---
name: "Essie Davis"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/essie-davis"
fi1m_id: "essie-davis"
imdb_id: "nm0204583"
tmdb_id: 33449
wikidata_id: "Q447717"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "19 January 1970"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-07T17:06:20.907026+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Essie Davis

## Identity

Essie Davis

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/essie-davis
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** essie-davis
- **IMDb ID:** nm0204583
- **TMDB ID:** 33449
- **Wikidata ID:** Q447717
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essie_Davis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q447717, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0204583/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/33449

Actor. Born 19 January 1970 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 19 January 1970, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- **Active:** 2003–present
- **Also known as:** Essie Davies, Esther Davis
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 55 (3), 2010s 84 (2), 2020s 77 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 70 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Adventure 3, Action 2, Romance 2, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 2, Science Fiction 2
- **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,387m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essie_Davis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q447717, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0204583/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/33449

## Streaming the US now

- **AMC+:** [*The Babadook*](https://film.one/film/the-babadook.md) (86), [*Babyteeth*](https://film.one/film/babyteeth.md) (82)
- **Netflix:** [*Apple Cider Vinegar*](https://film.one/tv/apple-cider-vinegar.md) (73), [*One Day*](https://film.one/tv/one-day.md) (72)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Narrow Road to the Deep North*](https://film.one/tv/the-narrow-road-to-the-deep-north.md) (83)
- **Disney+:** [*Alien: Earth*](https://film.one/tv/alien-earth.md) (76)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Essie Davis

> Essie Davis makes strange material credible without insisting on our attention. We value her restraint, but the adventurous Phryne Fisher matters too: there is more to her work than mothers enduring terrible things.

In *Alien: Earth* (2025), Essie Davis holds our attention by keeping still. Her Dame Sylvia belongs to a cast that takes Noah Hawley's creatures and hybrids seriously, with Sydney Chandler carrying the series as Wendy. Samuel Blenkin makes Boy Kavalier funny before he becomes frightening; Davis works with less outward display. We were relieved by her restraint, because the surrounding strangeness already gave us plenty to absorb. Alongside Babou Ceesay, she gives the ensemble a quieter way of dealing with material that could easily invite overacting.

The contrast with *Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries* (2012–2015) matters. Phryne Fisher gave Davis an adventurous lead, and *The Babadook* (2014) brought international recognition for a grieving mother, Amelia Vanek, whose distress grounds the horror. Her physical and vocal commitment there makes the fantastical material persuasive, but those two roles should discourage anyone from treating maternal suffering as her only useful skill. We would keep Phryne in mind when looking at the work that followed.

The television work also supplies a sensible limit to our praise. *Alien: Earth* is worth watching for its creatures and committed cast, but it slackens when Hawley gives the discussion of personhood too much time. Davis's economy cannot make those stretches shorter. In *Apple Cider Vinegar* (2025), she plays Natalie Dal-Bello, though it is Kaitlyn Dever's unsettling plausibility as the central liar that makes the drama worth watching. That series, too, keeps interrupting people we want to understand, this time through its restless structure.

Justin Kurzel's *True History of the Kelly Gang* (2019) put her authority to use as Ellen Kelly, another substantial maternal role. After *The Babadook*, the offers threatened to become repetitive. Davis has said she turned down similar distressed-mother roles because she wanted something different. For anyone who knows only the horror work, *Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries* is the next sensible choice.

## Biography

Essie Davis is an Australian actress. Born Esther Davis on 19 January 1970 in Hobart, Tasmania, she trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney after earlier involvement with the Old Nick Company at the University of Tasmania.

She is known for her roles as Amelia Vanek in *The Babadook* (2014), Phryne Fisher in *Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries* (2012–2015) and its 2020 film spin-off, Lady Crane in *Game of Thrones* (2016), and Dame Sylvia in the series *Alien: Earth* (2025). Other credits include *The Matrix Reloaded* (2003) and *The Matrix Revolutions* (2003), *Girl with a Pearl Earring* (2003), *Australia* (2008) and *Assassin's Creed* (2016).

