Georgie Stone

Last updated

Georgie Stone
OAM
Georgie Stone 171208 0229 (27243290099).jpg
Stone in December 2017
Other namesGeorgie Sarah Jean Robertson Stone [1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • writer
  • advocate
Years active2010–present
Parent(s) Greg Stone
Rebekah Robertson

Georgie Robertson Stone OAM is an Australian actress, writer and transgender rights advocate. At the age of 11, Stone was the youngest person to receive hormone blockers in Australia, which set a precedent that eventually changed the law that compelled transgender children and their families to apply to the Family Court of Australia to access stage one treatment. She continues to advocate for transgender children, and is one of the most visible transgender people in Australia. She is also known for her role as Mackenzie Hargreaves in Neighbours .

Contents

Early life

Georgie Stone was born to parents Greg Stone and Rebekah Robertson. Stone attended Elwood College 2013-2018 and was co-school captain in 2018. [2] Stone began studying a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne in 2019. [3]

Career

Activism

"The involvement of the Family Court in the medical decisions of transgender teens is actually harming those children it is supposed to protect" [4]

—Stone on the court process

In 2014, Stone appeared on Four Corners , [5] talking about her experiences in court and changing the law surrounding stage one treatment. In February 2016, Stone and a number of other families of transgender kids travelled to Canberra to speak with politicians about changing the law. [6] Stone and her mother were interviewed on The Project [7] [8] in response to the controversy surrounding the Safe Schools Coalition and the importance of the program. Later that year, Stone and her family appeared on Australian Story , telling their story. [9]

Stone started a petition on change.org in August 2016, rallying support for law reform. [10] [11] [12] [13] Stone has also spoken out in support of transgender kids being allowed to use the bathroom of their choice, [14] the importance of the Safe Schools Coalition, [15] and the Pride Centre located in St Kilda. [16]

Stone was announced as a judge at the 2017 GLOBE Community Awards. [17] Stone also featured in the ABC Me television series, Advice to My 12-Year-Old-Self, which aired on 11 October in celebration of the United Nation's International Day of the Girl. [18] [19] The show consists of 37 interviews, all lasting two minutes in length, of prominent Australian women. In late 2017, Stone was made the official ambassador for the Royal Children's Hospital Gender Service in Melbourne. [20]

In 2018, Stone became the ambassador for the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival, Wear it Purple Day and the AFL Pride Game. [21] [22] [23] In 2019, Stone was named an Ambassador for The Pinnacle Foundation. [24]

In June 2022, a 28-minute documentary about her own life, titled The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone, written by Stone and directed by Maya Newell, had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City [25] [26] and then its Australian premiere at Sydney Film Festival. The film was co-produced by Stone, Newell, Sophie Hyde, and others. [27] It was released worldwide on Netflix on 22 September 2022. [28]

Acting

In March 2019, Stone joined Australian television soap opera Neighbours in the guest role of Mackenzie Hargreaves. [29] [30] She plays the first ever transgender character on the show, having pitched the role to the show's producers a year earlier. [31] Stone began filming her scenes in June, with the episodes to be aired later in the year. [32] [33] Stone described Mackenzie as "a bit world weary, a bit cynical, a bit hardened by her experiences". [34] She also described her as "sweet, compassionate and lovely" when she opens up to other people. [35]

In September 2019, it was announced that Stone would appear in a spin-off titled Neighbours: Erinsborough High , reprising her role from the main show. [36] The series was released on My5 and 10 Play in November, and comprised five episodes that "explore issues universally troubling teens today – bullying, mental illness, sexuality, cultural diversity, parental and peer pressure, and teacher-student relationships". [37] On 19 October 2019, it was announced that Stone would be promoted to the regular cast in early 2020. [38] She co-wrote an episode of Neighbours with executive producer Jason Herbison, which aired in July 2020. [39]

For her performance, Stone was nominated for 'Best Daytime Star' at the 2020 Inside Soap Awards. [40]

Stone left Neighbours in 2024 to pursue other interests.

Personal life

Stone lives in Melbourne, Australia. She has a twin brother. Stone commenced taking puberty blocking treatment in 2011, the youngest in Australia to commence stage-one treatment (she was 10 at the time). [41] [42] In 2015, she commenced hormone replacement therapy, at age 15. [43] Since 2014, Stone has been public about her gender identity. [44]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2022The Dreamlife of Georgie StoneHerselfDocumentary short [45]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2014 Four Corners HerselfEpisode: Being Me
2016 Australian Story HerselfEpisode: About A Girl
2019–present Neighbours Mackenzie Hargreaves Main cast [31]
2019 Neighbours: Erinsborough High 5 episodes [46]

