Bojana Novakovic

Bojana Novakovic is an Australian actress of Serbian origin whose career has spanned over two decades, combining intensive stage work with a growing list of film and television credits. Born in Belgrade, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia on 20 March 1981, she moved to Australia at the age of seven, where she quickly embraced the performing arts after initially considering a career in social work or medicine. She attended The McDonald College in Sydney, where she was dux in 1998, and later graduated from the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2002, laying a solid foundation for her future endeavors. Novakovic made her television breakthrough in 2003 as Randa in the ABC mini‑series Marking Time, a performance that earned her an AFI Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy, establishing her as a serious talent in the Australian industry. Her filmography includes notable roles in Drag Me to Hell (2009), Edge of Darkness (2010), The Little Death (2014), I, Tonya (2017) and the blockbuster Birds of Prey (2020), demonstrating her versatility across genres ranging from horror to dark comedy. On the small screen she is perhaps best known for starring in the police procedural series Instinct (2018–2019) and for her recurring role in Shameless season five, while earlier she headlined the American adaptation of Rake (2013‑2014). In addition to screen work, Novakovic has a distinguished theatre career, performing with the Sydney and Melbourne Theatre Companies and earning multiple Helpmann and Green Room nominations. She co‑founded Ride On Theatre, an independent company that has produced award‑winning productions such as LOVEPLAY and Debris, and she has also written, directed, and translated works, showcasing her multifaceted contribution to the arts. Throughout her ongoing career, Novakovic continues to balance high‑profile screen projects with a deep commitment to innovative theatrical pursuits.