Toni Collette

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Toni Collette

Collette at the 2013 Sydney premiere of The Way Way Back
Born Antonia Collette
(1972-11-01) November 1, 1972
Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation Actress, musician
Years active 1990–present
Spouse(s) Dave Galafassi (m. 2003)
Children 2
Emmy Awards
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series
2009 United States of Tara
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy
2010 United States of Tara

Antonia "Toni" Collette (born 1 November 1972) is an Australian actress and musician, known for her acting work on stage, television and film as well as a secondary career as the lead singer of the band Toni Collette & the Finish.

Collette's acting career began in the early 1990s with comedic roles in films such as Spotswood aka The Efficiency Expert (1992) and Muriel's Wedding (1994), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.[1] Following her performances in Emma (1996) and The Boys (1998), Collette achieved international recognition as a result of her Academy Award-nominated portrayal of Lynn Sear in The Sixth Sense (1999).[1] She has appeared in thrillers such as Shaft (2000) and Changing Lanes (2002) and independent comedy films like About a Boy (2002), Connie and Carla (2004), In Her Shoes (2005) and Little Miss Sunshine (2006).[2] In 2012 she appeared in the films Hitchcock and Mental.

In 2009, she began playing the lead role in the television series United States of Tara, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2010.[1] Collette, as of 2013,[3] stars as Ellen Sanders in the US television drama Hostages.[4]

Early life

Collette studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)

Collette was born in Blacktown, a suburb in Western Sydney, the daughter of Judy, a customer-service representative, and Bob Collette, a truck driver. She has two younger brothers, Ben and Christopher.[5] From an early age, Collette showed a talent for acting. She faked appendicitis when she was 11, and was so convincing that doctors removed her appendix, although tests showed nothing wrong with it.[6]

She attended Blacktown Girls' High School until the age of 16, and later attended both the Australian Theatre for Young People and National Institute of Dramatic Art. Her first acting role was onstage in the musical Godspell in Sydney in her early teens.[7]

Acting career

Collette made her television debut in 1990, in a guest appearance on the Seven Network drama series A Country Practice. Collette has won five Australian Film Institute awards, including the Australian Best Actress in a Lead Role for Muriel's Wedding in 1994, a role for which she gained 18 kg (40 lb) in seven weeks. In 1992, she was part of the ensemble comedy-drama Spotswood aka The Efficiency Expert, which starred Anthony Hopkins and which also featured Russell Crowe. In 1996, she was part of the ensemble cast of the comedy, Cosi.

She has also received broad acclaim on Broadway, starring as Queenie in Michael John LaChiusa's musical work, The Wild Party. For this role, Collette was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical.

Collette turned down the title role in Bridget Jones's Diary because she was committed to perform on Broadway at the time.[8] In 1999, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as the mother of a troubled boy in the U.S. film The Sixth Sense, which also starred Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment.

2000s

In 2004 Collette starred with Nia Vardalos and David Duchovny in the musical comedy Connie and Carla, released by Universal Studios.
Collette at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival
Collette's only film in 2005 was In Her Shoes, a comedy-drama about the relationship between two uncommon sisters and their estranged grandmother, co-starring Cameron Diaz and Shirley MacLaine. Based on the 2002 novel of the same name by Jennifer Weiner, the production received generally positive reviews from critics, and became a moderate independent success, earning a total of US$82.2 million worldwide.[9] Collette was subsequently nominated for a Satellite Award for Best Actress for her performance of a successful-but-lonely lawyer with low self-esteem, which Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle noted the focus of the film: "As usual, Collette's face is a fine-tuned transmitter of her emotions, moment by moment, and she becomes the locus of audience feeling."[10]

In 2006, Collette starred in Little Miss Sunshine, a comedy-drama-road movie about a family's trip to a children's beauty pageant. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2006, and its distribution rights were bought by Fox Searchlight Pictures for one of the biggest deals made in the history of the festival.[11] Released in July 2006, the film received major critical acclaim, resulting into several accolades such as four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, whilst Collette herself earned her second BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal of the family's worn-out matriarch.[1] A box office success, Little Miss Sunshine went on to gross US$100.5 million worldwide and became one of the most successful independent films of the mid-2000s.[12]

Also in 2006, Collette starred in supporting roles in the thriller films Like Minds, The Night Listener and The Dead Girl. Although the latter was released to positive response during its limited North American run,[13] none of these films fared generally well at the box office, with Robin Williams-featuring The Night Listener emerging as the biggest-selling production with global gross revenue of US$10.5 million.[14] In her first television engagement in five years, the HBO-BBC joint mini series Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006), Collette played an Australian government employee who tries to cope with the events following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and the resulting tsunami in Thailand. Broadcast to controversial critics,[15] her performance of an aid worker garnered Collette her first Primetime Emmy[16] nomination and third Golden Globe nomination.[1]

