
Essie Davis
Biography
Essie Davis is an Australian actress. Born and raised in Hobart, Tasmania, she is the daughter of locally famed artist George Davis. She emerged from the Old Nick Company at the University of Tasmania in the late 1980s and has gone on to appear in Hollywood movies. She is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney.
Her career started after her role in the all Australian movie Dad and Dave: On Our Selection (1995), also starring other prestigious actors such as Geoffrey Rush, Leo McKern, and Joan Sutherland. Her most famous movie roles are in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, Richard Flanagan's 1998 Tasmanian film The Sound of One Hand Clapping, and Girl with a Pearl Earring.
In 2003 she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for her UK performance in the Tennessee Williams play A Streetcar Named Desire. In 2004 she starred in a Broadway production of Tom Stoppard's Jumpers, for which she earned a Tony nomination. In 2005 she appeared as Mrs. Nellie Lovett in the BBC production of Sweeney Todd with Ray Winstone. In the 2008 film Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger she plays Esther's controlling mother.
Known For

TV
Game of Thrones
Lady Crane
2011

TV
Alien: Earth
Dame Sylvia
2025

TV
One Day
Alison
2024

TV
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
Phryne Fisher
2012

Film
The Matrix Reloaded
Maggie
2003

TV
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities
Nancy Bradley
2022

TV
Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams
Vera Herrick
2017

Film
The Matrix Revolutions
Maggie
2003

TV
Play School
Self
1966

TV
Young Lions
Julie Morgan
2002

TV
Faraway Downs
Cath Carney
2023

TV
The White Princess
Elizabeth Woodville
2017

TV
Halifax f.p.
Alison Blount
1994

Film
Code 46
Doctor
2003

Film
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
Marella (voice)
2010

Film
The Babadook
Amelia Vanek
2014

TV
Apple Cider Vinegar
Natalie Dal-Bello
2025

Film
Australia
Katherine
2008

Film
Assassin's Creed
Mary Lynch
2016

TV
Lambs of God
Sister Iphigenia
2019
Filmography
2025TVAlien: Earthas Dame Sylvia2025FilmAlien: Earth - On Set Dispatchesas Self2025TVApple Cider Vinegaras Natalie Dal-Bello2024TVOne Dayas Alison2023TVFaraway Downsas Cath Carney2023FilmFungi: The Web of Lifeas Narrator (voice)2022TVGuillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiositiesas Nancy Bradley2021FilmNitramas Helen2021FilmThe Justice of Bunny Kingas Bunny King2020FilmBabyteethas Anna2020FilmMiss Fisher and the Crypt of Tearsas Phryne Fisher2019FilmTrue History of the Kelly Gangas Ellen Kelly2019TVLambs of Godas Sister Iphigenia2017TVThe Last Postas Martha Franklin2017TVPhilip K. Dick's Electric Dreamsas Vera Herrick2017TVThe White Princessas Elizabeth Woodville2016FilmAssassin's Creedas Mary Lynch2016FilmMindhornas Patricia Deville2015FilmThey Call Him Mister Babadook: The Making of The Babadook2014FilmThe Babadookas Amelia Vanek2014FilmA Poet in New Yorkas Caitlin Thomas2012TVMiss Fisher's Murder Mysteriesas Phryne Fisher2011TVThe Slapas Anouk2011FilmBurning Manas Karen2011TVCloudstreetas Dolly Pickles2011TVGame of Thronesas Lady Crane2010FilmSouth Solitaryas Alma Stanley2010FilmLegend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hooleas Marella (voice)2010FilmThe Wedding Partyas Jane2008FilmAustraliaas Katherine2008FilmHey Hey It's Esther Blueburgeras Grace Blueburger2006FilmCharlotte's Webas Mrs. Arable2006FilmThe Silenceas Juliet Moore2006FilmSweeney Toddas Mrs Lovett2005FilmIsolationas Orla2003FilmGirl with a Pearl Earringas Catharina Bolnes Vermeer2003FilmThe Matrix Revolutionsas Maggie2003FilmCode 46as Doctor2003FilmAfter the Delugeas Beth2003TVAfter the Delugeas Beth2003FilmThe Matrix Reloadedas Maggie2003FilmThe Pactas Helene Davis2002TVYoung Lionsas Julie Morgan1998FilmThe Sound of One Hand Clappingas Jean1998TVKings in Grass Castlesas Mary Costello1997FilmThe Ripperas Evelyn Bookman1997FilmRiver Streetas Wendy Davis1997FilmThe Two-Wheeled Time Machineas Young alice1997FilmBlackrockas Det. Gilhooley1996FilmLilian's Storyas Zara1995FilmDad and Dave: On Our Selection1994TVHalifax f.p.as Alison Blount1994FilmThe Custodianas Jilly1966TVPlay Schoolas Self