Shareena Clanton

Shareena Clanton
Born
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Alma materWestern Australian Academy of Performing Arts (2010)
OccupationActress
Years active2009–present
Known for

Shareena Clanton is an Australian film, television and theatre actress. She is known for her role as Doreen Anderson in the television drama series Wentworth (2013–2017).

Early life and education

Clanton was born in Perth, Western Australia.[1] She is of Wangkatha, Yamatji, Noongar, and Gidja descent through her mother and Cherokee, Blackfoot and African-American descent through her father.[2]

She first studied an Aboriginal Theatre course at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2006, before being accepted into the full-time acting course at WAAPA, from which she graduated in 2010.[1]

Career

In 2009, before graduating from WAAPA, Clanton had her feature film debut playing Leah in the stoner comedy Stone Bros., before becoming a main cast member in the sketch comedy variety series Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth in 2011.[1]

In theatre, Clanton starred in a main stage performance for the first time in a 2011 production of Alan Ayckbourn's My Wonderful Day at Sydney's Ensemble Theatre. This was followed by playing Adrianna in a season of The Comedy of Errors and Ariel in The Tempest with the Shakespeare WA.[1]

Clanton has starred in numerous television series, including a 2012 episode of Indigenous drama Redfern Now.[3] She then landed an ongoing role in prison drama Wentworth from 2013 to 2017, as Doreen Anderson, an Aboriginal woman from an inner city community wracked by drugs, alcohol and abuse. She was the youngest member of the main cast[1][4] and her performance saw her nominated for Most Outstanding Newcomer at the Logie Awards in 2014.[5]

In 2019, Clanton made her directorial debut with Ilbijerri Ensemble's production of Conversations with the Dead at Melbourne's Arts Centre.[6]

In 2021, Clanton was announced to appear as Sheila Canning 2 in the soap opera Neighbours.[7] Prior to her first on-screen appearance on the show, Clanton made public her displeasure about working on the show due to racism. According to Clanton, an unnamed cast member taunted her about her ethnicities twice and was not only defended by another cast member, but Clanton's rebuke of the actor resulted in Clanton being told she made the other cast members "uncomfortable".[8] In the weeks that followed, Fremantle Australia began an investigation into these allegations,[9] and at the same time, former cast members Sharon Johal, Meyne Wyatt, Remy Hii, Menik Gooneratne, and Sachin Joab also came forward with allegations of racism.[10] The investigation into the racism scandal was concluded in late 2021, but the findings were not made public.[11]

Clanton appeared as Valerie in seven episodes of 2022 miniseries Joe vs. Carole which was based on the real life story of Tiger King personalities, Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin.[12] That same year, Clanton voiced the character of Deb in the animated series Childish Deano.[13][14]

In 2023, Clanton played the role of Ruby, a ranger who becomes the main character's friend, in the award-winning miniseries The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart on Amazon Prime Video.[15] She subsequently appeared in the 2024 second season of The Twelve on Foxtel.[16] She was later named as part of the cast for 2025 Stan series Invisible Boys.[17] going on to play the role of Karla Hammersmith.[18]

Other activities

In February 2018 Clanton appeared on an episode of the ABC Television show Q+A, where she said Indigenous voices deserved a place in parliament.[19]

Recognition and awards

Year Work Award Category Result Ref
2011My Wonderful DaySydney Theatre AwardsBest NewcomerNominated[1]
2012Redfern NowAACTA AwardsBest Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television DramaNominated[1][3]
2014WentworthLogie AwardsGraham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New NewcomerNominated[20][5]
WentworthASTRA AwardsBest New TalentNominated[20]
2025Shareena ClantonSolid Screen AwardsSolid Contribution to Screen Culture AwardHonoured[20]

Credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2009 Stone Bros. Leah Feature film [1]
2010 On a Break Donna Short film
2015 Last Cab to Darwin Sally Feature film
2017 Mrs McCutcheon Ange Short film
2018 30 Minutes of Danger Police Detective Short film

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2011 Rescue: Special Ops Prisoner 1 Season 3, episode 12: "Break Out"
2012 Redfern Now Lilly Season 1, episode 1: "Family" [1]
2013 Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Lena Season 2, episode 1: "Murder Most Scandalous"
2013–2017 Wentworth Doreen Anderson 53 episodes (main role) [1][4]
2016 Ash vs Evil Dead Deputy Polly Season 2, episode 5: "Confinement"
2016–2018 Nowhere Boys: Two Moons Rising Sonia Jarra 14 episodes (supporting role)
2017 Aussie Rangers Regina Miniseries
2017; 2018 True Story with Hamish & Andy Officer Miles / Nurse Alex 2 episodes
2018 The Cry Detective Lorna Jones Miniseries, 4 episodes (main role) [21]
2019 Rosehaven Suzanne Season 3, 2 episodes
Glitch Elena Triggs Season 3, episode 3: "First Times"
2021 Neighbours Sheila Canning 2 18 episodes (guest role) [7]
Fires Aunt Rose 2 episodes
2022 Joe vs. Carole Valerie Miniseries, 7 episodes [12]
Childish Deano Deb (voice) Animated series, 2 episodes [14][13]
2023 The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart Ruby Miniseries, 3 episodes [15]
2024 The Twelve Kora Gardner Season 2, 6 episodes [16]
Last Days of the Space Age Djinda 2 episodes
2025 Invisible Boys Karla Hammersmith 7 episodes [18]

