Merridy Eastman
Merridy Eastman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 or 1962 (age 63–64) |
| Occupations | Actress, writer |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Children | 1 |
Merridy Eastman is an Australian actress and author.
After graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1983, Eastman was a presenter on the children's television series Play School from 1985 until 1989. Although she made guest appearances on many television shows including A Country Practice, Halifax f.p., and the Australian soap opera Neighbours, Eastman is best known as a regular cast member of popular long running comedy-drama series Always Greener, and Packed to the Rafters.
Eastman is also known for her stage work. Her appearances include productions for the Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC), the Sydney Theatre Company (STC), the State Theatre Company of South Australia, Playbox/Malthouse in Melbourne, and for the Old Fitzoy Theatre and the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney.[1] In 1996, she received a nomination for Best Female Supporting Actor in a Drama at the Green Room Awards for her performance in Hannie Rayson's Competitive Tenderness. And for her appearance in Hand to God, she won Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production at the 2022 Sydney Theatre Awards.
In addition to her stage and screen work, Eastman is the author of four autobiographical novels, three published by Allen & Unwin, the first becoming a national best seller. She has also contributed to two anthologies published by Pan Macmillan and Penguin.
Early life and education
Eastman was born in Canberra in 1961 to parents Berenice, a teacher librarian, and Walter Eastman OAM, a radio announcer and ABC TV presenter.[2] Eastman has an older sister and a younger brother. When Eastman was 11 years old the family moved from Rockhampton Queensland to Hobart in Tasmania.[2] She attended The Friends' School, and completed her HSC at Rosny College.[2] As a teenager in Hobart, Eastman performed in several theatre productions, including as Peter Pan at the Theatre Royal and as one of the von Trapp children in The Sound of Music, directed by John Unicomb.[2] But it was after seeing a production of Sam Shepard and Patti Smith's Cowboy Mouth in Hobart, that Eastman decided she wanted to study theatre.
Career
Theatre
After graduating from NIDA in 1983 [3], Eastman performed in several productions with the State Theatre Company in South Australia. In 1989 she appeared in Toe Truck Theatre Company's production of Hating Alison Ashley, adapted from the book of the same name, at Sydney's Seymour Centre.[4] The following year she played Valeria in Gale Edwards's production of The Rover both for the Adelaide Festival and then at the York Theatre in the Seymour Centre [5]. In 1990 Eastman began working for the Melbourne Theatre Company appearing in many productions over the next ten years including The Heidi Chronicles[6], This Old Man Comes Rolling Home[7],The House of Blue Leaves[8], A Christmas Carol[9], Noel Coward's Hay Fever[10], Gulliver's Travels[11],The Dutch Courtesan with Geoffrey Rush[12], the stage adaptation of Morris Gleitzman's novel Blabber Mouth for the MTC and Arena Theatre Company[13], The Comedy of Errors[14], and Absurd Person Singular[15]. Describing her performance as Lady Cynthia Muldoon in Tom Stoppard's The Real Inspector Houndfor the MTC,The Age critic Helen Thomson wrote, "Merridy Eastman brings her own particular brand of air-headed inconsequence with excellent effect to the role".[16].
Eastman also played Helena for the Australian Shakespeare Company's outdoor productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream in both Melbourne and Sydney, directed by Glenn Elston, from 1993 to 1995[3][17], and played Grumio in their production of The Taming of the Shrew at the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens [18]. In late 1996, Eastman played Amelia in the Playbox Theatre Company's production of Hannie Rayson's Competitive Tenderness at The Malthouse.[19], and was nominated for Best Female Supporting Actor in a Drama at the 14th Green Room Awards.[20]
In 2001, Eastman played Miss Pearl in the Sydney Theatre Company's production of Dymphna Cusack's Morning Sacrifice at the Wharf Theatre.[21] In 2003 she starred in Noises Off at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre as Dotty Otley. The Age critic Helen Thomson wrote: "[Eastman] is one of the few actors in Australia who can reduce an audience to hysterics just by standing in front of it."[22]
In 2003 Eastman appeared alongside Miriam Margolyes in the MTC-STC production of Blithe Spirit [23] including a season at the Sydney Opera House.[24]. From 2004 to 2010 Eastman lived in Germany, and did not return to the stage until 2016, performing alongside Sophie Hensser in the romantic comedy A History of Falling Things at the Ensemble Theatre.[25]. In 2019 Eastman appeared again at the Ensemble Theatre in Melanie Tait's The Appleton Ladies Potato Race.[26]. For her performance in Robert Askins' black comedy Hand to God at the Old Fitz Theatre[27], Eastman won Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production at the 2022 Sydney Theatre Awards.[28] In 2025, she played the Nurse in Bell Shakespeare's production of Romeo and Juliet that included a season at the Theatre Royal in Hobart, [2] before the company concluded their national tour at the Sydney Opera House.
