William McKenna (actor)

Last updated

William McKenna
NationalityAustralian
OccupationActor
Years active2016–present
Notable work Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2018–2020)

William McKenna is an Australian actor.

Career

On stage, he starred as Draco Malfoy's son Scorpius in the Melbourne staging of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child from 2018 to 2020, [1] [2] a role for which he was nominated for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play at the 19th Helpmann Awards and won Best Performance in a Theatre Production at the 37th Green Room Awards. [3] [4]

Contents

On television, he played Ben Ripley in Nowhere Boys [5] and Ed Kennedy in The Messenger , an adaptation of Markus Zusak's novel of the same name. [6] [7]

In 2023, he starred as Matthew, a nervous personal assistant to the fictitious Australian monarch, in the BBC sitcom Queen of Oz , [8] created by English comedian Catherine Tate. [9]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2016 You're Skitting Me Various26 episodes [10]
2016–2018 Nowhere Boys Ben RipleyMain role (seasons 3–4) [10]
2023 The Messenger Ed KennedyMain role [7]
Queen of Oz Matthew [10] [11]
2025 Good Cop/Bad Cop Sam SzczepkowskiSupporting role [12]

Short films

YearTitleRole
2018SkatesBoy
Welcome HomeJessica's Friend
2021BreatheToby
2022Go with GraceGem

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenue / CompanyRef.
2018–2020 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Scorpius Malfoy Princess Theatre [1]
2022AdmissionsCharlie Luther Mason Melbourne Theatre Company [13]
2023 Bernhardt/Hamlet Maurice Bernhardt [14]

References

  1. 1 2 Lallo, Michael (4 May 2019), "On the very stage where his great-grandparents met, a star is born", The Sydney Morning Herald
  2. Lambert, Catherine (27 January 2020), "Teen's incredible rise from schoolboy to Harry Potter star", Herald Sun
  3. Miller, Nick (6 April 2020). "Camp Dogs run away with Melbourne's annual theatre awards". The Age. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  4. "2020 Nominations & Recipients – The Green Room Awards" . Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  5. Quinn, Karl (7 November 2016), "Nowhere Boys: Two Moons Rising review: New cast adds extra dimension to teen hit", The Sydney Morning Herald
  6. The IF Team (28 November 2022), "'The Messenger' (Trailer)", if
  7. 1 2 Lallo, Michael (9 May 2023). "Will McKenna takes magic from the stage to the screen with The Messenger". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  8. Reporters, Telegraph (7 February 2020). "What's on TV tonight: Best Interests, Sarah Beeny vs Cancer and more". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  9. "BBC One – Queen of Oz, Series 1, Episode 1". BBC. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 "William McKenna". Creative Representation. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  11. "Queen of Oz". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  12. Slatter, Sean (6 August 2024). "Devon Terrell, Philippa Northeast, William McKenna added to the cast of 'Good Cop/Bad Cop'". IF Magazine. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  13. Byrne, Tim (11 February 2022). "Kat Stewart and William McKenna star in MTC's satire on privilege". Time Out Melbourne. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  14. Byrne, Tim (9 March 2023). "Bernhardt/Hamlet review – Kate Mulvany is astonishingly good". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 28 May 2023.