Other appearances

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2011 Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth Self 3 episodes [1]
2016 An Audience with the cast of Wentworth Self TV special [22]
2018 The Good Thief Self Podcast, 1 episode [23]
Q+A Panelist 1 episode [19]
2019 Smart Arts Self Podcast, 1 episode [24]
2020 MTC Audio Lab: The Age of Ignorance is Over Self Podcast, 1 episode [25]

Theatre

As performer

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2011My Wonderful DayLaverneEnsemble Theatre, Sydney[26][27]
2012The Comedy of ErrorsAdriannaShakespeare WA[28][29]
The TempestArielShakespeare WA[29]
2013White Rabbit, Red RabbitMalthouse Theatre, Melbourne[26]
2014Hipbone Sticking OutMavisPlayhouse, Melbourne with Big hART[26][30]
2015Battle of WaterlooSissyWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC[26][31]
2017MacbethLady Macduff / Witch 2Southbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC[32][33]
2021YorkRosyHeath Ledger Theatre, Perth with Black Swan Theatre Co & WA Youth Theatre Co[26][34]

As director

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2019Conversations with the DeadDirectorArts Centre Melbourne with Ilbijerri Ensemble[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Shareena Clanton". Wentworth. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015.
  2. ↑ Quinn, Karl (6 April 2021). "Neighbours racism claim: Indigenous actor Shareena Clanton says set was 'unsafe'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  3. 1 2 "EPISODE 1 – LILLY". abc.net.au. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Shareena Clanton". tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 Knox, David (31 March 2014). "Logie Awards 2014: Most Outstanding nominees". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 Qian, Jinghua (29 October 2019). "Conversations with the Dead, Arts Centre Melbourne (VIC)". artshub.com.au. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 Lee, Jess (29 March 2021). "Neighbours to introduce a second Sheila Canning as Wentworth star appears on Ramsay Street". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  8. ↑ Burke, Kelly (7 April 2021). "Neighbours actor allegedly removed from set after complaints of racism by Indigenous actor Shareena Clanton". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "Neighbours: Independent review launched over racism claims". BBC News. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  10. ↑ Om, Jason (19 April 2021). "More allegations of racism from former Neighbours actors". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  11. ↑ "Neighbours concludes racism investigation ahead of final episodes". Digital Spy. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  12. 1 2 Slatter, Sean (8 September 2021). "Strong Australian presence in NBCUniversal's 'Joe Exotic' series". IF Magazine. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  13. 1 2 Boland, Bray (7 November 2022). "Nova 100's Deano Thomas releases Childish Deano animated series". Radio Today. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  14. 1 2 Sullivan, Josie (12 December 2022). "Childish Deano's Sugar Hits". FilmInk. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  15. 1 2 Warrier, Vishnu (30 July 2023). "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart cast list: Who stars in Prime Video's new miniseries?". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  16. 1 2 Slatter, Sean (31 August 2023). "Frances O'Connor to join Sam Neill in second season of 'The Twelve' as new cast unveiled". IF Magazine. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  17. ↑ Rigden, Clare (12 March 2024). "FIRST LOOK: What to expect from series filming in WA". PerthNow. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  18. 1 2 Knox, David (23 January 2025). "Airdate: Invisible Boys". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  19. 1 2 "Q&A: Shareena Clanton tears into government over Indigenous record". The Guardian. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  20. 1 2 3 Guenzler, Joseph (22 December 2025). "25 years of cyberTribe celebrated with recognition of Indigenous women in screen culture". nit.com.au. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "The Cry: cast". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  22. ↑ "Airdate: An Audience with the cast of Wentworth". TV Tonight. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "Episode 5 – Shareena Clanton – The Good Thief (podcast)". Listen Notes. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "SmartArts – 24 October 2019 – SmartArts (podcast)". Listen Notes. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  25. ↑ "Great Australian Speeches: Shareena Clanton's The Age of Ignorance is Over". Listen Notes. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 "Shareena Clanton". AusStage. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  27. ↑ Simmonds, Diana (24 May 2011). "My Wonderful Day". stagenoise.com. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  28. ↑ Flavell Neist, Carol (21 January 2012). "Shakespeare in the Park: The Comedy of Errors". artshub.com.au. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  29. 1 2 "Review: The Comedy of Errors and The Tempest". thewest.com.au. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  30. ↑ Harkins-Cross, Rebecca (19 October 2014). "Melbourne Festival review: Hipbone Sticking Out projects a vital voice". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  31. ↑ Jackson, Kevin (19 June 2015). "Battle of Waterloo". kjtheatrediary.com. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  32. ↑ "Why culture matters – Shareena Clanton speaks out at TV campaign launch". screenhub.com.au. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  33. ↑ "SHAREENA CLANTON PLAYING LADY MACDUFF / WITCH 2". mtc.com.au. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  34. ↑ "YORK – an epic sprawling work of hauntings and history". artsreview.com.au. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
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