Being of high profile status in society is really an enjoyable thing to attain but it can also be a very heavy burden to carry due to the huge expectations from fans and the general public. This is why for people like Australian actress Essie Davis, who has enjoyed a decent acting career, stardom can indeed be a crushing weight especially because she is both a wife and a mother with more than one child to attend to.
Since launching her acting career in 1993, Essie has risen to establish herself as one of the most mesmerizing movie stars from Australia, stunning movie lovers with her sterling acting prowess and versatility. A native of Hobart, Tasmania and a graduate of the University of Tasmania, the actress has done a lot of work in front of the camera and is now highly admired as one of the many Australian actresses who are shining bright outside the country all the way in Hollywood.
Essie Davis’ Early Days as a Thespian
Long before she eventually began to act, Essie Davis had fantasized about being an actress. As a matter of fact, while she was at the University of Tasmania in Australia, she joined the Old Nick Company, the university’s student theatre company which is known to host annual theatrical shows and other productions. Essie took part in these shows and her love for acting soared.
After graduating from the University of Tasmania, she proceeded to attend the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney where she further honed her acting skills. It was after her time at the institute that her acting career officially kick-started.
She Started on Stage
Essie Davis’ acting career began in the theatre where she put up some scintillating performances. After her time at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, she joined Bell Shakespeare, an Australian theatre company where she played several Shakespearean characters on stage. In 1993, she played the role of Juliet in a production of Romeo and Juliet by the theatre company. She also played roles in other productions that included Hamlet, Richard III, Macbeth, and The Taming of the Shrew.
It is noteworthy that even after she eventually kick-started her film career, Essie Davis never really left the stage as she returned occasionally to act in theatre productions around Australia and the United Kingdom. Her stage work has earned her a lot of praise, including a Tony Award nomination.
Her Break into the Film Industry
Also in 1993, Essie Davis kick-started her film acting career when she was offered the role of Jilly in the Australian drama film The Custodian. She went on to play Kate Rudd in Dad and Dave: On Our Selection (1995) before portraying Zara in Lilian’s Story (1996). At this point, her profile was already getting interesting and people were beginning to notice her talent.
Essie soon became the toast of directors and started getting invitations to play between 3 to 4 movie roles in a year. By the year 2000, she had already starred in nearly 15 movies and TV series including Kings in Grass Castles and The Sound of One Hand Clapping.
In 2003, Essie Davis got people talking with her stunning portrayal of Beth in the miniseries After The Deluge. Her role in the movie earned her the award of Best Actress in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy at the Australian Film Institute Awards.
In 2006, she portrayed Orla in the Irish horror film Isolation. The movie gained wide attention and her work was praised in many quarters. In the end, she emerged the winner of the Festival Trophy at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival.
Not resting on her oars, Essie went on to star as Amelia Vanek in the 2004 American psychological horror film The Babadook. The film made so much buzz and fetched the actress 4 awards, including Best Leading Actress at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards and Best Actress at the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival. She further got more attention in 2016 when she appeared in Game of Thrones as Lady Crane.
The Man in Essie Davis’ Life is Also an Industry Expert
Essie Davis is a happily married woman at the moment. The interesting thing is that the man to whom she is married to is also a well-known person in the movie industry. She is married to Justin Kurzel, an Australian film director and screenwriter.
Essie and Kurzel dated for about 7 years before they eventually tied the knot in 2002. They have been together ever since and it appears their love is soaring by each day. The couple now has two children together; a set of twin daughters named Stella and Ruby.
How She Balances Being a Wife, Mother, and an Actress
Essie Davis is today respected as one of the rave-making actresses from Australia and many fans are very fond of her. With her life being a very busy one, it is a wonder how she manages to combine being a mother, a wife, and a movie star. Well, the actress herself has provided some insight into this.
During different interviews, Essie has explained that before she gave birth, she was terrified of being a mum because she felt she could never be grown up enough to handle motherhood. However, now that her kids are here, she feels blessed and does everything possible to make sure they are fine. The actress revealed that she makes sure she never stays away from her family for more than one week no matter what.
Ms. Davis also explained that whenever she is at home, nothing else matters but her family and she gives her attention to her kids even at night.
