| Rarriwuy Hick | |
| Birth Place: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Actress, dancer,director |
| Years Active: | 2012-present |
| Known For: | |
Rarriwuy Hick (born) is an Aboriginal Australian award-winning actress, known for her roles in the television series Redfern Now, Cleverman, Wentworth and True Colours.
Hick was born around 1991[1] in Sydney, Australia. She grew up in both the suburb of Lilyfield, and in Dhalinybuy, an Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.[2] [3] She was raised speaking Yolŋu Matha and other Aboriginal Australian languages before learning English, and speaks seven dialects. Her mother, Janet Munyarryun, a Yolngu woman, was a founding member of Bangarra Dance Theatre.
Throughout her education, Hick was inspired by her mother to pursue dance and the arts. She attended a Catholic girls high school and showed sufficient interest in dance to establish a troupe.[4] In 2009, she commenced studies at the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College,.[5] She was asked to audition for the Aboriginal-produced play Wrong Skin, and was successful, performing on the tour while studying.[6]
Hick starred in two episodes of the television series Redfern Now (2012–2013), and as ongoing character of Ruby Mitchell in Wentworth making her first appearance for series 6, Hick would reprise the role of Ruby Mitchell when the show was renewed for its eighth and final season.[7]
In 2022 she played the lead role as detective Toni Alma, returning to her home town in Central Australia after living most of her life away from it, in the television miniseries True Colours. One reviewer called her performance "career-best".[8] [9]
In 2023, Hick appeared in Home and Away in the role of Elandra Hudson. Hick also appeared in SBS drama Erotic Stories.[10] [11]
In 2024, Hick was named as part of the cast for upcoming feature film Kangaroo.[12]
She established the dance group Yapa Mala and led its choreography.[13] [14] In 2011, she starred in the theatre play Bloodland.[15] [16]
In 2016, Hick starred in a revival of the Louis Nowra play The Golden Age by the Sydney Theatre Company and her performance and dance received praise.[17] [18]
Hick was living in Arnhem Land at the time of the 2007 Northern Territory National Emergency Response. She later remarked that the intervention was not having an effect on child abuse like intended and instead that her family's lives and finances were being "completely controlled by the government".[19]
In May 2013, Hick and other actors from theatre production The Shadow King in Melbourne were refused taxi rides by several drivers who reportedly drove off after observing that the group members were of Indigenous appearance.[20]
In 2018, Hick started a social media campaign using the hashtag #ourkidsbelongwithfamilies, which became a "rallying cry" of Indigenous Australians fighting to maintain their families together against removals and resettlement of children by authorities.[21] [22]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | She Say | Short film | [23] | ||
| Scar | Short film | [24] | |||
| 2013 | The Hunter | Short film | [25] | ||
| 2014 | One Short Day | Woman | Short film | [26] | |
| 2015 | Wurinyan | Short film | [27] | ||
| 2022 | Seriously Red | Nurse | Directed by Gracie Otto | ||
| TBA | Kangaroo | TBA | Feature film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Move It Mob Style | Herself | Episode 4 [28] | |
| 2012 - 2013 | Redfern Now | Robyn Davis | 2 episodes | |
| 2013 | The Broken Shore | Suzie Pascoe | TV movie | |
| The Outlaw Michael Howe | Mary | TV movie | ||
| 2014 | The Gods of Wheat Street | Electra Freeburn | 6 episodes [29] [30] | |
| 2015 | Redfern Now: Promise Me | Robyn Davis | TV movie | |
| 2016 - 17 | Cleverman | Latani | 12 episodes | |
| 2018 - 21 | Wentworth | Ruby Mitchell | Seasons 6–8 (main role, 42 episodes) | |
| 2018 | Black Comedy | Various Characters | 6 episodes | |
| 2019 | Molly and Cara | Cara | TV series | |
| 2021 | Wentworth Unlocked | Self | TV special | |
| 2022 | True Colours | Detective Toni Alma | Miniseries (4 episodes) | |
| Significant Others | Deb Munroe | 5 episodes | ||
| Darby and Joan | Tegan | 1 episode | ||
| 2023-present | Home and Away | Elandra Hudson | 8 episodes | |
| 2024 | Erotic Stories | Kiarra | 1 episode (Powerful Owl) |
| Year | Production | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Wrong Skin | Ngurrumilmaramiriwu | [31] | |
| 2012 | Bloodland | [32] | ||
| 2013 | The Shadow King | Cordelia | [33] | |
| 2014 | Brothers Wreck | Adele | [34] [35] | |
| 2016 | The Golden Age | Betsheb | [36] |
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Deadly Awards | Female Actor of the Year | Wrong Skin | [37] | |
| 2012 | Deadly Awards | Female Actor of the Year | Bloodland | [38] | |
| 2015 | AACTA Awards | Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama | Redfern Now | [39] | |
| 2016 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Supporting Actress | "Promise Me", Redfern Now | [40] | |
| 2016 | Equity Ensemble Awards | Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Movie or Miniseries | The Outlaw Michael Howe | [41] | |
| 2022 | Asian Academy Creative Award | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Won [42] |