Leah Purcell

Leah Maree Purcell (born 14 August 1970 in Murgon, Queensland) is a renowned Aboriginal Australian actress, playwright, novelist and film director whose career has spanned over three decades. From a challenging upbringing as the youngest of seven children, she navigated a teenage life marked by caring for a sick mother, early motherhood and struggles with alcohol before moving to Brisbane and then Sydney to pursue community theatre. Her first television work appeared in the mid‑1990s with roles on Police Rescue and Fallen Angels, and she quickly gained recognition for co‑writing and starring in the internationally toured play Box the Pony alongside Scott Rankin. Purcell’s film breakthrough came with Paul Fenech’s Somewhere in the Darkness (1999) followed by critically acclaimed performances in Lantana (2001), Somersault (2004), The Proposition (2005) and Jindabyne (2006). Her versatility allowed her to transition seamlessly between film, television and stage, earning praise for her emotional depth and cultural authenticity. In 2012 she joined the groundbreaking series Redfern Now, earning an AACTA Award, and later portrayed Rita Connors in the popular prison drama Wentworth (2018‑2021), a role that secured both AACTA and Logie nominations. Her most ambitious project, The Drover’s Wife, began as a stage play in 2014, evolved into a best‑selling novel in 2019, and culminated in a feature film she wrote, directed, produced and starred in for its 2022 release, winning the Jury Grand Prize at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Beyond screen and stage, Purcell is a vocal advocate for First Nations youth and culture, serving as cultural consultant on series such as High Country (2024) and receiving a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021 for her contributions to the arts. She continues to expand her storytelling oeuvre, developing a sequel series to The Drover’s Wife and a forthcoming novel titled The Drover’s Son, while also mentoring emerging Indigenous artists through Oombarra Productions. Her body of work reflects a profound commitment to representing Aboriginal stories with nuance and power, making her one of Australia’s most influential contemporary creators.