Anni Finsterer

Last updated

Anni Finsterer
OccupationActress
Years active1986-

Anni Finsterer is an Australian actress. For her performance in 3 Acts of Murder she won the 2009 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in Television Drama. [1]

Contents

Early life

Finsterer grew up in Canberra, Australia.

Career

Finsterer is a film, teievision and stage actor, voice over artist, director, playwright. author, singer, keynote speaker, coach and teacher (of acting and drama).

Feature films include I Met a Girl , The Flood (both 2020), True History of the Kelly Gang (2019), Sweet Country (2017), Teenage Kicks (2016), Sleeping Beauty (2011), The Boys are Back and Prime Mover (both 2009). She has had significant roles in Bigger Than Tina (1999) [2] [3] and To Have & to Hold (1996). [4] [5]

Recent television roles include The Gloaming for Stan, Harrow , Wentworth (season 7), the US TV series Reckoning , Rake , Secret City for Foxtel and Glitch for the ABC.

On 9 September 2024, Finsterer was named as part of the extended cast for Stan Australia series Thou Shalt Not Steal. [6]

Stage

Her lengthy stage career [7] has seen her perform in Australia, Asia and Europe, with Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Griffin Theatre Company, Belvoir Theatre Company, La Mama and more. Highlights include playing the title character in Sharon Lilly Screwdriver (Stables Theatre, 1991), [8] [9] and producing and acting in East (Bay Street Theatre, 1988). [10] [11] Other significant roles include playing Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Cleopatra, Ishtar, and the Queen of Hearts on stilts.

Finsterer is also an author - her most recent publication being Radical Rock and Roll Resilience' (2020) - a personal story of overcoming adversity, combined with strategies of how to live an empowered life. [12]

She holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts, and a Diploma of Education in Drama and English.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType
1990Sky TrackersScientistFeature film
1994 Cody: A Family Affair LeilaniTV film
1995 Lessons in the Language of Love NickiShort film
1996 To Have & to Hold RoseFeature film
1999 Bigger Than Tina Jacinta FellowsFeature film
1999 Strange Fits of Passion JudyFeature film
2000Thomson of Arnhem LandNarratorDocumentary film
2002 Queen of the Damned Euro Trash VampireFeature film
2006 Candy Crystal (uncredited)Feature film
2007The Uncertainty PrincipleNellieShort film
2009 Prime Mover Thomas's mumFeature film
2009 3 Acts of Murder Anne UpfieldTV film
2009 The Boys are Back Tennis journalistFeature film
2010 The Clinic Locker room woman (DCIII, Blue)Feature film
2011 Sleeping Beauty Train riding hairdresserFeature film
2011Johnny GhostMillicentFeature film
2011Blue MondayShort film
2012GraceJoyShort film
2012Devine is DeadKate LeighShort film
2013Strange TouristGenaShort film
2013TouchSueShort film
2015Damage ControlThe PharmacistShort film
2016 Teenage Kicks Illona VargaFeature film
2016WolfShort film
2017 Sweet Country NellFeature film
2019Three Stories Inside a Rental VanShort film
2019My First PanicTraceyShort film
2019 True History of the Kelly Gang Mrs GillFeature film
2019BackpedalShort film
2020 I Met a Girl Miss NeedleFeature film
2020The FloodWilma WilsonFeature film
2021We Have MePrincipalShort film
2022 Lonesome CarolFeature film
2022 The Stranger Female uniformed cop (uncredited)Feature film
2022MaxSuzie WilliamsShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleType
1987 Sons and Daughters WaitressTV series. 1 episode
1990 The Paper Man Australian newsreaderTV miniseries, 4 episodes
1987-91 Rafferty's Rules TV publicist / Narelle GrimesTV series, 2 episodes
1991 Police Rescue AgnesTV series, 1 episode
1992 Chances EvaTV series, 1 episode
1993 Seven Deadly Sins TV miniseries, 1 episode
1997 Blue Heelers Danielle SimpsonTV series, 1 episode
1997 State Coroner Daria BondTV series, 1 episode
1998 Good Guys Bad Guys Sergeant HawthornTV series, 1 episode
1998 Halifax f.p. MaxineTV series, 1 episode
2000 Eugenie Sandler P.I. Irene KendallTV miniseries, 1 episode
2001 Stingers Suzie LakeTV series, 2 episodes
2006 Love My Way WendyTV series, 3 episodes
2007 Home and Away BrendaTV series, 1 episode
2002-08 All Saints Gina Finch / Gemma Lee / Stefanie GarrettTV series, 8 episodes
2009 City Homicide Megan BlackTV series, 1 episode
2012 Underbelly Dianne ErlichTV series, 1 episode
2016 Secret City Vice Admiral Joanna HartzigTV series, 5 episodes
2015-17 Glitch Caroline EastleyTV series, 3 episodes
2018 Rake JudgeTV series, 1 episode
2019Over and OutDr FacecutterTV miniseries, 1 episode
2019 Wentworth May JenkinsTV series, season 7, 5 episodes
2020 The Gloaming Eileen McGintyTV miniseries, 6 episodes
2020 Reckoning Karen AndersonTV miniseries, 1 episode
2020Deadhouse DarkGraceTV miniseries, 1 episode
2021 Harrow Di baverstockTV series, 1 episode
2020-21 Space Nova Guest castTV series, 8 episodes
2020-21100% Wolf: Legend of the MoonstoneThe Duchess / Mrs MuttonTV series, 8 episodes
2022 Barons VicTV series, 1 episode
2023 The Clearing Evelyn SmithTV miniseries, 1 episode
2024 Return to Paradise Donna SmithwickTV series, 1 episode (Curl Up and Dye)
2024Thou Shalt Not StealTBATV series