Awards and recognition

YearOrganisationAwardWorkResultRef
2016GLOBE Community AwardsGLBTI Person of the YearWon [57]
2016Anti-Defamation CommissionMaking a Difference AwardWon [58]
2017Liberty VictoriaYoung Voltaire AwardWon [59]
2017 Human Rights Awards Young People's Human Rights MedalWon [60]
2018 Australian of the Year Awards Victorian Young Australian of the YearWon [61]
2018 Young Australian of the Year Nominated [62]
2018Australian LGBTI AwardsHero of the YearNominated [63]
2019Won [64]
2019 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards Victorian Young Achiever of the YearNominated
2019Create Change AwardWon [65]
2019People's Choice AwardNominated
2020 Inside Soap Awards Best Daytime Star Neighbours Nominated [66]
2022Nominated [67]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky Mangel</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Sky Mangel is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 1 February 1989. The character was originally played by Miranda Fryer until 1991. When Sky was reintroduced on 13 August 2003, Stephanie McIntosh took over the role. She departed on 3 August 2007. McIntosh reprised her role as part of the show's 30th anniversary celebrations on 20 March 2015. She returned for a longer stint as part of the 35th anniversary on 13 March 2020, and made an unannounced cameo appearance in the final episode on 28 July 2022, though her appearance was only broadcast in the Australian cut of the episode. McIntosh reprised the role again on 3 July 2024 before departing again on 4 July 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Izzy Hoyland</span> Australian soap opera character

Isabelle "Izzy" Hoyland is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Bassingthwaighte. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 1 September 2003. Izzy was introduced as Max Hoyland's younger sister. The character departed in 2006, following Bassingthwaighte's decision to focus on her music career. However, in March 2007, Bassingthwaighte made a brief return to film a few episodes set in London. The character was well received by critics and viewers and Bassingthwaighte earned three Logie Award nominations for her role. In October 2017, Bassingthwaighte reprised the role for a guest appearance and she returned on 12 February 2018 until 20 March 2018. She reprised the role again on 21 July 2022 for the serial's then final episodes.

<i>Neighbours</i> Australian soap opera (1985–present)

Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap Sons and Daughters. Although successful in Melbourne, Neighbours underperformed in the Sydney market and was cancelled by Seven four months after it began airing. It was immediately commissioned by rival Network Ten for a second production season, which began screening on 20 January 1986. Neighbours became the longest-running drama series in Australian television history. In 2005, it was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bentleigh West Primary School</span> School in City of Glen Eira, Victoria, Australia

Bentleigh West Primary School is a government primary school located in the suburb of Bentleigh in the City of Glen Eira, about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) out of Melbourne's city centre, in the state of Victoria, Australia.

The Willis family are a fictional family from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. They were introduced by Don Battye in 1989, but left screens in 1996, before being reintroduced in 2013. The first family member to be seen on-screen was Brad Willis, who appeared in a guest capacity from October 1989, and then his sister Cody from November. The family became a more permanent fixture with the arrival of patriarch Doug Willis and his wife Pam, who moved onto Ramsay Street the following year. Cody was the last family member to regularly appear in the show until her on-screen death in 1996, which brought Pam back briefly to bury her daughter.

<i>QNews</i> Australian LGBT+ news outlet

QNews is an Australian online news outlet based in Brisbane, Queensland catering to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer communities in Australia. The first issue was published in December 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eli Erlick</span> American activist and writer (born 1995)

Eli Erlick is an American activist, writer, academic, trans woman and founder of the organization Trans Student Educational Resources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Western Australia</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) rights in Western Australia have seen significant progress since the beginning of the 21st century, with male sex acts legal since 1990 and the state parliament passing comprehensive law reforms in 2002. The state decriminalised male homosexual acts in 1990 and was the first to grant full adoption rights to LGBT couples in 2002.

Maya Newell is an Australian filmmaker, known for the feature-length documentaries Gayby Baby (2015) and In My Blood It Runs (2019). She works at Closer Productions in Adelaide, South Australia.

Olympia Montana Valance is an Australian actress and model, whose roles include Paige Smith in the soap opera Neighbours and Tahlia Woods in Playing for Keeps. For her role as Paige, Valance received a nomination for the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent.

Transgender rights in Australia have legal protection under federal and state/territory laws, but the requirements for gender recognition vary depending on the jurisdiction. For example, birth certificates, recognised details certificates, and driver licences are regulated by the states and territories, while Medicare and passports are matters for the Commonwealth.

Rebekah Sarah Robertson is an Australian actress, author and activist who has appeared on television and on stage. In 2012, Robertson founded the first parent led peer support group and information hub for transgender kids and their families in Australia, Transcend. She now advocates for transgender kids and has won numerous awards for her work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transcend (advocacy)</span> UK transgender charity

Transcend is an advocacy and support group, and a registered charity founded in 2012 by actor and advocate Rebekah Robertson, in support of transgender young people.