In 2008, Collette accepted the leading role in the Showtime comedy drama series, United States of Tara. Created by Steven Spielberg and Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody, the show revolves around a wife and mother of two with dissociative identity disorder, coping with her seven alternate personalities. Originally planned for a twelve episode season, the series was picked up for another episode season to be broadcast in 2010. Collette won both the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series and the Best Actress in a TV Comedy for her performance on the show.[17]

2010s

Collette starred in the 2011 remake of Fright Night.[18]

Music career

In October 2006, she began touring Australia to promote her first vocal album Beautiful Awkward Pictures, released on Hoola Hoop Records under the name Toni Collette and the Finish, a band for which her husband plays drums.[19] Collette appeared on the Australian television show Cool Aid and performed the song "Look Up" from the album. In July 2007, Collette and the Finish were a headlining act at the Sydney show of Live Earth.[20] She sang a cover of T-Rex's "Children of the Revolution" with The Finish.[21]

Personal life

Collette married musician Dave Galafassi on 11 January 2003.[22] The couple have a daughter, Sage Florence, born on 9 January 2008,[23] and a son, Arlo Robert, born on 22 April 2011.[24]

She is a supporter of animal rights and PETA.[25] She urged former Prime Minister John Howard to end the Australian sheep farming practice of mulesing, which many animal rights activists consider cruel. She later revised her position after doing her own research of the Australian wool industry.[26]

Filmography

Collette at the Orange British Academy Film Awards in London's Royal Opera House in February 2007

Film

Title Years Role Notes
Spotswood 1992 Wendy Robinson
The Thief and the Cobbler 1993 Mad Holy Old Witch Voice
This Marching Girl Thing 1994 Cindy Short film
Muriel's Wedding 1994 Muriel Heslop
Cosi 1996 Julie
The Pallbearer 1996 Cynthia
Emma 1996 Harriet
Lilian's Story 1996 Young Lilian Singer
Clockwatchers 1997 Iris Chapman
The James Gang 1997 Julia Armstrong
Diana & Me 1997 Diana Spencer
The Boys 1998 Michelle
Velvet Goldmine 1998 Mandy Slade
8½ Women 1999 Griselda / Sister Concordia
The Sixth Sense 1999 Lynn Sear
Shaft 2000 Diane Palmieri
Hotel Splendide 2000 Kath
The Magic Pudding 2000 Meg Bluegum Voice
Dinner with Friends 2001 Beth Television movie
Changing Lanes 2002 Michelle
About a Boy 2002 Fiona
Dirty Deeds 2002 Sharon
The Hours 2002 Kitty
Japanese Story 2003 Sandy Edwards
The Last Shot 2004 Emily French
Connie and Carla 2004 Carla
In Her Shoes 2005 Rose Feller
Little Miss Sunshine 2006 Sheryl Hoover
The Night Listener 2006 Donna D. Logand
Like Minds 2006 Sally
The Dead Girl 2006 Arden
Tsunami: The Aftermath 2006 Kathy Graham Television movie
Evening 2007 Nina Mars
Towelhead 2007 Melina Hines
The Black Balloon 2008 Maggie Mollison
Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger 2008 Mary
Mary and Max 2009 Mary Daisy Dinkle Voice
Jesus Henry Christ 2011 Patricia Herman
Fright Night 2011 Jane Brewster
Foster 2011 Zooey
Hitchcock 2012 Peggy Robertson
Mental 2012 Shaz
The Way, Way Back 2013 Pam
Enough Said 2013 Sarah
Lucky Them 2013 Ellie Klug
Tammy 2014 TBD Filming
The Boxtrolls 2014 TBD Post-production

