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Sandy Gore
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Sandy Gore (born 28 June 1950) is an Australian film and television actress, also with an extensive stage career in Australia.
Key Information
Early life and education
[edit]Gore's childhood dream was to study Veterinary Science but she wasn't as academically inclined as she had hoped, when it came to her Biology studies. In the last term of school, her English teacher recommended she audition for the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), and after doing so, she was accepted into the course,[3] graduating in 1966 with a Diploma in Acting.[1]
Career
[edit]On television, Gore appeared in the hit series Prisoner in 1980, as Kay White, the payroll-embezzling accountant who met a sticky end when her gambling addiction got the better of her. She starred as Mother Ambrose in the acclaimed 1991 miniseries Brides of Christ.[4] She played Aunt Hecla in 1992 children's sci-fi series Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left.[5] She also starred as Irene Carter, the depressive mother in 1993 Crawfords comedy series Newlyweds, alongside Annie Jones, John Wood and Cathy Godbold.[6] She made guest appearances in series such as Grass Roots, Farscape and Rafferty's Rules.
Gore was nominated three times for the Australian Film Institute Award (now AACTA Awards) for Best Supporting Actress, for her work in the Australian films Norman Loves Rose (1982), Undercover (1983) and Street Hero (1984). She also appeared in Evil Angels (1988) and Lorenzo's Oil (1992). She played Anja in 1997 independent family comedy film Paws, alongside Nathan Cavaleri and appeared in the 2008 Baz Luhrmann epic Australia.[7][8]
Gore has worked extensively with the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Sydney Theatre Company. Her stage roles include an acclaimed performance in the play Wit in 2000.[9] She played Baptista in the 2009 Australian tour of The Taming of the Shrew with the Bell Shakespeare Company,[10] while in 2010, she was cast as Maria in the Sydney Theatre Company production of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, alongside Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh[10] and reprised the role in 2012, when it transferred to New York at the New York City Center.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Gore was married to Mad Max director George Miller[11] from 1985 to 1992.
Their daughter Augusta Miller, was born in the US when her father was working on 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick. Miller also studied acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) from the age of 19, graduating in 2008, and later became a documentary producer.[11]
After Gore and Miller were divorced, Gore raised her daughter in the Sydney suburb of Mosman.[12]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | The Lady from Peking | Marisa Russo | Feature film |
| 1972 | Pisces Dying | Film short | |
| The Man Who Played With Boats | Film short | ||
| 1974 | Petersen | Suburban Housewife | Feature film |
| 1976 | Eliza Fraser | Lady | Feature film |
| 1978 | The ABC of Love and Sex: Australia Style | Narrator | Feature film documentary |
| 1981 | The Stranger | Film short | |
| 1982 | Momento | Film short | |
| Dead Easy | Frieda | Feature film | |
| Norman Loves Rose | Maureen | Feature film | |
| 1983 | Moving Out | Miss Stanislaus | Feature film |
| Night of Shadows | Margo / Clare Neale / Lucy | Film short | |
| 1984 | Undercover | Nina | Feature film |
| Street Hero | Bonnie Rogers | Feature film | |
| Access Code | Uncredited | Feature film | |
| 1988 | Grievous Bodily Harm | Barbara Helmsley | Feature film |
| Evil Angels (aka A Cry in the Dark) | Joy Kuhl | Feature film | |
| 1989 | Luigi's Ladies | Cee | Feature film |
| Minnamurra | Maude Richards | Feature film | |
| 1992 | Lorenzo's Oil | Murphy Family | Feature film |
| 1997 | Paws | Anja | Feature film |
| 1998 | Kissing Katie Sandstrom | Film short | |
| 2000 | The Magic Pudding | Frog on the Log (voice) | Animated feature film |
| 2006 | Darklovestory | Vera | Feature film |
| 2008 | Australia | Gloria Carney | Feature film |
| 2013 | Only One | Consultant | Film short |
| 2015 | Now Add Honey | Diane | Feature film |
| Super Awesome! | Clarice Zegrab | Feature film | |
| Women He's Undressed | Hedda Hopper / Louella Parsons | documentary film | |