Davis won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in *A Streetcar Named Desire* (2003) and received a Tony Award nomination for *Jumpers* (2004). She has been married to director Justin Kurzel since 2002.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, tvmaze.com, fxnetworks.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

- *Alien: Earth* (2025), Fi1m 76, as Dame Sylvia — [page](https://film.one/tv/alien-earth.md)
- *Apple Cider Vinegar* (2025), Fi1m 73, as Natalie Dal-Bello — [page](https://film.one/tv/apple-cider-vinegar.md)
- *The Narrow Road to the Deep North* (2025), Fi1m 83, as Lynette Maison — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-narrow-road-to-the-deep-north.md)
- *One Day* (2024), Fi1m 72, as Alison — [page](https://film.one/tv/one-day.md)
- *Babyteeth* (2020), Fi1m 82, as Anna — [page](https://film.one/film/babyteeth.md)
- *The Babadook* (2014), Fi1m 86, as Amelia Vanek — [page](https://film.one/film/the-babadook.md)
- *Game of Thrones* (2011), Fi1m 82, as Lady Crane — [page](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md)
- *Australia* (2008), Fi1m 58, as Katherine — [page](https://film.one/film/australia.md)
- *The Matrix Reloaded* (2003), Fi1m 60, as Maggie — [page](https://film.one/film/the-matrix-reloaded.md)
- *The Matrix Revolutions* (2003), Fi1m 46, as Maggie — [page](https://film.one/film/the-matrix-revolutions.md)

## Complete filmography (54)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Alien: Earth* (2025), series, as Dame Sylvia — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/alien-earth.md)
- *The Narrow Road to the Deep North* (2025), series, as Lynette Maison — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-narrow-road-to-the-deep-north.md)
- *Apple Cider Vinegar* (2025), series, as Natalie Dal-Bello — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/apple-cider-vinegar.md)
- *One Day* (2024), series, as Alison — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/one-day.md)
- *Faraway Downs* (2023), series, as Cath Carney
- *Fungi: The Web of Life* (2023), as Narrator (voice)
- *Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities* (2022), series, as Nancy Bradley
- *Nitram* (2021), as Helen
- *The Justice of Bunny King* (2021), as Bunny King
- *Babyteeth* (2020), as Anna — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/babyteeth.md)
- *Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears* (2020), as Phryne Fisher · Associate Producer
- *True History of the Kelly Gang* (2019), as Ellen Kelly
- *Emu Runner* (2019), Thanks
- *Lambs of God* (2019), series, as Sister Iphigenia
- *The Last Post* (2017), series, as Martha Franklin
- *Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams* (2017), series, as Vera Herrick
- *The White Princess* (2017), series, as Elizabeth Woodville
- *Assassin's Creed* (2016), as Mary Lynch
- *Mindhorn* (2016), as Patricia Deville
- *The Babadook* (2014), as Amelia Vanek — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-babadook.md)
- *A Poet in New York* (2014), as Caitlin Thomas
- *Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries* (2012), series, as Phryne Fisher
- *The Slap* (2011), series, as Anouk
- *Burning Man* (2011), as Karen
- *Cloudstreet* (2011), series, as Dolly Pickles
- *Game of Thrones* (2011), series, as Lady Crane — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md)
- *South Solitary* (2010), as Alma Stanley
- *Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole* (2010), as Marella (voice)
- *The Wedding Party* (2010), as Jane
- *Australia* (2008), as Katherine — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/australia.md)
- *Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger* (2008), as Grace Blueburger
- *Charlotte's Web* (2006), as Mrs. Arable
- *The Silence* (2006), as Juliet Moore
- *Sweeney Todd* (2006), as Mrs Lovett
- *Isolation* (2005), as Orla
- *Girl with a Pearl Earring* (2003), as Catharina Bolnes Vermeer
- *The Matrix Revolutions* (2003), as Maggie — Fi1m 46, [page](https://film.one/film/the-matrix-revolutions.md)
- *Code 46* (2003), as Doctor
- *After the Deluge* (2003), series, as Beth
- *After the Deluge* (2003), as Beth
- *The Matrix Reloaded* (2003), as Maggie — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/the-matrix-reloaded.md)
- *The Pact* (2003), as Helene Davis
- *Young Lions* (2002), series, as Julie Morgan
- *The Sound of One Hand Clapping* (1998), as Jean
- *Kings in Grass Castles* (1998), series, as Mary Costello
- *The Ripper* (1997), as Evelyn Bookman
- *River Street* (1997), as Wendy Davis
- *The Two-Wheeled Time Machine* (1997), as Young alice
- *Blackrock* (1997), as Det. Gilhooley
- *Lilian's Story* (1996), as Zara
- *Dad and Dave: On Our Selection* (1995), Actor
- *Halifax f.p.* (1994), series, as Alison Blount
- *The Custodian* (1994), as Jilly
- *Unspeakable*, as Judith