Film and television
After graduating from NIDA, Eastman became a presenter on Play School from 1985 until 1989.[2] Her television appearances have included A Country Practice[29], Boys from the Bush[30], Halifax f.p.[31],Neighbours[3], ABC The Glynn Nicholas Show[32],Good Guys, Bad Guys, The Man from Snowy River, Home and Away[33], Blue Heelers[34], Flat Chat[35], All Saints,[36], the documentary film City of Dreams [37] in which she played architect Marion Mahony Griffin, and a guest role in the comedy drama series Rake.
From 2001 until 2003, Eastman played Eileen Unn in the Seven Network drama/comedy series Always Greener.[38]. And from 2011 to 2013 Eastman joined the cast of Packed to the Rafters[1] [39] playing Donna, best friend to Julie Rafter (Rebecca Gibney)[40] [36] [41]. Eastman reprised her role for Back to the Rafters, a revival of Packed to the Rafters, which aired on Amazon Prime Video in September 2021.[42]
Writing
In addition to her acting career, Eastman is also the author of three humorous memoirs published by Allen & Unwin[2]. Her first, There's A Bear In There, a national bestseller, tells the story of her time working as a weekend receptionist at a brothel in Sydney for ten months.[39] This book was followed by Ridiculous Expectations about Eastman's time on a British book tour and how she met her German husband.[2] The third memoir How Now Brown Frau follows Eastman's time living in Bavaria and becoming a mother, while the fourth I Knew We Weren't Spanish! details her search for the truth about her father's family, and discovering her hidden Aboriginal ancestry. .[2]. She has also been a contributing writer to two anthologies: Penguin's Thanks for The Mammaries and Just Between Us from Pan Macmillan.[43] Eastman contributed to the book of the 2008 Australian musical comedy Breast Wishes, which raises awareness and money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.[44] In 2013, she joined the Wentworth Courier as the Urban Goddess columnist.[45]
Personal life
Eastman, her husband Tom and their son live in Sydney.[2]
While researching her fourth book, Eastman discovered that her father's great-grandfather was not a Spanish pirate as she'd been told, but a Worimi man from the Paterson River in New South Wales.[2] With the help of her cousin, Dr William Jonas, a Professor of Geography who went on to become Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.[2], Eastman has unearthed much family history, met further cousins, and has continued educating herself about Aboriginal history.[2]
Acting credits
Film and television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Glass Babies | Rhonda | Miniseries |
| 1985–1989 | Play School | Presenter | |
| 1988 | A Country Practice | Leanne Madden | Episodes: "Mixed Blessings: Part 1 & 2" |
| 1991 | Boys from the Bush | Carol | Episode: "State and Commonwealth" |
| 1994 | Baby Bath Massacre | Miss Mills | Television film |
| 1994 | Halifax f.p. | Nikki Toser | Episode: "Acts of Betrayal" |