Theatre

As actor

YearTitleRoleLocation / Co.
1979Man and ManChilders Street Hall, Canberra
1986Snatched!ToniThe Rocks Theatre, Sydney with Nepean College of Advanced Education School of Arts Theatre
1987 Kennedy’s Children Exchange Hotel, Sydney with New Mercury Theatre Company
1988 East Bay Street Theatre, Sydney
1990GilgameshIshtarAshgrove Quarry with Queensland Theatre Company
1991Sharon Lilly ScrewdriverSharon Stables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
1992 The Women of Troy Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Sydney Theatre Company
1993 Antony and Cleopatra Cleopatra Wharf Sea Level Space, Sydney with Sydney Theatre Company
1994The Wedding Song NIDA at Parade Theatre
1994 The Threepenny Opera Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
1995Poor Super Man Wharf 2 Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
1996 Macbeth Macbeth / Lady Macbeth Victorian regional tour with Melbourne Theatre Company
1996LenzThe Police Garage with Mene Mene Theatre for Melbourne Festival
1996 Alice in Wonderland Queen of Hearts Melbourne Zoo with Australian Shakespeare Company
1997Footprints on Water La Mama
1997Raised by Wolves Shed 14, Docklands with Regurgitator and Handspan Theatre for Melbourne International Arts Festival
1998 The Present Carlton Courthouse with La Mama
1998Scissors, Paper, Rock Trades Hall, Carlton South with La Mama
1998The Keene / Taylor Project, Season 5: Kaddish / Violin / The RainWoman - The Violin La Mama
2000Gravegnomes La Mama
2003RabbitKate Stables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
2003 The Threepenny Opera Tiffany Belvoir Street Theatre
2004–05Ray's TempestRuthie Belvoir Street Theatre
2004 Kimberly Akimbo Ensemble Theatre
2005 The World's Wife Littie Red Cap / Queen Herod / Pilate's Wife / Mrs Sisyphus / Queen Kong / The Devil's Wife / Mrs Lazarus / Mrs Icarus / Eurydice / Elvis's Twin Sister Fairfax Studio with Melbourne Theatre Company
2007 Othello Playhouse Canberra, Playhouse Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, Orange Civic Theatre with Bell Shakespeare
2007 Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train Mary Jane Hanrahan Belvoir Street Theatre
2011Pin DropVoice Over Artist Malthouse Theatre
2014 Parramatta Girls MelanieRiverview Productions at Lennox Theatre, Parramatta
2016 The Importance of Being Ernest Ensemble Theatre
2017In Real LifeTheresa Faber Darlinghurst Theatre
2018The ReadersAnnie Belvoir Street Downstairs Theatre
2023CampKrissi Seymour Centre with Siren Theatre Company
2024 Othello Emilia Playhouse Canberra, Playhouse Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, Orange Civic Theatre with Bell Shakespeare
Set Piece Sydney Festival
Macbeth Sydney Theatre Company
The Loaded Ute Sydney Theatre Company
Hamlet Theatre Up North Qld
A Christmas Carol American Drama Group Europe

