Denise Roberts, is an Australian actress, director, and founder of film and television acting school Screenwise in Sydney. She is known for her roles on TV in 1980s-90s medical drama G.P. and 2009 series Packed to the Rafters.
Roberts has worked in theatre, film and television since 1980. She gained initial fame when she played Julie Winters in the ABC TV medical drama G.P. from 1989 to 1996. Roberts's mentor was Hayes Gordon, with whom she studied solidly for three years. During her seven-year stint on G.P., she taught film and television for Hayes at his Ensemble Studios.
In 2009 Roberts played the recurring role of Bonnie Bright in Channel 7's Packed to the Rafters and Faye on the feature film Subdivision[1] which premiered in August 2009.
Roberts played Helen Jones in , and starred as Aunty Barbara in the feature film .[2] She is best known for her starring roles as the University Registrar Jessica Andrews in Roberts 7's HeadLand and the town matriarch Isabelle Turnbull in Always Greener, and for her seven years as Julie Winters in G.P. on ABC-TV. In 2010, she played Inspector Diane Pappas in the Nine Network police drama Cops L.A.C.[3]
Roberts has also directed numerous theatre plays, including Lovers At Versailles at the Playhouse - Sydney Opera House. The 10-minute 16 mm short thriller Stairwell, which Roberts directed, was screened at the LA International Short Film Festival. She is the creator and Associate Producer of the ABC's 10-part drama series, Correlli,[4] which gave Hugh Jackman his big Australian break.
Roberts was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role by the Sydney Theatre Critics for her role in the David Williamson play A Charitable Intent.
Other nominations and awards include a Chief Glugs Award for Excellence Behind the Scenes, an AFI Award, a Variety Club of Australia Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama, numerous Silver Logie and People's Choice nominations for Most Outstanding Actress on Australian Television, and a Film Critics Circle nomination for Best Supporting Actress alongside Cate Blanchett and Frances O'Connor.
In 2015 Roberts was nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama together with a Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress in a Television Drama, both for her portrayal as Rosleigh Rose Corby in Schapelle.
Roberts is the founder and principal director of Screenwise, a Sydney-based film and television school for actors.[5] [6]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Maizy | TV film | ||
| 1985 | Rita | Feature film | ||
| 1986 | For Love Alone | Mrs. Ashley | Feature film | |
| 1986 | Hector's Bunyip | Gladys Glum | TV film | |
| 1987 | Going Sane | Mrs. Chubb | Feature film | |
| 1997 | Road to Nhill | Gwen | Feature film | |
| 1987 | Two Friends | Jessie | TV film | |
| 2000 | Bronwyn | Feature film | ||
| 2003 | Kangaroo Jack | Tansy | Feature film | |
| 2006 | Opal Dream | Vera Dunkley | Feature film | |
| 2006 | One Last Shot | Waitress | Short film | |
| 2007 | Barbara | Feature film (mockumentary) | ||
| 2007 | Boys Own Story | Aunt Eileen | Short film | |
| 2007 | Helen Jones | TV film | ||
| 2009 | Subdivision | Faye | Feature film | |
| 2009 | Benefit | Mother | Short film | |
| 2010 | Dying Ice | Elder | Short film | |
| 2010 | Anyone You Want | Jenny | ||
| 2011 | Blood Brothers | Sue O'Farrell | TV film | |
| 2012 | Leech | Betty | Short film | |
| 2013 | Nerve | Sally Livingston | Feature film | |
| 2013 | Concealed | Irene | Feature film | |
| 2013 | Cliffy | Molly | TV film | |
| 2014 | The See-er | Post-production | ||
| 2014 | Schapelle | Rosleigh Rose | TV film | |
| 2015 | Spirit of the Game | Sister Bingham | Feature film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Bellamy | Bev | TV series, episode: "Bet Your Life" | |
| 1985 | Patient / Kristine Cox | TV series, episodes: "Walk Tall: Parts 1 & 2", "Work Experience: Part 2" | ||
| 1986 | Sons and Daughters | Kidnapper | TV series, episode: "1.799" | |
| 1987 | Sons and Daughters | Monica | TV series, episode: "1.972" | |
| 1987 | Rafferty's Rules | Mrs. Bridges | TV series, episode: "Kids" | |
| 1988 | Home and Away | Woman Customer | TV series, season 1, episode 51 | |
| 1989 | E Street | Myra | TV series, season 1, episode 2-3 | |
| 1989 | Home and Away | Nola Dibble | TV series, season 2, episode 258 | |
| 1989 | Fields of Fire III | Mrs. Anderson | TV miniseries | |
| 1989-1996 | G.P. | Julie Winters | TV series, 317 episodes | |
| 1990 | E Street | Myra | TV series, episode: "The Reverend & the Doctor?" | |
| 1995 | Correlli | Helen Buckley | TV series, episodes: "Solitary", "Lock-Down" | |
| 1995; 1999 | Good Morning Australia | Guest - Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1996 | Mary Kelly | TV series, episode: "The Grand Opening" | ||
| 1998 | All Saints | Janice McGregor | TV series, episode: "A Little Magic" | |
| 1999 | Good Morning Australia | Guest - Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1999 | Wildside | Sheryl Cunningham | TV series, episode: "2.19" | |
| 2000 | Grass Roots | Evelyn Savage | TV series, episode: "The Whole Year" | |
| 2001 | Water Rats | Meredith Dillon | TV series, episode: "The Thin Edge" | |
| 2001 | Pizza | Jackie / Mum Stanko | TV series, episodes: "Politically Incorrect Pizza", "Girlfriend Pizza" | |
| 2001 | BackBerner | Beryl Todd | TV series, episode: "3.4" | |
| 2001-2003 | Always Greener | Isabelle Turnbull | TV series, 50 episodes | |
| 2002 | BackBerner | Various | TV series, episode: "1.134" | |
| 2003 | Grass Roots | Christina | TV series, episode: "Investigation" | |
| 2004 | Home and Away | Valerie Squires | TV series, season 17, 8 episodes | |
| 2005 | All Saints | Margaret | TV series, episode: "Funny Games" | |
| 2005-2006 | Headland | Jessica Andrews | TV series, 26 episodes | |
| 2009 | East West 101 | Janet Miller | TV series, episode: "Men of Conscience" | |
| 2009 | Packed to the Rafters | Bonnie Bright | TV series, episodes: "Having It All", "Look Into My Eyes", "Putting the House in Order" | |
| 2010 | Cops L.A.C. | Diane Pappas | TV series, 13 episodes | |
| 2011 | Underbelly | Alice Twiss | TV miniseries, episode: "Jerusalem Revisited" | |
| 2012 | Packed to the Rafters | Bonnie Bright | TV series, episode: "Sign of the Times" | |
| 2012 | Mrs Biggs | Annie Pitcher | TV series, episodes: "1.3", "1.4" | |
| 2013 | Wonderland | Guest role: | TV series, episode: "The Exes" |
