Essie Davis is an Australian actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Phryne Fisher in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and its film adaptation, Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears, and as Amelia Vanek in The Babadook.
Davis has had a successful career in both film and television. Her film credits include The Babadook, The Great Gatsby, and True History of the Kelly Gang. Her television credits include Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Game of Thrones, and Lambs of God.
Davis is a versatile actress who is able to play a wide range of roles. She is known for her strong stage presence and her ability to bring complex characters to life. She is also a talented singer and has appeared in several musicals.
In 2022, Davis starred in the film The Justice of Bunny King, for which she received critical acclaim. The film follows a single mother who sets out to find her estranged son.
Essie Davis Young
Essie Davis was born on January 19, 1970, in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. She is the daughter of local artist George Davis. She was educated at Clarence High School, Rosny College, the University of Tasmania, where she was a member of the Old Nick Company, and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney.
Essie Davis Movies and TV Shows
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Custodian | Jilly | |
| 1995 | Dad and Dave: On Our Selection | Kate Rudd | |
| 1996 | Lilian’s Story | Zara | |
| 1996 | River Street | Wendy Davis | |
| 1997 | Blackrock | Det. Gilhooley | |
| 1997 | The Two-Wheeled Time Machine | Young Alice | Short film |
| 1998 | The Sound of One Hand Clapping | Jean | |
| 2003 | The Matrix Reloaded | Maggie | |
| 2003 | The Pact | Helene Davis | |
| 2003 | Girl with a Pearl Earring | Catharina | |
| 2003 | Code 46 | Doctor | |
| 2003 | The Matrix Revolutions | Maggie | |
| 2005 | Isolation | Orla | |
| 2006 | Charlotte’s Web | Mrs. Arable | |
| 2008 | Hey, Hey, It’s Esther Blueburger | Grace Blueburger | |
| 2008 | Australia | Catherine “Cath” Carney Fletcher | |
| 2010 | South Solitary | Alma Stanley | |
| 2010 | The Wedding Party | Jane | |
| 2010 | Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole | Marella (voice) | |
| 2011 | The Last Time I Saw Michael Gregg | Lottie | Video |
| 2011 | Burning Man | Karen | |
| 2014 | The Babadook | Amelia Vanek | |
| 2016 | Assassin’s Creed | Mary Lynch | |
| 2017 | Mindhorn | Patricia Deville | |
| 2019 | Babyteeth | Anna Finlay | |
| 2019 | True History of the Kelly Gang | Ellen Kelly | |
| 2020 | Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears | Phryne Fisher | |
| 2021 | The Justice of Bunny King | Bunny King | |
| 2021 | Nitram | Helen |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Water Rats | Senior Det. Nicola Bourke | “Blood Trail” “Dead or Alive” |
| 1997 | The Ripper | Evelyn Bookman | TV film |
| 1998 | Kings in Grass Castles | Mary Costello | TV miniseries |
| 1998 | Murder Call | Judy St. John | “Deadfall” |
| 2000 | Halifax f.p. | Alison Blount | “The Spider and the Fly” |
| 2001 | Corridors of Power | Sophie | “1.4” |
| 2002 | Young Lions | Julie Morgan | “1.2”, “Mardi Gras” |
| 2003 | Enter the Matrix | Maggie (voice) | Video game |
| 2003 | After the Deluge | Beth | TV film |
| 2003 | Temptation | Julie | TV film |
| 2006 | Sweeney Todd | Mrs. Lovett | TV film |
| 2006 | The Silence | Juliet Moore | TV film |
| 2011 | Cloudstreet | Dolly Pickles | TV miniseries |
| 2011 | The Slap | Anouk | Main role |
| 2012–15 | Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries | Phryne Fisher | Lead role |
| 2014 | A Poet in New York | Caitlin Thomas | TV film |
| 2014 | Funny or Die Presents | Amelia | “The Babadooks of Hazzard” |
| 2016 | Game of Thrones | Lady Crane | “The Door” “Blood of My Blood” “No One” |
| 2017 | The White Princess | Elizabeth Woodville | |
| 2017 | Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams | Vera | Episode: “Human Is” |
| 2017 | The Last Post | Martha Franklin | |
| 2019 | Lambs of God | Sister Iphigenia | |
| 2022 | Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities | Nancy Bradley | “The Murmuring” |
Essie Davis Instagram
Essie Davis does not have an official Instagram account. However, there are several fan accounts dedicated to her work.
Essie Davis Education
Essie Davis studied drama at the University of Tasmania and then worked as a theater actor before moving to television and film. She graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney in 1993.