| Ellen Grimshaw | |
| Birth Place: | Australia |
| Education: | Southbank Institute of Technology Queensland University of Technology Victorian College of the Arts |
| Occupation: | Actress, theatre writer |
| Years Active: | 2008–present |
| Known For: | Neighbours (TV series) as Veronica McLain |
Ellen Grimshaw is an Australian actress and writer of theatre. She is known for her roles in films and television dramas. Her performance as Chaar in Bad Behaviour garnered her the "Best Supporting Actress" accolade at the 2010 Melbourne Underground Film Festival. In 2021, she played Casey in the Australian drama series Jack Irish. In 2024, Grimshaw joined the cast of the soap opera Neighbours, playing Veronica McLain.
Grimshaw began her training at the Southbank Institute of Technology in Brisbane, where she completed a performing arts and acting diploma, graduating in 2006.[1] She then attended the Queensland University of Technology where she graduated from a Fine Arts course in 2009. She then began appearing in independent theatre productions in Brisbane and Melbourne. Grimshaw also developed herself as a writer with a comedic-feminist style and set up permanent residence in Melbourne.[2] [3] In 2018, Grimshaw completed a master's degree in Writing for Performance, which she studied at the Victorian College of the Arts.[4] Grimshaw is a feminist and she later began to develop her views into her performances.[4] [3]
Grimshaw began her professional acting career by starring as Constance in the short film The Covenant of Mr Kasch.[1] She also went onto gain work in numerous television commercials.[1] In 2010, Grimshaw played the role of Chaar in the film Bad Behaviour. Her performance won her the "Best Supporting Actress" accolade at the 2010 Melbourne Underground Film Festival.[5]
In 2018, she played the role of Louise in the web series Everything's Going To Be Fine, which was released via YouTube.[6] In 2019, Grimshaw produced her own theatre show titled "Just us Girls - What's a Girl?!". She designed the show to prove that feminist women are not defined by anger.[4]
In 2020, she appeared as Sarah in the second season of the drama series Bloom, which was broadcast via Stan[2] Grimshaw then played Claire McCormick in the feature film How Do You Know Chris?, which was directed by Ashley Harris.[7] She also appeared in a short film titled Noise.[8] The following year, Grimshaw appeared as Helen in the film Road to Perth, which was later sold to US and Canadian on-demand streaming services.[9] She also produced another theatre show titled "We're Probably Really Really Happy Right Now".[3]
In April 2023, Grimshaw created her own one woman theatre show titled "Grim". She wrote and produced the show and fellow Australian actor Guy Pearce provided voice overs.[10] Later that year she joined the cast of the soap opera Neighbours, playing the role of Veronica McLain. Grimshaw described the character as a "mysterious woman".[11] She made her first appearance in the episode broadcast on 4 January 2024.[12]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Covenant of Mr Kasch | Panda Girl / Constance Cristabel Faun | Short film | |
| 2009 | Husk | Wife | Short film | |
| 2010 | Bad Behaviour | Chaar | Feature film | |
| 2011 | Panic at Rock Island | Claire | TV movie | |
| 2011 | Status | Emily | Short film | |
| 2011 | Julia | Grace | Short film | |
| 2012 | Jane | Jane | Short film | |
| 2014 | Splendor Solis | Angelina | Short film | |
| 2015 | The Flame Wars | Bec | Film | |
| 2015 | Basic Basic Instinct | Catherine | Short film | |
| 2016 | Restoration | RLS Technician | Feature film | |
| 2018 | House Party | Charlie | Short film | |
| 2020 | Roger | Rose | Short film | |
| 2020 | How Do You Know Chris? | Claire McCormick | Feature film | |
| 2020 | Noise | Lead | Short film | |
| 2021 | From Sent Ash to Dancing Ground | Lacheen Lason | Short film | |
| 2021 | Road to Perth | Helen | Film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Cops L.A.C. | Alicia | TV series, season 1, episode 8: "Blood Types" | |
| 2015 | The Super Hero Clean Up Squad | Sky the cashier | TV pilot, 1 episode | |
| 2016 | The Wrong Girl | Anouk | TV series, 2 episodes | |
| 2018 | Superwog | Formal Babe 1 | TV series, season 1, episode 4: "The Formal" | |
| 2018 | Everything's Going to Be Fine | Louise | Web series | |
| 2020 | Bloom | Sarah | TV series, season 2, episode 6: "The Cult of Gwendolyn Reed" | |
| 2021 | Jack Irish | Casey | TV series, Season 3: "Hell Bent", 4 episodes | |
| 2022 | The Newsreader | Naomi | TV series, guest role | |
| 2024 | Neighbours | Veronica McLain | TV series, 10 episodes |
Sources:[1]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The River, The Dirt and Us | Visy Theatre, Brisbane with Backbone Youth Arts | ||
| 2006 | Features of Blown Youth | Dove | Vena Cava | |
| 2007 | People Falling | Ensemble | QUT | |
| 2007 | The Pitchfork Disney | Haley | QUT | |
| 2007 | Cowboy Mouth | Cavale | QUT | |
| 2008 | Tommy the Musical | Various | QUT | |
| 2008 | The Cherry Orchard | Dunyasha | QUT | |
| 2008 | Terrain Terrain Terrain | Various characters | QUT | |
| 2008 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Helena | QUT | |
| 2009 | The Hypochondriac | Louison | QUT | |
| 2009 | The Golden Age | Betsheb | QUT | |
| 2009 | The Arabian Nights | Various characters | QUT | |
| 2011 | 22 Short Plays | Various characters | ||
| 2013 | Bacchus Rising | |||
| 2014 | Mad Women Monologues | $ | Baggage Productions | |
| 2014 | Sales Pitch | Cindy | La Mama, Melbourne | |
| 2015 | Lust | Number 1 | Red Stitch Actors Theatre | |
| 2015 | I Don't Know Yet | Performer | Courthouse Hotel with Melbourne Fringe Festival | |
| 2016 | Corrina | Corrina | Red Stitch Actors Theatre / Bakehouse Studios | |
| 2017 | Little Eyolf | Rita | NIDA | |
| 2017 | Landscape | Beth | VCA Directors Showcase | |
| 2017 | Erasers | Beethoven | The Owl and Cat Theatre, Melbourne | |
| 2018 | Freefall | The Burrow, Melbourne with Wielding Theatre | ||
| 2018 | Probably Really, Really Happy Right Now | Fireball | Theatre Works, Melbourne | |
| 2019 | The Mother | Acting Internship | The Wooster Group, New York | |
| 2019 | The Bacchae | Paccula Annia | ||
| 2019 | Just Us Girls - What's a Girl?! | Various characters | Trades Hall Fringe Hub | |
| 2020 | Contagion | Ally Hextall | Riot Stage | |
| 2023 | Grim | Grim (solo show) | Melbourne International Comedy Festival |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Seagull | Assistant | Elevator Repair Service | |
| 2019 | Playlist | Playwright | Trades Hall, Melbourne with Red Stitch Actors Theatre | |
| 2023 | Grim | Creator | Melbourne International Comedy Festival |
| Year | Format | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Film | Melbourne Underground Film Festival | Best Supporting Actress | Bad Behaviour | ||
| 2021 | Television | Best Supporting Female Actor in a TV Drama | Jack Irish | |||
| 2024 | Theatre | Green Room Awards | Best Performer in Independent Theatre | Grim |