| 1995–1996 | Neighbours | Judy Bergman | Recurring role |
| 1996 | The Glynn Nicholas Show | Victoria / Mrs Mule / Mrs Spud | Episodes: "The Cat & the Fiddle", "Home Alone", "The Tragic History of the Insurance Claim" |
| 1997 | Good Guys, Bad Guys | CAE Supervisor | Episode: "Unfinished Business" |
| 1998 | The Man From Snowy River | Freda Marshall | Episode: "The Claimant" |
| 1999 | Blue Heelers | Patricia Chalmers | Episode: "The Deepest Cut" |
| 1999 | Home and Away | Lauren Healy | Recurring role |
| 2000 | City of Dreams | Marion Mahony Griffin | Documentary film |
| 2001 | Flat Chat | Katie | Main cast |
| 2001 | All Saints | Meg Starr | Episode: "Bend Till You Break" |
| 2001–2003 | Always Greener | Eileen Unn | Main cast |
| 2011–2013 | Packed to the Rafters | Donna Mackey | Main cast |
| 2016 | Rake | Tonia | Episode: 4.2 |
| 2021 | Back to the Rafters | Donna Mackey | Main cast |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Taming of the Shrew | Kate | Shakespeare in the Park Company |
| 1987 | Onkaparinga | — | DT2 Company |
| 1987–1988 | Hating Alison Ashley | Margaret | Toe Truck Theatre |
| 1989 | The Rover | Valeria | State Theatre Company of South Australia (STCSA) |
| 1990 | The Heidi Chronicles | Jill | Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) |
| 1990 | This Old Man Comes Rolling Home | Edie | MTC |
| 1990 | The House of Blue Leaves | Nun | MTC |
| 1990 | A Christmas Carol | Elizabeth | MTC |
| 1991 | Hay Fever | Jackie | MTC |
| 1992 | Gulliver's Travels | Queen | MTC |
| 1993 | The Dutch Courtesan | Mistress Mulligrub | MTC |
| 1993 | Blabbermouth | Ms Dunning | MTC and Arena Theatre Company |
| 1993–1995 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Helena | Australian Shakespeare Company |
| 1996 | Competitive Tenderness | Amelia | Playbox Theatre Company |
| 1997 | The Comedy of Errors | Luciana | MTC |
| 1997 | The Real Inspector Hound | Cynthia Muldoon | MTC |
| 1998 | The Taming of the Shrew | Grumio | Australian Shakespeare Company |
| 1998 | Absurd Person Singular | Jane | MTC |
| 2001 | Morning Sacrifice | Miss Dora Pearl | Sydney Theatre Company (STC) |
| 2003 | Noises Off | Dotty Otley | Marriner Theatres |
| 2003 | Blithe Spirit | Mrs Bradman | MTC and STC |
| 2016 | A History of Falling Things | Lesley | Ensemble Theatre |
| 2019 | The Appleton Ladies Potato Race | Barb Ling | Ensemble Theatre |
| 2022 | Hand to God | Margery | Red Line |
| 2025 | Romeo and Juliet | Nurse | Bell Shakespeare |
- Source:[46]
Bibliography
- There's A Bear In There (and He Wants Swedish!) (2002)
- Ridiculous Expectations (2006)
- How Now Brown Frau (2011)
- I Knew We Weren't Spanish! (TBA)
References
- 1 2 Schwartzkoff, Louise (15 January 2012). "Not afraid to bare her soul". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Smith, Linda (23 October 2025). "New role brings actor Merridy Eastman home to Hobart". The Mercury. Retrieved 1 May 2026 – via Gale.
- 1 2 3 Hughes, Simon (5 September 1995). "'Premature' break for Eastman". The Age. Retrieved 1 May 2026 – via Gale.
