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Sandy Gore
Sandy Gore
from Wikipedia

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]
Year Title Role Type Ref
1968 Generation [13]
Halloran’s Little Boat Ann Rush St Martin’s Theatre, Melbourne [13]
The Judge [14]
The Little Foxes Alexandra Giddins [15]
The Living Room Rose Pemberton [13]
1970 Widowers' Houses Miss Blanche Sartorius [16]
1971 The Legend of King O'Malley Old Tote Theatre Company, Sydney
1973 Jugglers Three Australian tour with MTC [17]
1974 The Removalists Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC [18]
Pericles [18]
Coralie Lansdowne Says No Coralie Lansdowne [19]
1975 Much Ado About Nothing [18]
1977 The Doll Trilogy: Summer of the Seventeenth Doll / Other Times / Kid Stakes Nancy / Pearl Theatre Royal Sydney, MTC [18]
Pygmalion Eliza Doolittle Melbourne Athenaeum with MTC [18]
1978 Electra [18]
1979 Makassar Reef Nimrod St Theatre, Sydney, Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC [18]
The Alchemist Melbourne Athenaeum with MTC [18]
The Rivals [18]
1980 Cinderella Fairy Godmother [20]
1981 Shorts at the Stables Stables Theatre, Sydney [18]
1982 As You Like It Rosalind Melbourne Athenaeum with MTC [21]
Party Wall Nimrod St Theatre, Sydney [18]
A Happy and Holy Occasion Sydney Opera House with STC [18]
1984 The Pillars of Society Miss Lona Hessel [22]
Extremities Marjorie [18]
1985 Sons of Cain Nicole Playhouse Theatre, Melbourne with STC [23]
1989 Uncle Vanya MTC [18]
Daylight Saving Ensemble Theatre, Sydney [18]
1989–1990 Big River Mrs Adela Learmonth Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC [24]
1992 Antony and Cleopatra Cleopatra Blackfriars Theatre, Sydney with STC [25]
1994 Gift of the Gorgon Helen Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC [26]
1995 Les Parents Terribles Leo Sydney Opera House with STC [10]
1996 Medea Medea Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC [10]
1998 Chasing the Dragon Carol [27][10]
Amy's View Esme Sydney Opera House with STC [10]
2000 Wit Vivian Bearing Ensemble Theatre, Sydney [10]
2001 Morning Sacrifice Portia Kingsbury Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC [28]
A Conversation Lorin Zemanek Ensemble Theatre, Sydney [29]
2004 Scenes from a Separation Margaret Molyneaux Sydney Opera House with STC [30][10]
2005–2006 The Retreat from Moscow Alice Ensemble Theatre, Sydney [10][31]
2007 Love Lies Bleeding Toinette Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC [10]
The Normal Heart [18]
Rooted Earl Arts Centre, Launceston, Jane St Theatre, Sydney, Nimrod St Theatre, Sydney
2008 Travelling North Frances Playhouse, QPAC with QTC / Hit Productions [10][32]
2009 The Taming of the Shrew Baptista Bell Shakespeare [10]
2010 Uncle Vanya Mariya Sydney Theatre with STC [10]
2011; 2012 Kennedy Center Washington DC, Lincoln Center, New York with STC [10]
2012 Under Milk Wood Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard / Second Voice Sydney Opera House with STC [10][33]
Becky Shaw Susan Ensemble Theatre, Sydney [34]
2013 Small and Tired Clytemnestra Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney [10]
Parramatta Girls Gayle Riverside Productions [10]
2014 Calpurnia Descending Tootles / Maximilian Silvestri STC / Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne [10][35]
2015 Footfalls Voice of Mother STCSA [10]
Shellshock: Gallipoli Tortoise June Lindsay Riverside Theatre Parramatta [3][10]
2016 The Great Fire Alison Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney [36][10]
2017 The Hakawati Hakawati #1 National Theatre of Parramatta [10]
Richard III Queen Margaret Sydney Opera House & Australian tour with Bell Shakespeare [37][10]
The Plant Sue Ensemble Theatre, Sydney [10]
Switzerland Patricia Highsmith Adelaide Festival Centre with STCSA [38][10]
2019 Enright on the Night Genesian Theatre, Sydney [39]
2024 Sparkling Darkly Monologue Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney with Sugary Rum Productions [10]