Anna Shelley Brown is a lawyer and advocate, particularly in the area of LGBTIQ rights. After working for the Human Rights Law Centre for around seven years, in December 2018 she was appointed chief executive of new LGBTI advocacy organisation Equality Australia

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dipi Rebecchi</span> Soap opera character

Dipika 'Dipi' Rebecchi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Sharon Johal. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 24 April 2017. Johal originally auditioned for the role of Dipi's younger sister Mishti Sharma. Actress Scarlett Vas secured the role and producers changed Dipi to better suit Johal. Dipi is part of the extended Rebecchi family introduced into Neighbours, joining established regular character Toadfish Rebecchi. She is married to Shane Rebecchi and they move to Erinsborough with their two daughters Yashvi and Kirsha Rebecchi. She soon becomes the new owner of Harold's café.

<i>Neighbours: Erinsborough High</i> Australian web television series

Neighbours: Erinsborough High is an Australian streaming television series produced for video on demand and catch up TV services My5 and 10 Play. It was released on 11 November 2019. The series is a spin-off of soap opera Neighbours. Featuring new and regular characters from the main show, the series follows a group of students at Erinsborough High School as they prepare for their final exams, and focuses on the various issues they are facing, as well as the disappearance of one of the students.

Zoe Terakes is an Australian actor. They are known for playing Reb Keane in the series Wentworth (2020–2021) and Hayley in the horror film Talk to Me (2022).

Holden Sheppard is a multi award-winning author from Geraldton, Western Australia. His debut young adult (YA) novel, Invisible Boys, won multiple accolades including the 2018 T.A.G. Hungerford Award and the 2019 Western Australian Premier's Book Award. His writing often focuses on themes of masculinity, sexuality and mental health.

Jemma Donovan is a British-Australian actress. She made her on-screen debut in the BBC television film Mr Stink when she was 12 years old. In 2015, Donovan played Maddy Bastière in the French-American series Spotless. After relocating to Australia, Donovan joined the regular cast of Neighbours as Harlow Robinson. Three members of her family had previously starred in the soap opera, including her father Jason Donovan. She made her debut in July 2019 and also appeared in the spin-off series Neighbours: Erinsborough High. She left the serial in July 2022. Shortly after moving back to the United Kingdom, Donovan secured the role of "party girl" Rayne Royce who died from being pushed in her swimming pool by Romeo Nightingale in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mackenzie Hargreaves</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Mackenzie Hargreaves is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Georgie Stone. She made her first appearance on 30 August 2019. Mackenzie is the soap's first transgender character, added to the series after Stone wrote to executive producer Jason Herbison to pitch the character. She arrives as a new student at Erinsborough High School and is connected to the established Rebecchi family, who she knew prior to her gender transition. Following her initial guest storyline, Mackenzie was a central character in spin-off series Neighbours: Erinsborough High before being promoted to the regular cast of Neighbours in 2020. She remained with the series until its finale episode, broadcast on 28 July 2022, and reprised the role when the series resumed on 18 September 2023. Her exit aired on 17 September 2024.