- ↑ Robertson, Rosanne (11 June 1987). "Alison Ashley strikes it rich". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "How about a good lusty old romp?". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 December 1989. Retrieved 10 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "The Heidi Chronicles (17 May 1990 – 16 June 1990) [Event Description]". 1990. Retrieved 20 July 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Radic, Leonard (31 August 1990). "Warm tribute to the working class". The Age. Retrieved 10 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Larkin, John (11 November 1990). "Nihilism is a very sick joke". The Age. Retrieved 11 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Larkin, John (23 December 1990). "Mucking about with a classic tale is the very dickens". The Age. Retrieved 11 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Larkin, John (27 October 1991). "It's Coward at his classiest". The Age. Retrieved 11 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Larkin, John (28 June 1992). "Little folk's tall tales for adults". The Age. Retrieved 11 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Wenniger, Peter (23 June 1993). "Jacobean romp as broad and bawdy as they come". The Age. Retrieved 12 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Gill, Raymond (9 September 1993). "Taking a step back gives free rein to adaptation". The Age. Retrieved 11 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Burchall, Greg (28 May 1997). "The comedy of eras". The Age. Retrieved 13 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Ross, Dina (25 November 1998). "Classic farce of classes is a singular success". The Age. Retrieved 14 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Thomson, Helen (10 July 1997). "Humor and cleverness warm the winter heart". The Age. Retrieved 11 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Larkin, John (2 January 1994). "Midsummer gardens of delight". The Age. Retrieved 16 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Bottoms up". Herald Sun. 6 January 1998. Retrieved 14 July 2026 – via Gale.
- ↑ Carroll, Steven (24 November 1996). "Chaotic comedy calls for cuts". The Age. Retrieved 12 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "14th Green Room Awards for Work Produced in 1996" (PDF). Green Room Awards Association. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ McCallum, John (18 June 2001). "Superb cast enliven revival". The Australian. Retrieved 14 July 2026 – via Gale.
- ↑ Thomson, Helen (23 June 2003). "Energetic cast relishes the farce within a farce". The Age. Retrieved 14 July 2026 – via Gale.
- ↑ "Blithe Spirit". The Age. 30 November 2003. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Bodey, Michael (13 March 2004). "What's on in Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 July 2026 – via Gale.
- ↑ Amadio, Robin (27 July 2016). "Goddess on stage again". Wentworth Courier. Retrieved 15 July 2026 – via Gale.
- ↑ "Appleton show not all scones and jam". The Daily Telegraph. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2026 – via Gale.
- ↑ Shand, John (28 February 2022). "Insatiable lust and exorcism: This devilish puppet show is for adults only". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ "Winners Announced For The 2022 Sydney Theatre Awards; Moulin Rouge Wins Best Musical". BroadwayWorld. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Green guide – Tuesday". The Age. 21 January 1988. Retrieved 7 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "The Boys From The Bush". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- ↑ Murray, Scott (1996). Australia on the Small Screen 1970–1995. Oxford University Press. pp. 10, 72, 199. ISBN 978-0-19-553949-3.
- ↑ "Divorce on the run". TV Week. 18 May 1996. p. 28.
- ↑ "Merridy Eastman". RGM Artists. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
- ↑ O'Connor, Shaunagh (20 July 2002). "My brothel job". Herald Sun. Retrieved 11 July 2026 – via Gale.
- ↑ Miller, Kylie (18 July 2002). "Networking". The Age. Retrieved 11 July 2026 – via Gale.
- 1 2 "Yates sows seeds of drama for Merridy". Tasmanian Times. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
- ↑ "City of Dreams". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "Merridy Eastman q&a". TV Week. 19 June 2002. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- 1 2 Howard, Jessica (1 June 2012). "Q & A Raft of different roles for Merridy". The Mercury. Retrieved 9 July 2026 – via Gale.
- ↑ Vickery, Colin (5 August 2011). "Producers vow happy times with new faces Rafters back on screens". Herald Sun. Retrieved 15 July 2026 – via Gale.
- ↑ Hope, Emma; Vickery, Colin (4 July 2013). "Pondering the life ever Rafter". The Mercury. Retrieved 11 July 2026 – via Gale.
- ↑ Knox, David (15 September 2021). "Back to the Rafters is 'not all happy, happy'". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
- ↑ "Merridy Eastman". Curtis Brown. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ Morgan, Clare (15 April 2009). "Break a leg, no, bust a move". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ "Urban Goddess". Wentworth Courier. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2026 – via Gale.
- ↑ "Merridy Eastman". Liberty Artist Management. Retrieved 7 July 2026.