| 2021 | Dust Cloud | Francine | Film short |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Bellbird | ||
| 1969–1973 | Homicide | June Higgins / Jenny Moloney / Ruthie Miles / Ruth Cross | 4 episodes |
| 1969–1974 | Division 4 | Josie Nash / Mary Roberts / Martha Baldwin / Marie | 4 episodes |
| 1970 | The Link Men | Dale | 1 episode |
| The Juggler | TV play | ||
| 1972 | The Norman Lindsay Festival – Dust or Polish? | Rita | TV play |
| 1974 | Matlock Police | Evelyn Armstrong | 1 episode |
| 1975 | Cash and Company | Madam | 1 episode |
| Quality of Mercy | Sandy | Episode: "Send Him On His Way Rejoicing" | |
| 1976 | Taggart's Treasure | TV movie | |
| 1979 | Ray Lawler Trilogy | Nancy Wells / Pearl Cunningham | 3 episodes |
| Cop Shop | Margaret Jamieson | 1 episode | |
| Twenty Good Years | Reba Cohen | ||
| 1980 | Prisoner | Kay White | 18 episodes |
| 1981 | Bellamy | Leanne | Episode 25: "The Fizz" |
| I Can Jump Puddles | Miss Claws | Miniseries, 1 episode | |
| 1984; 1991 | A Country Practice | Barbara Bolton / Meg Cullen | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Fitness – Make It Your Own Business | Herself | Film documentary |
| I Can't Get Started | Jenny | TV movie | |
| Remember Me | Adele | TV movie | |
| 1985; 1988 | The Flying Doctors | 2 episodes | |
| 1988 | The Clean Machine | Marcia Irving | TV movie |
| 1988; 1990 | Rafferty's Rules | Helen Hawthorne | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | Chances | Connie Taylor | TV movie (unaired) |
| 1991 | Brides of Christ | Mother Ambrose | Miniseries, 6 episodes |
| A Country Practice | Meg Cullen | 4 episodes | |
| Chances | 1 episode | ||
| 1992 | Six Pack | Analyst | Episode: "Mimi Goes to the Analyst" |
| 1993–1994 | Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left | Aunt Hecla | 14 episodes |
| Newlyweds | Irene Carter | 52 episodes | |
| 1995 | Spirits of the Forest | Narrator | TV documentary |
| 1999 | Mumbo Jumbo | Phyllis | TV movie |
| 2000 | Murder Call | Penny Satchwell | 1 episode |
| 2000–2003 | Farscape | Nurse Vreena / Judge | 3 episodes |
| Grass Roots | Dr. Salwah Mandikis | 18 episodes | |
| 2004 | Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars | Muoma | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Rake | District Court Judge | 1 episode |
| 2016 | Here Come the Habibs | Tetta | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Diary of an Uber Driver | Anne | 1 episode |
| 2021 | The Unusual Suspects | Jeannie | Miniseries, 4 episodes |
| 2023 | Totally Completely Fine | Gloria | 1 episode |
| Bay of Fires | George | 1 episode |
Theatre
[edit]As actor
[edit]As director
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Type | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Love, Loss, and What I Wore | Associate Director | Sydney Opera House with RMI & Wayne Harrison Productions | [10] |
Narration
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bones, Red Earth | Narrator | Audiobook[40] |
Awards
[edit]| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Norman Loves Rose | AFI Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role | Nominated | [41] |
| 1983 | Under Cover | Nominated | [42] | ||
| 1984 | Street Hero | Nominated | [43] | ||
| 1992 | Brides of Christ | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "NIDA screen stars stand out at AACTA Award nominations". NIDA. 30 April 2024.
- ^ Turner, Brook (May 2007). "Curious George". The Australian Financial Review: 26–38. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
- ^ a b "On the Couch with Sandy Gore". www.artsreview.com.au. 27 July 2015.
- ^ O'Connor, John J. (11 June 1993). "TV Weekend; Her Wish to Serve God And to Feed Her Ego". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ "Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ "Newlyweds". Crawford Productions. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "Nicole and Hugh film Australia". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Man behind The Boy farewelled". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ "Bobby's puzzle rather than dazzle". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "Sandy Gore". Showcast. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Augusta Miller looks at animal cruelty from a fresh new angle, in new film The Animal Condition". The Daily Telegraph. 11 September 2016.
- ^ "Director George Miller spent $150m making Mad Max Fury Road but his daughter Augusta only needed $11k for her new doco". The Daily Telegraph. 31 August 2016.