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

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Sandy Gore (born 28 June 1950) is an Australian actress renowned for her versatile performances across theatre, film, and television over more than five decades. A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1966, she began her professional career straight out of school and has amassed over 45 leading stage roles with major companies including the Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, and Bell Shakespeare. Her screen work includes notable films such as Norman Loves Rose (1982), Lorenzo's Oil (1992), and Australia (2008), alongside television appearances in series like Prisoner (1979–1980), Brides of Christ (1991), Rake (2010–2018), and the miniseries Faraway Downs (2023). Gore has received four nominations from the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), including for Best Supporting Actress in a Film for Norman Loves Rose (1982), Undercover (1983), and Street Hero (1984), as well as Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama for Brides of Christ (1992). Gore's theatre career highlights her commitment to both classical and contemporary works, with standout performances such as Vivian Bearing in Wit (2000, Ensemble Theatre), Maria in (Bell Shakespeare), and the title role in (Sydney Theatre Company). She has also created original roles in Australian plays, including works by (Jugglers Three) and Nick Enright (Daylight Saving). On screen, her early breakthrough came with supporting roles in films like Norman Loves Rose and Undercover, and she later earned acclaim for her portrayal of Sister Catherine in the miniseries , which explored themes of faith and in 1960s Australia. Gore's television guest roles span genres, from in (1999–2003) to legal drama in Rake, showcasing her range as a character actress.

Early life and education

Early life

Sandy Gore was born on 28 June 1950 in , , . As a child, Gore aspired to study veterinary , reflecting an early interest in animals and . However, her academic challenges in prevented her from pursuing this path, leaving her without an alternative plan at the time. In her final term of high school, an recognized her potential and recommended that she audition for the (NIDA), sparking her interest in as a career. This pivotal influence shifted her aspirations toward the , leading her to begin formal training at NIDA shortly thereafter.

Education

Sandy Gore enrolled at the (NIDA) directly after completing high school, following a recommendation from her to audition during her final term. She completed her training there, graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting). This rigorous program at NIDA provided foundational skills in dramatic arts, equipping her with the technical proficiency and artistic insight essential for a professional career.

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 Theatre Company (MTC) productions during the 1970s, including roles in classic works such as and . Her initial focus on stage work established a foundation in Australian ensemble theatre, where she honed her skills in Shakespearean and alongside established ensembles at the MTC's Russell Street Theatre. 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 . With the Sydney Theatre Company (STC), she took on similarly diverse leading roles, including the title role in . Her versatility extended to authoritative figures like Baptista in Bell Shakespeare's 2009 tour of , where she delivered a comedic yet poignant portrayal of patriarchal control. A highlight of Gore's STC tenure was her portrayal of the widowed Maria in Andrew Upton's adaptation of Anton Chekhov's (2010), directed by Tamás Ascher, which she reprised during the production's 2012 international tours to , and New York City's Festival, collaborating with actors including and . 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.

Screen career

Sandy Gore began her screen career in the mid-1970s with films such as Petersen (1974), where she played a suburban , and (1976), making her television debut as Kay White in the Australian prison drama series in 1980. In the role, she portrayed a gambling-addicted who embezzles her employer's , leading to her incarceration and eventual dramatic demise within the storyline. Her film work continued through the , 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 and . Gore continued building her screen presence with a minor ensemble appearance as a member of the Murphy family in George Miller's biographical drama (1992), which explored a couple's fight against their son's rare . On television, Gore earned acclaim for her portrayal of Mother Ambrose, the authoritative yet conflicted superior of a undergoing modernization, in the 1991 ABC miniseries , a role that highlighted her ability to convey emotional depth amid institutional change. 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. 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 and mother to the protagonist, in Baz Luhrmann's sweeping historical epic Australia (2008), opposite and . More recently, she reprised Gloria Carney in the 2023 miniseries Faraway Downs and played Gloria in the comedy-drama series (2023). This progression from intimate television supporting parts to roles in international co-productions reflected her theatre-honed command of character nuance, allowing her to adapt live-performance intensity to the subtleties of without noted transitional hurdles in available accounts.

