Leeanna Walsman

Leeanna Walsman, born on November 22, 1979 in Sydney, Australia, is an Australian actress who has built a versatile career across film, television, and stage. She began her on‑screen journey in 1996 with a guest role on the police drama Police Rescue, quickly establishing herself as a reliable talent in Australian television. Throughout the late 1990s she appeared in series such as Big Sky, Murder Call, Wildside, Home and Away, Heartbreak High, as well as cult favourites Farscape and Beastmaster, demonstrating a range that spanned from contemporary drama to science‑fiction adventure. Her first feature‑film credit came with Steven Vidler’s gritty drama Blackrock (1997), marking her transition from small‑screen to cinema. A breakthrough moment arrived in 2002 when she was cast as the shapeshifting bounty hunter Zam Wesell in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, a role that introduced her to a global audience and cemented her place in pop‑culture lore. In addition to blockbuster work, Walsman continued to shine in Australian productions, delivering strong performances in the television miniseries Jessica (based on Bryce Courtenay’s novel) and the war drama The Pacific. Her portrayal of Governor Erica Davidson in the acclaimed Foxtel prison drama Wentworth (2013) earned critical praise, even though she appeared only in the first season. More recent projects include a supporting part in the Home and Away special “An Eye for an Eye” (2015) and leading roles in series such as Janet King, Cleverman, Seven Types of Ambiguity and the Emmy‑winning miniseries Safe Harbour, for which she received both AACTA and Logie nominations in 2018. In 2023 it was announced that she would headline Channel 9’s upcoming drama Human Error, confirming her continued relevance and appeal in the Australian entertainment landscape. Over more than two decades, Leeanna Walsman has proved herself a resilient and adaptable performer, consistently earning respect from peers and audiences alike.