- ^ a b c "The Living Room". Theatregold. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "The Judge". Theatregold. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "The Little Foxes". Theatregold. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "Widowers' Houses". Theatregold. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ Gore, Sandy (1 January 2008). "Nick Enright: An Actor's Playwright (Chapter 13: Nick Enright: Friend)". www.brill.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Sandy Gore". The Kennedy Center. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "Bulletin Briefing – Performing Arts, Sydney". The Bulletin Vol. 096 No. 4934. 30 November 1974.
- ^ "Cinderella". Theatregold. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "As You Like It". Theatregold. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "The Pillars of Society". Ibsen Stage. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "Sons of Cain". Theatregold. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "Big River". Theatregold. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "Illustrations – Antony and Cleopatra". Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ Jarvis, Helen (11 May 1994). "Vengeance is mine, saith the playwright". Green Left Issue 142.
- ^ Stoyich, Mark (2 September 1998). "That sinking feeling". Green Left Issue 331.
- ^ Zimmer, Erika (8 August 2001). "Australian play from the 1930s strikes a contemporary chord". World Socialist Web Site.
- ^ "The Jack Manning Trilogy" (PDF). Stage Whispers. 28 November 2012.
- ^ "Scenes from a Separation". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 November 2004.
- ^ Kary, David. "The Retreat From Moscow". Sydney Arts Guide. Retrieved 12 March 2006.
- ^ "Travelling North". Theatregold. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "Under Milk Wood". Sydney Arts Guide. 30 May 2012.
- ^ "Theatre review: Becky Shaw — Ensemble Theatre, Sydney". Crikey. 8 November 2012.
- ^ "Calpurnia Descending". www.stagewhispers.com.au. 2014.
- ^ Paparella, Brodie (18 April 2016). "Review: The Great Fire Takes You Back Home at Belvoir St Theatre". www.broadwayworld.com.
- ^ Kops, Jade (2 March 2017). "Review: Kate Mulvany Delivers Shakespeare's Sinister King Richard 3 with Delicious Depth". www.broadwayworld.com.
- ^ "Sandy Gore returns to Adelaide for gripping psychological thriller". www.hughespr.com.au. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ Wild, Stephi (13 February 2019). "Sydney's Genesian Theatre Presents Enright on the Night". www.broadwayworld.com.
- ^ "Sandy Gore – A prolific career". www.leerichieauthor.wordpress.com. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "Winners and Nominees 1982". AACTA Awards. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ "Winners and Nominees 1983". AACTA Awards. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ "Winners and Nominees 1984". AACTA Awards. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
External links
[edit]- Sandy Gore at IMDb
Sandy Gore
View on GrokipediaEarly life and education
Early life
Sandy Gore was born on 28 June 1950 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.[8] As a child, Gore aspired to study veterinary science, reflecting an early interest in animals and science.[7] However, her academic challenges in biology prevented her from pursuing this path, leaving her without an alternative plan at the time.[7] In her final term of high school, an English teacher recognized her potential and recommended that she audition for the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), sparking her interest in acting as a career.[7] This pivotal influence shifted her aspirations toward the performing arts, leading her to begin formal training at NIDA shortly thereafter.[7]Education
Sandy Gore enrolled at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) directly after completing high school, following a recommendation from her English teacher to audition during her final term.[7] She completed her training there, graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting).[2] This rigorous program at NIDA provided foundational skills in dramatic arts, equipping her with the technical proficiency and artistic insight essential for a professional acting career.[7]Career
Theatre career
Following her graduation from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1966, Sandy Gore transitioned directly into professional theatre, beginning with early appearances in Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) productions during the 1970s, including roles in classic works such as As You Like It and The Rivals.[7] Her initial focus on stage work established a foundation in Australian ensemble theatre, where she honed her skills in Shakespearean and Restoration comedy alongside established ensembles at the MTC's Russell Street Theatre.[9] Gore developed a longstanding association with the MTC, contributing to over a dozen productions that spanned classical and contemporary Australian plays, such as Electra, The Alchemist, Pygmalion, and Summer of the Seventeenth Doll.