Australian talent recognized at Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards

Eric Bana was voted the 2021 Australian Academy of Film and Television Arts (AACTA) Audience Choice Favorite Actor at the Sydney Opera House, while the hit series Foxtel Wentworth won the television drama prefer.

It was a bittersweet moment for actress Susie Porter and the rest of the cast of Wentworth, with the series ending this year after 100 episodes and eight seasons.

“We have the most loyal fans in the world,” Porter, who played Marie Winter, told News Corp Australia.

“I still think it’s best to come out on top. I still think the quality after 100 episodes was still really there. We all feel really grateful to have been a part of the show. “

Katrina Milosevic, known for playing Boomer for all eight seasons, was emotional at the end of Wentworth.

“It’s only starting to hit me now,” she said.

“What I glean from the audience is that everyone has a story to tell and for some reason this show moves people and illuminates what people are going through.

“It’s a show that doesn’t claim to be anything other than a bunch of women who want to love and want to be loved. It’s a show about wanting to survive and belonging to somewhere… and who doesn’t want that. ”

Eric Bana, meanwhile, received his award for his work in the big screen production of The Dry, which was also voted Favorite Movie.

“It’s obviously a real pleasure to be voted by the public, they are the ones who made The Dry a hit, we made the movie and they turned it into a smash so it’s a real treat” , did he declare.

“It’s an incredible feeling. It’s such a strong year and we’re a small industry, so when we collectively have a year like this, I hope it gives a lot of people confidence and we can build on it. ”

In the categories voted by the industry, ABC drama The Newsreader won five gongs, including Best Drama Series, Best Actress for Anna Torv and Best Supporting Actor for William McInnes.

Scott Ryan, of Foxtel’s Mr Inbetween, won the award for Best Leading Actor in a Drama and Rachel Griffiths took home the award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Total Control.

Love On The Spectrum was named Best Factual Entertainment Program, while MasterChef Australia was awarded Best Reality Program.

Accepting the award for Best Comedy Entertainment Program for Hard Quiz, host Tom Gleeson joked, “I’m so horny I’m going to get (ABC President) Ita Buttrose tattooed on my ass.”

The best children’s program went to Bluey.

In cinema, Justin Kurzel’s Nitram won the majority of awards, including Best Director, Best Picture, Best Editing, Best Leading Actor for Caleb Landry Jones, and Best Leading Actress for Judy Davis.

Nitram also won the Essie Davis and Anthony LaPaglia Awards for Best Actress and Supporting Actor.

The best original music went to June Again while Ellie and Abbie were named best independent film of the year.

And the winners are …

PUBLIC CHOICE

Favorite actor: Eric Bana

Favorite Competition Reality TV Show: LEGO® Masters Australia

Favorite Digital Comedy Creator: Sooshi Mango

Favorite entertainment show: Gardening Australia

Favorite movie: The dry

Favorite TV drama: Wentworth

Favorite TV Host: Costa Georgiadis – Gardening Australia – ABC

TELEVISION

Best Children’s Program: blue

Best Comedy Entertainment Program: Difficult questionnaire

Best actor: Kitty Flanagan – Fisk

Best Drama Series: The news reader

Best factual entertainment program: Love on the spectrum

Best Leading Actor in a Drama: Scott Ryan, Mr. In-Between

Best Leading Actress in a Drama: Anna Torv, the presenter

Best Lifestyle Program: Great Drawings Australia

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie: Fires

Best Reality Program: MasterChef Australia

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: William McInnes, the News Reader

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Rachel Griffiths, Full Control

MOVIE

Best achievement: Nitram – Justin Kurzel

Best film : Nitrame

Best Independent Film: Ellie and Abbie

Best Lead Actor: Caleb Landry Jones – Nitram

Best Leading Actress: Judy Davis – Nitram

Best Supporting Actor in Cinema: Anthony LaPaglia – Nitram

Best Supporting Actress in Cinema: Essie Davis – Nitram

DOCUMENTARY

Best Photograph in a Documentary: The Beach (Episode 1: Too Mad Too Shy) – Dylan River

Best Documentary: My name is Gulpilil – Molly Reynolds (Dir.), Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr, David Gulpilil – Vertigo Productions

Best Editing in a Documentary: My name is Gulpilil – Tania M. Nehme

Best Original Music in a Documentary: Playing With Sharks – Caitlin Yeo

Best Sound in a Documentary: Life in Color with David Attenborough (Episode 1: See in Color) – Wayne Pashle

OTHER

Best Cast Presented by Casting Networks: High Ground – Anousha Zarkesh

Best Hair & Makeup Featured By HASK: Australian Gangster – Sheldon Wade, Helen Magelaki, Mariel McClorey, Donna Kennedy

Best visual effects or animation: Peter Rabbit 2 – Will Reichelt, Simon Pickard, Simon Whiteley, Fiona Chilton, Jason Bath, Matt Middleton – Animal Logic

See the full list of winners at https://www.aacta.org/aacta-awards/winners-and-nominees/

SNOOK COMES INTO TERMS WITH FAME

Sarah Snook is no rookie when it comes to acting.

But with the stardom now in full swing, the star of the hit Foxtel series Succession concedes it takes some getting used to.

The 34-year-old returned home to Sydney to present an award at Australia’s largest event honoring the film and television industry, the 2021 AACTA Awards, receiving the highest billing alongside Russell Crowe and Eric Bana.

“I’m trying to get used to all of this,” Snook said as she walked towards the iconic Sydney Opera House. “Plus, we’re living in a pandemic, so we’ve all been inside. You go out and say to yourself, “They can’t talk about me.”

Snook plays Siobhan ‘Shiv’ Roy in the American series alongside Brian Cox and Kieran Culkin.

The highly anticipated season three finale airs on Foxtel on Monday.

“The response has been overwhelming,” said the 2008 NIDA graduate.

“I also enjoy the nature of its release (episode) one by one every week. Everyone has loved watching this season and I can’t wait to see what happens next season.

While Snook has long appeared on the big screen here and in Hollywood, Succession put her on the map as a big player.

“It appears to be the case,” she said. “People recognize me more, I guess. They’re like, ‘Oi, this is Shiv’. They’re like, ‘I’m kinda starstruck’. And I’m like ‘Who? or?’

“They weren’t looking at me when they said it and I thought there must be some famous person in the restaurant who baffled them. Later she said it was me and I really missed it.

Snook wore Australian designer Toni Maticevski on the red carpet and joked about the color.

“I feel like I blend in. One of us has to change, the carpet or me.”

The actor attended the event with new husband Dave Lawson, who she described as “awesome, he’s adorable, he’s the best.”