Wentworth cast". TV Tonight. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[6] "TV WEEK". TV WEEK. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.

[7] "Meet the cast of Wentworth in New Jersey!". Wentworth Con. Retrieved 8 December 2024.

[8] "Would you invite a former prisoner into your home?". The West Australian. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[9] Knox, David (28 September 2023). "Airdate: Erotic Stories | TV Tonight". TV Tonight.

[10] Yossman, K. J. (28 September 2023). "'Six Feet Under' Star Rachel Griffiths to Lead Escort Agency Comedy-Drama Series 'Madam' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 19 June 2024.

[11] Harris, Rachel (15 May 2023). "STAN original Series YEAR OF, an original drama about friendship and family in the wake of a shocking event". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 2 January 2025.

[12] "Oi". MIFF 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.

[13] Knox, David (8 December 2024). "The Twelve season 3 cast unveiled | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 8 December 2024.

[14] "About". FOUR ONE ONE PRODUCTIONS. Retrieved 9 December 2024.

[15] "Who's Afraid | Four One One Productions – Australian Stage Online". australianstage.com.au. Retrieved 9 December 2024.

[16] "One Chat With One Night's Nicole da Silva". Paramount Australia & New Zealand | Corporate. Retrieved 9 December 2024.

[17] Writer, Staff. "Best Documentary and Best Short Film Nominees Announced". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 9 December 2024.

[18] "Danielle Cormack meets her Ugandan daughter". Now to Love – New Zealand. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2025.

[19] Nissen, Wendyl (June 2022). "Danielle Cormack's brave mission into a warzone". Now To Love. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[20] "Looking for New National Youth Advisory Council Members". Shine for Kids. Retrieved 29 January 2024.

[21] "Danielle Cormack: Love without barriers". NZ Woman's Weekly. 7 September 2012. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2012.

[22] Franich, Sanya. "Danielle Cormack And The Remarkable Lightness Of Bea". LOTL Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.

[23] Ilic, Nikolina (7 March 2022). "Meet The Women Dispelling The Myth That Motorcycles Are For Men". Women's Health Australia. Retrieved 2 January 2025.

[24] Harrop, Nick (11 January 2024). "Why Danielle Cormack left Shortland St". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[25] Knox, David (4 October 2012). "Wentworth cast on the inside | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[:0-26] Knox, David (18 March 2016). "SBS cast revealed for Deep Water | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[27] "Danielle Cormack, Les Hill to star in digital series 'Patricia Moore'". IF Magazine. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[28] Knox, David (4 December 2017). "Danielle Cormack, Tom Gleeson to guest on Jack Irish. | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[29] "Australian Television: The Secrets She Keeps: Episode guide: Series 2".

[30] Knox, David (27 April 2023). "Production begins on Erotic Stories for SBS | TV Tonight". TV Tonight.

[31] Knox, David (28 September 2023). "Airdate: Erotic Stories | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[32] Knox, David (29 September 2023). "Rachel Griffiths leads NZ dramedy Madam | TV Tonight". TV Tonight.

[33] Perry, Kevin (15 March 2022). "DANIELLE CORMACK presents ground-breaking new series LIFE ON THE OUTSIDE – Tonight on SBS – TV Blackbox". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[34] Knox, David (6 December 2017). "Cram: Dec 6, 7. | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[35] Knox, David (27 April 2016). "Airdate: An Audience with the cast of Wentworth | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[36] "The Misanthrope". Sydney Opera House. Retrieved 25 July 2018.

[37] "Hedda". Queensland Theatre Company. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.

[38] Sills, Ethan (16 November 2020). "Theatre review: Every Brilliant Thing, Silo Theatre". NZ Herald. Retrieved 23 December 2020.

[39] "Belvoir on Instagram: "❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍💟💙🤎🖤 Happy Mardi Gras from the BLESSED UNION fam & all the staff here at Belvoir! However you choose to celebrate it, we hope you have a fabulous night!"".

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