[10] With the Sydney Theatre Company (STC), she took on similarly diverse leading roles, including the title role in Medea. Her versatility extended to authoritative figures like Baptista in Bell Shakespeare's 2009 tour of The Taming of the Shrew, where she delivered a comedic yet poignant portrayal of patriarchal control.[11] A highlight of Gore's STC tenure was her portrayal of the widowed Maria in Andrew Upton's adaptation of Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya (2010), directed by Tamás Ascher, which she reprised during the production's 2012 international tours to Washington, D.C., and New York City's Lincoln Center Festival, collaborating with actors including Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh. These roles exemplified patterns in her career, blending introspective character studies with ensemble dynamics in revivals of canonical works, while her collaborations with STC and MTC underscored her role in sustaining high-caliber Australian theatre across four decades, amassing over 45 leading credits that bridged traditional repertoire and modern interpretations.[7]Screen career
Sandy Gore began her screen career in the mid-1970s with films such as Petersen (1974), where she played a suburban housewife, and Eliza Fraser (1976), making her television debut as Kay White in the Australian prison drama series Prisoner in 1980. In the role, she portrayed a gambling-addicted accountant who embezzles her employer's payroll, leading to her incarceration and eventual dramatic demise within the storyline.[12][7] Her film work continued through the 1980s, including supporting roles in Norman Loves Rose (1982), Undercover (1983), and the role of Joy Kuhl, a forensic scientist testifying in the trial, in Fred Schepisi's Evil Angels (1988), a dramatization of the Lindy Chamberlain case starring Meryl Streep and Sam Neill.[13] Gore continued building her screen presence with a minor ensemble appearance as a member of the Murphy family in George Miller's biographical drama Lorenzo's Oil (1992), which explored a couple's fight against their son's rare neurological disorder.[14] On television, Gore earned acclaim for her portrayal of Mother Ambrose, the authoritative yet conflicted superior of a convent undergoing modernization, in the 1991 ABC miniseries Brides of Christ, a role that highlighted her ability to convey emotional depth amid institutional change.[15] She followed this with the recurring role of Irene Carter, a divorced and emotionally strained mother, in the sitcom Newlyweds (1993–1994), showcasing her versatility in comedic domestic scenarios.[16] Gore's screen career evolved over subsequent decades to include larger-scale productions, such as her turn as Gloria Carney, the scheming wife of a wealthy cattle baron and mother to the protagonist, in Baz Luhrmann's sweeping historical epic Australia (2008), opposite Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.[17] More recently, she reprised Gloria Carney in the 2023 miniseries Faraway Downs and played Gloria in the comedy-drama series Totally Completely Fine (2023).[1] This progression from intimate television supporting parts to feature film roles in international co-productions reflected her theatre-honed command of character nuance, allowing her to adapt live-performance intensity to the subtleties of camera work without noted transitional hurdles in available accounts.[7]Personal life
Marriage
Sandy Gore married Australian film director George Miller in 1985.[18] The couple's marriage occurred amid their respective rising profiles in the Australian entertainment industry, though no direct professional collaborations between them are documented during this period.[19] They divorced in 1992.[20] The marriage led to the birth of their daughter in 1986, shaping their family life during Miller's international filmmaking commitments.[19][21]Family
Sandy Gore and film director George Miller welcomed their daughter, Augusta Miller, during their marriage; she was born in the United States while Miller worked on his 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick in Los Angeles.[22] Augusta Miller graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney and has established herself as a documentary filmmaker and factual television producer, with credits including the 2014 animal welfare documentary The Animal Condition and co-writing the screenplay for Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022) with her father.[23][24][19] Following the end of her marriage, Gore took primary responsibility for raising Augusta in the Sydney suburb of Mosman, where the family resided and Augusta attended the nearby Redlands School.[25] This nurturing environment in Mosman's close-knit community supported Augusta's early development, reflecting Gore's commitment to providing a stable family life amid her own professional commitments.[24]Awards and nominations
Film and television