As crew

YearTitleRoleLocation / Co.
1988 East ProducerBay Street Theatre
1992The Tale of the TigerDesigner / Director Seymour Centre & European tour
1994BloodwoodPlaywright
1995Shorts ProgramCo-Author Wharf Theatre
2000GravegnomesPlaywright / Director La Mama
2000The Sax DiariesDirectorThe Fitzroy Gallery for Melbourne International Comedy Festival
2013 Stolen DirectorEducation Program at Riverside Theatres Parramatta
2014 The Shoe-Horn Sonata DirectorEducation Program at Riverside Theatres Parramatta
2014–15Fast and Fresh (performance shorts) Riverside Theatres Parramatta
2016Betrayal in Shakespeare Sport for Jove for Shakespeare Carnival 2016
2020Girl WildPlaywright Australian Plays with Red Hot Arts Festival.
Nominated for the Rodney Seabourne Award
2023 Amadeus Resident Director Sydney Opera House
MotherHuntRed Hot Arts Festival
MalawaDirector Seymour Centre with OnSTAGE
Sunset EstateDirector Seymour Centre with OnSTAGE
The Astonishing World of Wonders: School of Life (aka Happiness is a Place Called School)Playwright Newtown High School of the Performing Arts (Senior showcase)

[13] [14]

Books

YearTitleType
The Girl Who Lost Her BounceNovella
2020Radical Rock and Roll Resilience: How to Get Up, Get Real & Totally Rock Your LifeAutobiography
2020My Quarantine Companione-book (collaborator)

Awards and nominations

YearNominated workOrganisationAwardResult
2009 3 Acts of Murder Australian Film Institute Best Guest or Supporting Actress in Television Drama Won
2020Girl WildThe Seaborn Broughton & Walford FoundationRodney Seabourne Playwrights AwardNominated

[15]

Personal life

In the 1980s Finsterer was involved in two car accidents, having to undergo many operations including skin grafts, facial reconstruction, a hand replacement and an ear reconstruction from her rib cartilage. [16] [17]

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References

  1. "2009 AFI Award winners", The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 December 2009
  2. James, Stan (17 November 1999), "Desperate to be a star", The Advertisor
  3. Williams, Evan (27 November 1999), "Bond again", The Weekend Australian
  4. Hessey, Ruth (25 October 1986), "Hold - on - film", The Sydney Morning Herald
  5. Creed, Barbara (24 October 1986), "Tale of obsession offers nothing new", The Age
  6. Knox, David (9 September 2024). "Airdate: Thou Shalt Not Steal | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  7. Anni Finsterer, AusStage
  8. Pottinger, Paul (27 September 1997), "Beat generation", The Sydney Morning Herald
  9. Sharon Lilly Screwdriver, AusStage
  10. Barnes, Mick (16 October 1988), "Berkoff's raw scream of rage", The Sun Herald
  11. East, AusStage
  12. https://apt.org.au/author/?authorinfoid=531
  13. https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/2361
  14. http://www.sjmanagement.com.au/creative/Anni-Finsterer?page=1
  15. https://www.seymourcentre.com/biographies/anni-finsterer/
  16. Moran, Johnathon (12 August 2007), "Selfless act of healing - David Wenham aids hospital that put his friend back together", The Daily Telegraph
  17. "How Anni Finsterer defied tragedy to pursue her dreams of acting", Conversations with Richard Fidler, ABC, 24 May 2011