Leah Vandenberg

Last updated
Leah Vandenberg
Born
New Zealand
OccupationsActress (theatre, television and film)
Years active1997–present
Known for

Leah Vandenberg is a New Zealand-born Australian theatre, television, and film actress. She has appeared in many well-known Australian productions, including the award-winning Netflix series The Letdown and SBS drama The Hunting . She received an ASTRA nomination for "Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor-Female" in the comedy series Stupid, Stupid Man . She is a presenter on the long-running ABC television program Play School , a role she maintains today. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Vandenberg was born in New Zealand to a Sri Lankan father, who had grown up in Fiji, and an Australian mother of Irish and Scottish heritage. [2] She studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, graduating in 1993. [3]

Career

Vandenberg has been a long serving host of Australian Children's television series Play School, in 2021 Vandenberg performed and wrote an episode of the series featuring Punjabi music. [4] [5]

On stage, Vandenberg has performed in Grace (Melbourne Theatre Company), Criminology (Arena Theatre Company), The Country (B Sharp @ Belvoir Street), The Perfumed Garden, The Taming of the Shrew, A Clockwork Orange, and Love and Understanding. [3]

She received a 2007 ASTRA nomination of "Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Female" for her role as Anne in Stupid Stupid Man (series 1 and 2). [3]

Vandenberg joined the filming of Netflix series Wellmania in the role of Dr Singh, [6] appeared in ABC drama Savage River (TV series) [7] and was later announced as part of the cast in Foxtel/Binge drama High Country. [8]

In September 2025, Vandenberg was announced in the cast for the 2025 season of Queensland Theatre's Back To Bilo. [9]

Other activities

In 2021, Vandenberg was involved in a special project with the Biloela family where she would teach them in an online playgroup called Tree House Cubby. [10]

Filmography

Vandenberg has appeared in a wide range of genres in TV series as well as a few feature films, including: [11]

Television appearances

YearTitleRoleNotes
1995–
1999		 Blue Heelers Helene LeeTV series; 2 episodes
1996 G.P. Dr. Yasmin RichardsTV series; 12 episodes
1998Never Tell Me NeverPhysiotherapistTV movie
1998–
1999		 Wildside Samira NassarTV series; 7 episodes
2000– Play School HerselfTV series; 250+ episodes
2000 The Games LeahTV series; 1 episode
2000–
2003		 Grass Roots MeeraTV series; 4 episodes
2002 Short Cuts PsychologistTV series; 1 episode
BootLegWendyTV mini-series; 4 episodes
2002–
2003		 MDA Dr. Jane BowenTV series; 2 episodes
2003 Kath & Kim Shop girlTV series; 1 episode
2004 The Brush-Off Claire SuttonTV movie
2006–
2008		 Stupid, Stupid Man Anne CassidyTV series; 16 episodes
2008 East of Everything LaraTV series; 3 episodes
Family FootstepsNarratorTV series; 4 episodes
2009 Snake Tales Miranda SailendraTV series; 13 episodes
2010 Sleuth 101 Annie/JessicaTV series; 2 episodes
Tangle Elle RosenthalTV series; 2 episodes
2016 The Wrong Girl MeredithTV series; 8 episodes
2017, 2019 The Letdown MarthaTV series; 13 episodes
2019 The Hunting RavneetTV mini-series; 4 episodes
2022 Savage River Deborah CochraneTV mini-series; 6 episodes
2023 Wellmania Dr. SinghTV mini-series; 7 episodes
2024 High Country Tammy SamsonTV Series; 7 episodes
2025Good Cop / Bad CopSkye1 episode

Film appearances

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2023InsideJennyFilm
2022 Here Out West Ashmita
2005JewBoySarita
1999Strange PlanetSarah
Erskineville Kings Lanny

References

  1. ↑ "Play School secrets safe with Leah". South Western Times. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  2. ↑ Hassall, Greg (10 March 2008). "She'll be white, mate". Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Agony Aunts: The aunts: Leah Vandenberg". ABC TV. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  4. ↑ daizymaan (9 September 2021). "The longest-running children's show in Australia Play School will feature Indian Episode with Punjabi song written by Leah Vandenberg - Australian South Asian Centre" . Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "Leah Vandenberg Talks Representation on Screen, Tree House Cubby, Play School, and The Hunting - The Curb | Film and Culture". the Curb. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  6. ↑ "Australian Television: Wellmania: Cast".
  7. ↑ Knox, David (8 February 2022). "Cameras roll on Savage River | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  8. ↑ Knox, David (4 May 2023). "More cast added to High Country | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  9. ↑ Digital, Carter. "BACK TO BILO". Queensland Theatre. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  10. ↑ "'Every child has the right to play': Biloela girls loving online playgroup". ABC News. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  11. ↑
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