Matt Day

Matt Day, born Matthew Day on 28 September 1971 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, has emerged as one of the most versatile actors and emerging filmmakers in the Australian entertainment industry. From an early age he was exposed to diverse cultures, travelling across Europe with his English‑teacher mother and later moving to the United States at eleven where his fascination with performance began. Upon returning to Australia he attended Princes Hill Secondary College and joined the St Martins Youth Arts Centre, where his talent caught the eye of an agent when he was just fourteen, leading to his first screen appearance in the ABC series c/o The Bartons.

At seventeen Day made a bold move to Sydney to secure a role on A Country Practice, a decision that launched his long‑standing career across film, television and theatre. Over the ensuing decades he built a reputation for depth and range, starring in cult classics such as Muriel's Wedding (1994) and Kiss or Kill (1997) – the latter earning him nominations from both the Film Critics Circle and the Australian Film Institute. His television credits are equally impressive, featuring memorable performances in Rake, Tangle, Shackleton alongside Kenneth Branagh, and The Hound of the Baskervilles, demonstrating his ability to transition seamlessly between Australian and international productions.

Beyond acting, Day has developed a strong voice behind the camera, writing and directing acclaimed short films like Beat (2011), My Everything (2003) and the Tropfest‑winning The Mother Situation (2017). His commitment to storytelling continues with recent roles in the Channel 9 drama Human Error (2022) and ABC’s musical series In Our Blood (2023). Off‑screen, Day married journalist Kirsty Thomson in 2000; the couple have two sons, Jackson and Rufus, and currently reside in Sydney. With a career spanning more than three decades, Matt Day remains a dynamic force in contemporary Australian cinema and television.