## Gallery

- ![Actress Essie Davis at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/40922/gallery-9b46ceaaf9ea.jpg) Actress Essie Davis at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival (2025) — Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Essie_Davis-66066.jpg/1280px-Essie_Davis-66066.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Essie Davis](https://film.one/media/person/40922/gallery-20f7c0be5541.jpg) Essie Davis — Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Essie_Davis-67964.jpg/1280px-Essie_Davis-67964.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actress Essie Davis at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/40922/gallery-47b56eea0a68.jpg) Actress Essie Davis at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival (2025) — Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Essie_Davis_2025_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Essie_Davis_2025_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Essie Davis, actress, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for the movie The Order. (2021)](https://film.one/media/person/40922/gallery-da0609edbebd.jpg) Essie Davis, actress, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for the movie The Order. (2021) — Adam Chitayat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Essie_Davis_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Essie_Davis_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Essie Davis](https://film.one/media/person/40922/gallery-72b3af9a7583.jpg) Essie Davis — Image via TMDB
- ![Essie Davis](https://film.one/media/person/40922/gallery-d7baed84a96c.jpg) Essie Davis — Image via TMDB
- ![Essie Davis, actress, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for the movie The Order. (2021)](https://film.one/media/person/40922/gallery-ff036deceac8.jpg) Essie Davis, actress, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for the movie The Order. (2021) — Adam Chitayat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Essie_Davis_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Other awards — 6 won, 17 nominated

- AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2021: AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (won), for *Nitram*
- AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2020: AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (won), for *Babyteeth*
- AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama 2019: AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama (nominated), for *Lambs of God*
- Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television 2016: Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television (nominated), for *Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries*
- Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress in a Series 2016: Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress in a Series (nominated), for *Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries*
- Logie Award for Most Popular Actress 2016: Logie Award for Most Popular Actress (nominated), for *Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries*
- AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role 2015: AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (nominated), for *The Babadook*
- AACTA International Award for Best Actress 2015: AACTA International Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *The Babadook*
- Empire Award for Best Newcomer 2015: Empire Award for Best Newcomer (nominated), for *The Babadook*
- Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress 2015: Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress (won), for *The Babadook*
- Saturn Awards 2015: Best Actress (nominated), for *The Babadook*
- Logie Award for Most Popular Actress 2014: Logie Award for Most Popular Actress (nominated), for *Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries*
- Sitges Film Festival Best Actress award 2014: Sitges Film Festival Best Actress award (won), for *The Babadook*
- AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2013: AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (nominated), for *Burning Man*
- AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama 2013: AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama (nominated), for *Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries*
- AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama 2012: AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama (nominated), for *Cloudstreet*
- Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress in a Series 2012: Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress in a Series (nominated), for *The Slap*
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 2004: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated), for *Jumpers*
- AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama 2003: AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama (won), for *After the Deluge*
- Laurence Olivier Awards 2003: Laurence Olivier Awards (won), for *A Streetcar Named Desire*
- Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play 2002: Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play (nominated), for *The School for Scandal*
- AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama 2000: AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama (nominated), for *Halifax f.p.*
- AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role 1995: AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (nominated), for *Dad and Dave: On Our Selection*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/essie-davis