Deborah Mailman
Biography
Deborah Jane Mailman, AM, is an Aboriginal Australian television and film actress and singer born on July 14, 1972. She made history as the first Aboriginal actress to win the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Over the course of her career, she has won a total of five such awards across both television and film categories. These honors are now known as the AACTA Awards. Her film and television work includes appearances in projects such as Wolfram, released in 2025, and 2067, released in 2020. Her extensive contributions to the entertainment industry establish her as a prominent and award-winning figure in Australian film and television.
Career overview
Deborah Jane Mailman, AM, is an Aboriginal Australian television and film actress, and singer who was born on 14 July 1972. She achieved a significant milestone in Australian cinema history by becoming the first Aboriginal actress to win the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Over the course of her career, she has accumulated a total of five such awards across both television and film categories. These prestigious honors are now known as the AACTA Awards, reflecting her enduring and celebrated impact on the Australian entertainment industry.
In addition to her pioneering award wins, her screen work includes appearances in various feature films and television projects. Among her filmography are the movie 2067, which was released in 2020, and the project Wolfram, slated for 2025. Through her extensive body of work in film and television, she has established herself as a prominent figure in Australian acting and singing, recognized for both her critical acclaim and her trailblazing achievements on screen.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
59 titles- Wolfram (2026) as Pansy
- Kangaroo (2025) as Rosie
- Boy Swallows Universe (2024) as Poppy Birkbeck
- ARK: The Animated Series (2024) as Deborah Walker (voice)
- Last Days of the Space Age (2024) as Eileen Wilberforce
- Runt (2024) as Bernadette Box
- Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back (2024) as Maggie Diggins (voice)
- The New Boy (2023) as Sister Mum
- Scarygirl (2023) as Treedweller (voice)
- Australia's Wild Odyssey (2023) as Narrator (voice)
- Looking Black (2022) as Self
- H Is for Happiness (2021) as Penelope Benson
- 2067 (2020) as Regina Jackson
- The Sound (2020) as Self - Co-Host
- Combat Wombat (2020) as Maggie Diggins (voice)
- Total Control (2019) as Alex Irving
- Mystery Road (2018) as Kerry Thompson
- Bite Club (2018) as Anna Morton
- Little J & Big Cuz (2017) as Big Cuz (voice)
- A Few Less Men (2017) as Sergeant Simpson
- Three Summers (2017) as Pam
- Jack Irish (2016) as Cynthia
- Wolf Creek (2016) as Bernadette
- Cleverman (2016) as Aunty Linda
- Tomorrow When the War Began (2016) as Kath
- Blinky Bill the Movie (2015) as Blinky's Mother (voice)
- Oddball (2015) as Mayor Lake / Narrator
- Redfern Now: Promise Me (2015) as Lorraine
- Paper Planes (2014) as Maureen
- Jack Irish: Dead Point (2014) as Cynthia
- Please Like Me (2013) as Siobhah
- It's a Date (2013) as Joanne
- The Darkside (2013) as Pamela
- Redfern Now (2012) as Lorraine
- Mental (2012) as Sandra
- The Sapphires (2012) as Gail
- Mabo (2012) as Bonita Mabo
- Offspring (2010)
- Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation (2009) as Self - Contestant
- Ralph (2009) Director
- Ralph (2009) Writer
- Bran Nue Dae (2009) as Roxanne
- The Graduate From Sudan (2009) as Self - Narrator
- Rush (2008) as Gabe
- Lucky Miles (2007) as Lisa (voice)
- The Book of Revelation (2006) as Julie
- Going Bush (2006)
- The Archive Project (2006) as Herself
- Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) as Mavis
- Australian Rules (2002) Thanks
- Black Chicks Talking (2002) as Herself
- The Secret Life of Us (2001) as Kelly Lewis
- The Monkey's Mask (2001) as Lou
- Play School: Nursery Rhymes (2001) as Deborah
- Rove (1999) as Self
- Dear Claudia (1999) as Cathy
- The Third Note (1999) as Tina
- Radiance (1998) as Nona
- AACTA Awards (1976) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Deborah Mailman best known for?
Deborah Mailman is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Wolfram (2026), Kangaroo (2025), The New Boy (2023), 2067 (2020).
When and where was Deborah Mailman born?
Deborah Mailman was born on July 14, 1972 in Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia.
How many credits does Deborah Mailman have?
Deborah Mailman has accumulated over 59 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1976 to 2026.
What is Deborah Mailman's background in cinema and television?
Deborah Jane Mailman, AM, is an Aboriginal Australian television and film actress and singer born on July 14, 1972. She made history as the first Aboriginal actress to win the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Over the course of her career, she has won a total of five such awards acros...