Sandy Gore earned multiple nominations from the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA Awards, formerly the Australian Film Institute Awards) for her screen performances, reflecting her prominence in the Australian film and television landscape during the 1980s and early 1990s. These accolades, among the nation's highest honors for cinematic and televisual achievements, recognized her contributions to key productions that contributed to the revitalization of local storytelling and talent development in the post-1970s Australian film renaissance. In 1982, Gore received an AACTA nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of Maureen in the coming-of-age comedy Norman Loves Rose, directed by Henri Safran, which explored themes of youthful infatuation and suburban life.[3] She followed this with another nomination in the same category in 1983 for her role as a supporting character in Undercover, a period drama about the rise of the Berlei lingerie company in 1920s Sydney, directed by David Stevens.[4] Gore's third consecutive film nomination came in 1984 for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Street Hero, a coming-of-age story set in urban Melbourne, directed by Michael Jenkins, highlighting her ability to embody complex familial dynamics.[5] Transitioning to television, Gore was nominated in 1992 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama for her role as Mother Ambrose in the acclaimed miniseries Brides of Christ, a historical drama about convent life and personal awakening, produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.[26]Theatre
Sandy Gore has received limited formal theatre awards or nominations throughout her career, though her performances have garnered substantial critical acclaim and peer recognition within Australia's theatre community. For instance, her portrayal of Vivian Bearing in the Ensemble Theatre's 2000 production of Wit was described as a bravura performance, earning praise for its emotional depth despite not securing a Helpmann Award nomination due to eligibility restrictions.[27] In recognition of her contributions to Australian theatre, Gore served on the nominating panel for the Theatre category at the 2019 Helpmann Awards, a role that underscores her standing among industry peers.[28] Her work with companies like the Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) and Sydney Theatre Company (STC) has similarly been highlighted for its impact, as seen in her role as Maria Voinitskaya in STC's Uncle Vanya (2010), where critics noted her thoroughly detailed physical performance contributing to the production's international success.[29] More recent productions have continued to affirm her reputation, with her lead role as Sue in the Ensemble Theatre's 2017 staging of The Plant praised for marvellously carrying the emotional weight of the narrative.[30] Such accolades reflect Gore's enduring influence in live performance, even amid a career more prominently documented through screen honors.Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Norman Loves Rose | Maureen[31] |
| 1982 | Dead Easy | Frieda[32] |
| 1983 | Moving Out | Miss Stanislaus[33] |
| 1983 | Undercover | Nina[34] |
| 1984 | Street Hero | Bonnie Rogers[35] |
| 1988 | Grievous Bodily Harm | Barbara Helmsley[36] |
| 1988 | A Cry in the Dark | Joy Kuhl[37] |
| 1989 | Luigi's Ladies | Cee[38] |
| 1992 | Lorenzo's Oil | Murphy Family[39] |
| 1997 | Paws | Anja[40] |
| 2000 | The Magic Pudding | Frog on the Log (voice)[41] |
| 2006 | Darklovestory | Vera[42] |
| 2008 | Australia | Gloria Carney[43] |
| 2015 | Women He's Undressed | Hedda Hopper / Louella Parsons[44] |
Television
Sandy Gore began her television career with guest appearances in Australian series before taking on more prominent roles in miniseries and ongoing shows.| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979–1980 | Prisoner: Cell Block H | Kay White | Recurring role, episodes 127–145[45] |
| 1981 | A Country Practice | Barbara Bolton | Guest role, "When the Bough Breaks: Part 1"[46] |
| 1988 | The Flying Doctors | Ann Williams | Guest role, "No Way Back"[47] |
| 1991 | Brides of Christ | Mother Ambrose | Miniseries, 2 episodes[48] |
| 1993–1994 | Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left | Aunt Hecla | Recurring role, 14 episodes[49] |
| 1993–1994 | Newlyweds | Irene Carter | Main role, 52 episodes[50] |
| 1999 | Mumbo Jumbo | Phyllis | TV movie[51] |
| 2000 | Murder Call | Penny Satchwell | Guest role, "Still Life"[52] |
| 2000–2003 | Grass Roots | Dr. Salwah Mandikis | Recurring role, 18 episodes[53] |
| 2000–2004 | Farscape | Various (Judge, Nurse Vreena, Muoma) | Recurring/guest roles, including "Dream a Little Dream" (2000), "Prayer" (2003), and Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars miniseries (2004)[54] |
| 2010–2018 | Rake | District Court Judge | Guest role, e.g., "Episode #3.2"[55] |
| 2016 | Here Come the Habibs! | Tetta | Guest role, 2 episodes[56] |
| 2019 | Diary of an Uber Driver | Anne | Guest role, "Episode #1.3"[57] |
| 2021 | The Unusual Suspects | Jeannie | Miniseries, 4 episodes[58] |
| 2023 | Faraway Downs | Gloria Carney | Miniseries, 6 episodes[59] |
| 2023 | Totally Completely Fine | Gloria | Miniseries, recurring role[59] |
| 2023–2025 | Bay of Fires | George | Recurring role, multiple episodes including "A Caravan in the Nullarbor" (2023)[60] |