Personal life

Marriage

Sandy Gore married Australian film director George Miller in 1985. 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. They divorced in 1992. The marriage led to the birth of their daughter in 1986, shaping their family life during Miller's international filmmaking commitments.

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 in . Augusta Miller graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the (NIDA) in 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 (2022) with her father. Following the end of her marriage, Gore took primary responsibility for raising Augusta in the suburb of Mosman, where the family resided and Augusta attended the nearby Redlands School. 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.

Awards and nominations

Film and television

Sandy Gore earned multiple nominations from the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (, formerly the Australian Film Institute Awards) for her screen performances, reflecting her prominence in the Australian film and television landscape during the and early . 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. 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. Gore's third consecutive film nomination came in 1984 for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Street Hero, a set in urban , directed by Michael Jenkins, highlighting her ability to embody complex familial dynamics. 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 about life and personal awakening, produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

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 was described as a performance, earning praise for its emotional depth despite not securing a Helpmann Award nomination due to eligibility restrictions. 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. Her work with companies like the Theatre Company (MTC) and (STC) has similarly been highlighted for its impact, as seen in her role as Maria Voinitskaya in STC's (2010), where critics noted her thoroughly detailed physical performance contributing to the production's international success. 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. Such accolades reflect Gore's enduring influence in live performance, even amid a career more prominently documented through screen honors.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
1982Norman Loves RoseMaureen
1982Dead EasyFrieda
1983Moving OutMiss Stanislaus
1983UndercoverNina
1984Street Hero
1988Grievous Bodily HarmBarbara Helmsley
1988A Cry in the Dark
1989Luigi's LadiesCee
1992Lorenzo's OilMurphy Family
1997PawsAnja
2000The Magic PuddingFrog on the Log (voice)
2006Darklovestory
2008Gloria Carney
2015Women He's Undressed /

Television

Sandy Gore began her television career with guest appearances in Australian series before taking on more prominent roles in miniseries and ongoing shows.
YearTitleRoleNotes
1979–1980Prisoner: Cell Block HKay WhiteRecurring role, episodes 127–145
1981A Country PracticeBarbara BoltonGuest role, "When the Bough Breaks: Part 1"
1988The Flying DoctorsAnn WilliamsGuest role, "No Way Back"
1991Brides of ChristMother AmbroseMiniseries, 2 episodes
1993–1994Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn LeftAunt HeclaRecurring role, 14 episodes
1993–1994NewlywedsIrene CarterMain role, 52 episodes
1999Mumbo JumboPhyllisTV movie
2000Murder CallPenny SatchwellGuest role, "Still Life"
2000–2003Grass RootsDr. Salwah MandikisRecurring role, 18 episodes
2000–2004FarscapeVarious (Judge, Nurse Vreena, Muoma)Recurring/guest roles, including "Dream a Little Dream" (2000), "Prayer" (2003), and Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars miniseries (2004)
2010–2018RakeDistrict Court JudgeGuest role, e.g., "Episode #3.2"
2016Here Come the Habibs!TettaGuest role, 2 episodes
2019Diary of an Uber DriverAnneGuest role, "Episode #1.3"
2021The Unusual SuspectsJeannieMiniseries, 4 episodes
2023Faraway DownsGloria CarneyMiniseries, 6 episodes
2023Totally Completely FineGloriaMiniseries, recurring role
2023–2025Bay of FiresGeorgeRecurring role, multiple episodes including "A Caravan in the Nullarbor" (2023)

References

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