Sigrid Thornton

Infobox actor
name = Sigrid Thornton


caption =
birthname = Sigrid Thornton
birthdate = Birth date and age|1959|2|12|df=y
birthplace = Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
occupation = Film actor, Television actor
yearsactive =
spouse = Tom Burstall
domesticpartner =
website =

Sigrid Thornton (born 12 February, 1959) is an Australian actress.

Early years

Thornton was born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, the daughter of Merle, a teacher of women's studies and writer, and Neil Thornton, an academic. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/9/Sigrid-Thornton.html Sigrid Thornton Biography (1959-) ] ] She spent most of her formative years growing up and attending school at St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane,Queensland. [ Plum Role For 14-year-old ] From 1966-1968 she lived in London with her parents where she was a member of the Unicorn Theatre. On her return to Brisbane she attended Twelfth Night Theatre Junior Workshop where she came to the attention of theatre director, Joan Whalley. In 1970, Thornton appeared before Queen Elizabeth II as a young "Rosa Campbell-Praed" in "Looking Glass on Yesterday" written by Brisbane writer and Churchill Fellowship holder, Jill Morris and directed by Joan Whalley as part of the Captain Cook Bicentennary Celebrations at Brisbane City Hall. [ A Looking Glass On Yesterday by Jill Morris ] Four years later, Thornton landed the plum role in the Lady Mayoress of Brisbane Social and Welfare Committee annual pantomime "Christmas In Storyland" in the role of "Little Red Riding Hood", once again written by Jill Morris and directed by Joan Whalley. Around this time, Thornton accompanied her mother to Melbourne where she successfully came to the attention of Hector Crawford in Melbourne. She appeared as "Erica Johnston" in the episode "The Other Man" - "Homicide" and in "Little Raver" - "Division 4" 1975. These appearances for Crawford Productions marked the start of a long and successful professional career in film and television.

Career takes off

Given that the majority of stage and television work took place at this time in both Melbourne and Sydney, Thornton made the move to the south of Australia where she quickly gained numerous roles. This was the time of the renaissance of the Australian Film Industry. She made her big-screen debut as "Maria" in the film adaptation of Henry Handel Richardson's colonial Australian novel, "The Getting of Wisdom" (1977) directed by Bruce Beresford. The same year she appeared in another more modern Australian film, "F.J Holden". In 1978 Thornton displayed her versatility as a performer appearing in the Australian television sequel of the British comedy series "Father, Dear Father in Australia" alongside original cast member Patrick Cargill as "Sue Glover". The same year she appeared in "Snapshot" directed by Simon Wincer. Around this time Thornton, like most Australian actresses, appeared in the long running Australian television drama "Prisoner" or "Cell Block H" as it was known overseas. The Sigrid Weapon ] Thornton starred in 1981 in "Duet for Four". 1982 saw Thornton take on the roles of "Jessica Harrison" in the films "The Man from Snowy River" and its sequel "The Man from Snowy River II". The US sequel title is "Return to Snowy River" and the UK sequel title is "The Untamed". 1983 marked an appearance in "Street Hero". She starred in 1984 in "All the Rivers Run". 1986 saw Thornton in "The Light Horsemen", "The Far Country" "Great Expectations The Untold Story" and "Slate, Wyn and Me". In 1988 Thornton made a huge leap appearing as "Amelia Lawson", the Bank Manager, in the American television drama series "Paradise". Syndication of "All The Rivers Run" and "The Man From Snowy River" brought her to a wider international audience. 1991 marked yet another film, "Over the Hill" directed by George T. Miller and in 1996, "Love in Ambush" directed by Carl Shultz. Her leading role as "Laura Joy Gibson" in the more modern Australian television series "SeaChange" 1998-2000 brought greater Australian audience appeal.

tage highlights

Thornton is known for her stage roles, including an early 2000s production of "The Blue Room" co-starring with Marcus Graham.

Recent film and television work

In 2003 Thornton appeared in "Mittens" directed by Emma Freeman. More recently Thornton has played a brilliant geneticist in a four-episode arc on "MDA" and also in 2005, the telemovie "Little Oberon", a role for which she shaved her head. Currently, Thornton is the host of the Nine Network's new health show, "What's Good For You", a program which examines popular conceptions of how to ensure good health.

The "Sigrid factor"

In his book "The Big Shift", about changing Australian demographics and culture, Bernard Salt coined the term the "Sigrid factor" amusingly pointing out that Australian towns in which movies had been made featuring Thornton had prospered since that time. [ The Big Shift by Bernard Salt ] More broadly he was actually referring to changing Australian cultural values which were well reflected in the types of places in which Sigrid Thornton had acted: the Riverland during the 1980s "All the Rivers Run" and the coast in the 2000s "SeaChange".

Personal life & advocacy

Thornton is married to actor and film risk manager, Tom Burstall and together they have two children, Ben and Jaz. [ The Sigrid Factor ]

Thornton is well known for her ongoing work with World Vision, the Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, Reach Foundation and other charitable causes. She has perhaps played one of her most important roles in lobbying governments to keep libraries open and to resource the Australian film and television industry so it can tell more Australian stories. As a result of her advocacy, Thornton has been appointed to numerous Australian federal and state film bodies, including Film Victoria and is regularly involved in helping to sustain and develop the industry. [ National Press Club Address ]

Articles, programs and books

*cite book
last = Morris
first = Jill
authorlink = Jill Morris
coauthors =
title = A Looking Glass On Yesterday
publisher = Captain Cook Bicentennary Committee
date= April,1970
location = Brisbane
id=
*cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Plum Role for 14-year-old
publisher = Queensland Newspapers
date= November,1974
location = Brisbane
id=
*cite book
last = Salt
first = Bernard
authorlink = Bernard Salt
coauthors =
title = The Big Shift
publisher = Hardie Grant Publishing
date= 2001
location =
id= ISBN 13:978-1876719296
*cite book
last = Denton
first = Andrew
authorlink = Andrew Denton
coauthors =
title = Enough Rope: Sigrid Thornton
publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date= 2005
location = Sydney
id=
*cite book
last = Thornton
first = Sigrid
authorlink = Sigrid Thornton
coauthors =
title = National Press Club Address March 23
publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date= 2006
location = Canberra
id=
*cite book
last =
first =
authorlink = '
coauthors =
title = The Sigrid Weapon
publisher = Fairfax Holdings
date= September 18, 2005
location = Melbourne
id=

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0861600|name=Sigrid Thornton
* [http://www.sigridthornton.com/ The Sigrid Thornton WebSite]
* [http://health.ninemsn.com.au/wgfu/section.aspx "What's Good For You"] official website