References

  1. "Georgie Stone - Profile". LezWatch.TV. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  2. "Georgie Stone (OAM) | Elwood College". www.elwood.vic.edu.au. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  3. The Australian Women's Weekly (22 July 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: Meet Neighbours' newest star, trans activist Georgie Stone". Now to Love. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  4. "How this trans activist is saving lives". Topics.
  5. "Being Me". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 17 November 2014.
  6. Medhora, Shalailah (22 February 2016). "Australian transgender children closer to accessing hormones without court permission". the Guardian.
  7. "WATCH: Trans Teen Georgie Stone Talks About Safe Schools On 'The Project' - Pedestrian TV". 25 February 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  8. "Georgie knows first hand that "without the Safe Schools Coalition life is hell"". 26 February 2016.
  9. "About A Girl". 15 August 2016 via www.abc.net.au.
  10. "Category". Herald Sun. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  11. "Boost for trans teens' hormone fight". 24 January 2017.
  12. "The young Australians redefining gender - Star Observer". www.starobserver.com.au. 22 May 2017.
  13. "Trans activist: "We need to save the lives of kids like me" - Star Observer". www.starobserver.com.au. 17 March 2017.
  14. "For some transgender students, the school bathroom is a battleground". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 1 April 2017.
  15. "Trans teen Georgie Stone talks about the importance of Safe Schools on 'The Project'". Daily Life. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  16. "Category". Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  17. "Judges". 1 August 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  18. "Advice To My 12 Year Old Self: Georgie Stone". ABC iview. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  19. Dubecki, Larissa (2 October 2017). "Our Pick, free-to-air: Advice to My 12-Year-Old Self". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  20. "Georgie Stone". Transcend Support. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  21. "Georgie Stone named ambassador for AFL Pride Game - OUTInPerth - LGBTIQ News and Culture - OUTInPerth – LGBTIQ News and Culture". www.outinperth.com. 24 May 2018.
  22. "Georgie Stone Named Ambassador For This Year's AFL Pride Game - QNews Magazine". 19 May 2018.
  23. "Pride game: I'll stand by you". saints.com.au. 23 May 2018.
  24. "Our Ambassadors". The Pinnacle Foundation. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  25. "The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone". Tribeca Film Institute. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  26. Staff Writer (23 October 2019). "Screen Australia puts $2 million towards 11 documentaries". IF Magazine .
  27. "The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone". Sydney Film Festival. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  28. "You can watch 'The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone' on Netflix". Bank Australia. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  29. "Neighbours: Soap casts first transgender character". BBC News. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  30. Burke, Tina; Hockey, Maddison (17 June 2019). "New cast member alert! Christie Whelan Browne joins Neighbours". TV Week . Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  31. 1 2 Anderton, Joe (23 March 2019). "Neighbours to introduce its first transgender character as Georgie Stone joins the soap in guest role". Digital Spy . Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  32. "Georgie Stone becomes first trans character on Neighbours". PinkNews. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  33. "Georgie Stone to play first transgender character on 'Neighbours'". QNews. 24 March 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  34. McManus, Bridget (25 August 2019). "Neighbours set to introduce first-ever transgender character". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  35. Hockey, Maddison (30 August 2019). "Georgie Stone opens up on making history as Neighbours' first transgender character". TV Week . Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  36. Lee, Jess (5 September 2019). "Neighbours to get new spinoff series focusing on Erinsborough High". Digital Spy . Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  37. Meade, Amanda (6 September 2019). "Neighbours goes back to school in spin-off miniseries Erinsborough High". The Guardian . Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  38. Byrne, Fiona (20 October 2019). "Georgie transforms into permanent role". Herald Sun . Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  39. "Neighbours - Georgie Stone co-wrote emotional Mackenzie scenes". Digital Spy . 3 July 2020.
  40. "Inside Soap Awards reveals full longlist for 2020's ceremony". Digital Spy . 14 September 2020.
  41. "Trans teens applying for hormone treatment up 360 per cent - Star Observer". www.starobserver.com.au. 6 February 2017.
  42. Skelley, Jemima (21 February 2017). "13 LGBT Teens Whose Instagrams Are Inspirational AF". BuzzFeed.
  43. "Transgender Teen Georgie Stone Is Fighting To Help Other Trans Youth - QNews Magazine". 19 July 2016.
  44. "Georgie Stone, Changing Law for Trans Youth". Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  45. "The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone - About" . Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  46. Clarke, Stewart (5 September 2019). "Iconic Aussie Soap 'Neighbours' to Get Spinoff Series".
  47. Donelly, Beau (20 October 2016). "Transgender teen Georgie Stone crowned GLBTI Person of the Year". The Age.
  48. "Australia's GLBTI person of the year is trans activist Georgie Stone". 22 October 2016.
  49. "Georgie Stone wins Making a Difference award" . Herald Sun .
  50. "25 LGBTI Australians to watch in 2017 - Gay News Network". Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  51. "Australian of the Year Awards". Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  52. "Category" . Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  53. "Georgie Stone nominated for Human Rights Award". OUTInPerth. 7 November 2017.
  54. connie.kwan (15 November 2017). "Winners and Finalists of the 2017 Human Rights Awards". hrawards.humanrights.gov.au. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  55. "Australia Day honours list: Jane Turner and Campbell Newman among 2020 recipients". the Guardian. 25 January 2020.
  56. "Heraldsun.com.au | Subscribe to the Herald Sun for exclusive stories".
  57. "GLBTI change makers recognised as winners of the GLOBE Community Awards". 23 October 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  58. "Georgie Stone Becomes Youngest Person Ever to Receive ADC Making a Difference Award". Anti Defamation Commission. 16 November 2016. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  59. "Category". Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  60. Elizabeth.Tan (7 November 2017). "2017 Young People's Medal finalists announced". hrawards.humanrights.gov.au. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  61. "Samuel Johnson named Victorian Australian of the Year for cancer work". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 26 October 2017.
  62. "Georgie Stone named Victoria's Young Australian of the Year - OUTInPerth – LGBTIQ News and Culture". www.outinperth.com. 27 October 2017.
  63. "Hero of the Year". Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  64. "Shortlist". australianlgbtiawards.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018.
  65. "Current Finalists | Awards Australia". awardsaustralia.com. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  66. "Who will get YOUR vote in the Inside Soap Awards 2020?". 15 September 2020.
  67. "Inside Soap Awards reveals nominees and icon category for 2022". Digital Spy . 18 July 2022.