Television

Title Years Role Notes
A Country Practice 1990 Tracy Episode: "The Sting: Part 1"
United States of Tara 2009–2011 Tara Gregson 36 episodes
Hostages 2013–2014 Ellen Sanders 15 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1991 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Spotswood Nominated
1994 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Muriel's Wedding Won
1996 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Lilian's Story Won
1996 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Muriel's Wedding Nominated
1998 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role The Boys Won
1999 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Supporting Actor – Female The Boys Nominated
2000 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress The Sixth Sense Nominated
2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Supporting Actress – Suspense The Sixth Sense Won
2000 Chlotrudis Awards Best Supporting Actress The Sixth Sense Nominated
2000 Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture The Sixth Sense Nominated
2001 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Supporting Actress – Action Shaft Nominated
2002 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actress The Boys Won
2002 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actress The Hours Won
2002 Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards Best Supporting Actress The Hours Won
2002 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Actor – Female Dirty Deeds Nominated
2002 Seattle Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actress The Boys Nominated
2002 Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actress The Boys Nominated
2002 Toronto Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actress The Boys Nominated
2003 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Japanese Story Won
2003 BAFTA Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role The Boys Nominated
2003 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Actor – Female Japanese Story Won
2003 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Cast The Hours Nominated
2003 Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture The Boys Nominated
2003 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture The Hours Nominated
2004 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Japanese Story Nominated
2005 Chlotrudis Awards Best Actress Japanese Story Nominated
2005 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama In Her Shoes Nominated
2006 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role In Her Shoes Nominated
2006 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actress Little Miss Sunshine Nominated
2006 Gotham Awards Best Cast Little Miss Sunshine Nominated
2006 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Cast Little Miss Sunshine Won
2006 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Little Miss Sunshine Nominated
2007 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Little Miss Sunshine Nominated
2007 BAFTA Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Little Miss Sunshine Nominated
2007 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Little Miss Sunshine Nominated
2007 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Tsunami: The Aftermath Nominated
2007 Monte-Carlo Television Festival Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Tsunami: The Aftermath Nominated
2007 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Tsunami: The Aftermath Nominated
2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Little Miss Sunshine Won
2008 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role The Black Balloon Won
2009 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress on Television United States of Tara Won
2009 Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Supporting Actress The Black Balloon Won
2009 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series United States of Tara Won
2009 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy United States of Tara Nominated
2010 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress on Television United States of Tara Nominated
2010 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy United States of Tara Won
2010 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series United States of Tara Nominated
2010 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy United States of Tara Nominated
2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series United States of Tara Nominated
2011 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy United States of Tara Nominated
2013 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Mental Nominated

Discography

  • Beautiful Awkward Pictures (2006) – Toni Collette & The Finish

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Awards for Toni Colette". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 22 February 2009. 
  2. ↑ "Toni Colette — Box Office Data Movie Star". The Numbers. Retrieved 22 February 2009. 
  3. ↑ Byrne, Craig (17 June 2013). "CBS Announces Fall 2013 Premiere Dates". KSiteTV. Retrieved 22 June 2013. 
  4. ↑ Vickery, Colin (9 October 2013). "Hostages star Toni Collete experiences a mother's worst fear in new TV show". News.com.au. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  5. ↑ "Toni Collette". Yahoo! Movies. Yahoo!. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  6. ↑ Bhattacharya, Sanjiv (20 August 2006). "Sanjiv Bhattacharya meets Hollywood's leading lady Toni Collette". The Observer. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  7. ↑ "In Step With...Toni Collette". Parade. 11 January 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  8. ↑ Dubecki, Larissa (20 October 2006). "Golden moments with Toni". The Age. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  9. ↑ "In Her Shoes (2005)". The-Numbers.com. Retrieved 3 May 2010. 
  10. ↑ LaSalle, Mick (7 October 2005). "Oh, grow up. And move out of here while you're at it.". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  11. ↑ Duong, Senh (21 January 2006). "SUNDANCE: Searchlight Spends Big For 'Little Miss Sunshine'". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  12. ↑ "Little Miss Sunshine (2006)". The-Numbers.com. Retrieved 3 May 2010. 
  13. ↑ "The Dead Girl (2006)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 5 May 2010. 
  14. ↑ "The Night Listener (2006)". The-Numbers.com. Retrieved 6 May 2010. 
  15. ↑ Bianco, Robert (7 December 2006). "HBO's 'Tsunami' is itself a disaster, and just wrong". USA Today. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  16. ↑ Toni Collette Emmy Award Winner
  17. ↑ Eng, Joyce (20 September 2009). "30 Rock, Mad Men Repeat, While Jon Cryer and Toni Collette Surprise at Emmys". TV Guide. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  18. ↑ "DreamWorks Adds Colin Farrell and Toni Collette to Fright Night". Dread Central. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  19. ↑ Dubecki, Larissa (3 November 2006). "Toni's hidden talent". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  20. ↑ Dunn, Emily (7 July 2007). "Sydney kicks off Live Earth series". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  21. ↑ Sams, Christine (8 July 2007). "Sydney's giant, jolly green gig". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  22. ↑ Benns, Matthew; Sams, Christine (12 January 2003). "Toni's wedding". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  23. ↑ Tan, Michelle (10 January 2008). "Toni Collette Has a Girl". People. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  24. ↑ Chi, Paul; Jordan, Julie (25 April 2011). "Toni Collette Is a Mom – Again!". People. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  25. ↑ "Toni not sheepish". The Age. AAP. 1 July 2005. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 
  26. ↑ "Off the sheep's backside". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 15 July 2005. Retrieved 11 December 2013. 

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