Rarriwuy Hick (born 1990 or 1991) is an Aboriginal Australian award-winning actress, known for her roles in the television series Redfern Now, Cleverman, Wentworth and True Colours.

Rarriwuy Hick
Born1990 or 1991
Occupation(s)Actress, dancer,director
Years active2012-present
Known for

Early life and education

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Hick was born around 1991[1] in Sydney, Australia. She grew up in both the suburb of Lilyfield, and in Dhalinybuy, an Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.[2][3] She was raised speaking Yolŋu Matha and other Aboriginal Australian languages before learning English, and speaks seven dialects.[4][1] Her mother, Janet Munyarryun, a Yolngu woman, was a founding member of Bangarra Dance Theatre.[3]

Throughout her education, Hick was inspired by her mother to pursue dance and the arts. She attended a Catholic girls high school and showed sufficient interest in dance to establish a troupe.[4] In 2009, she commenced studies at the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College,.[5] She was asked to audition for the Aboriginal-produced play Wrong Skin, and was successful, performing on the tour while studying.[6]

Acting career

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Hick starred in two episodes of the television series Redfern Now (2012–2013), and as ongoing character of Ruby Mitchell in Wentworth making her first appearance for series 6, Hick would reprise the role of Ruby Mitchell when the show was renewed for its eighth and final season.[7]

In 2022 she played the lead role as detective Toni Alma, returning to her home town in Central Australia after living most of her life away from it, in the television miniseries True Colours. One reviewer called her performance "career-best".[8][9]

In 2023, Hick appeared in Home and Away in the role of Elandra Hudson. Hick also appeared in SBS drama Erotic Stories.[10][11]

In 2024, Hick was named as part of the cast for upcoming feature film Kangaroo.[12]

Dance and theatre

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She established the dance group Yapa Mala and led its choreography.[13][14] In 2011, she starred in the theatre play Bloodland.[15][16]

In 2016, Hick starred in a revival of the Louis Nowra play The Golden Age by the Sydney Theatre Company and her performance and dance received praise.[17][18]

Other activities

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Hick was living in Arnhem Land at the time of the 2007 Northern Territory National Emergency Response. She later remarked that the intervention was not having an effect on child abuse like intended and instead that her family's lives and finances were being "completely controlled by the government".[19]

In May 2013, Hick and other actors from theatre production The Shadow King in Melbourne were refused taxi rides by several drivers who reportedly drove off after observing that the group members were of Indigenous appearance.[20][1]

In 2018, Hick started a social media campaign using the hashtag #ourkidsbelongwithfamilies, which became a "rallying cry" of Indigenous Australians fighting to maintain their families together against removals and resettlement of children by authorities.[21][22]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2012 She Say Short film [23]
Scar Short film [24][13]
2013 The Hunter Short film [25][13]
2014 One Short Day Woman Short film [26]
2015 Wurinyan Short film [27]
2022 Seriously Red Nurse Directed by Gracie Otto [28]
TBA Kangaroo TBA Feature film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2012 Move It Mob Style Herself Episode 4 [29][30]
2012–2013 Redfern Now Robyn Davis 2 episodes
2013 The Broken Shore Suzie Pascoe TV movie
The Outlaw Michael Howe Mary TV movie
2014 The Gods of Wheat Street Electra Freeburn 6 episodes [31][32]
2015 Redfern Now: Promise Me Robyn Davis TV movie
2016–17 Cleverman Latani 12 episodes [1]
2018–21 Wentworth Ruby Mitchell Seasons 6–8 (main role, 42 episodes) [33][34]
2018 Black Comedy Various Characters 6 episodes
2019 Molly and Cara Cara TV series
2021 Wentworth Unlocked Self TV special
2022 True Colours Detective Toni Alma Miniseries (4 episodes) [35]
Significant Others Deb Munroe 5 episodes
Darby and Joan Tegan 1 episode
2023–2024 Home and Away Elandra Hudson 8 episodes [36]
2024 Erotic Stories Kiarra 1 episode (Powerful Owl)

Theatre

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Year Production Role Notes
2010 Wrong Skin Ngurrumilmaramiriwu [37]
2012 Bloodland [15][38]
2013 The Shadow King Cordelia [39]
2014 Brothers Wreck Adele [40][41]
2016 The Golden Age Betsheb [42]

Nominations

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Year Award Category Film Result
2011 Deadly Awards Female Actor of the Year Wrong Skin Nominated[43]
2012 Deadly Awards Female Actor of the Year Bloodland Nominated[44][5]
2015 AACTA Awards Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama Redfern Now Nominated[45]
2016 Logie Awards Most Outstanding Supporting Actress "Promise Me", Redfern Now Nominated[46]
2016 Equity Ensemble Awards Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Movie or Miniseries The Outlaw Michael Howe Nominated[47]
2022 Asian Academy Creative Award Best Actress in a Leading Role True Colours Won [48]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Molloy, Shannon (27 August 2017). "Rarriwuy Hick on identity, her Cleverman role and 'escaping' to Arnhem Land roots". Stellar. News Limited. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Rarriwuy Hick". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b Smallhorn, Tamara (23 September 2010). "Promising pathway ahead for local | Altmedia". AltMedia. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b Prendergast, Samantha (2 February 2015). "Home is home" (PDF). Frankie. No. 64. Morrison Media. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  5. ^ a b Hallowell, Marjo (1–7 August 2012). "Three Deadly finalists from Arnhem Land". Arafura Times. No. 900. Regional & Remote Newspapers. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  6. ^ "RARRIWUY and the CHOOKY BOYS" (PDF). NAISDA News. Naisda.com.au. March 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  7. ^ Knox, David. "Airdate: Wentworth Unlocked | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  8. ^ "What the critics are saying about groundbreaking drama 'True Colours'". SBS Television. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  9. ^ "The law in language: Rarriwuy Hick's groundbreaking TV role". NITV. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  10. ^ Keast, Jackie (27 April 2023). "Frances O'Connor, Kate Box, Danielle Cormack among cast of SBS anthology 'Erotic Stories'". IF Magazine. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  11. ^ Knox, David (27 April 2023). "Production begins on Erotic Stories for SBS | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  12. ^ Slatter, Sean (15 May 2024). "Ryan Corr, Lily Whiteley hop to it in the NT as Kate Woods' 'Kangaroo' begins production". IF Magazine. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  13. ^ a b c "Episode 6 - Robyn - Characters - Redfern Now - ABC TV". www.abc.net.au. ABC TV. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  14. ^ "Six extraordinary stories one unmissable series" (PDF). Blackfulla Films. Press release. November 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Best of Both Worlds". Deadly Vibe. Vibe Australia. 3 September 2012.
  16. ^ Blake, Jason (9 October 2011). "Collaborative work allows glimpse into Arnhem Land's soul". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  17. ^ McCallum, John (21 January 2016). "Worlds collide and wilderness rules in revival of a genuine classic". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  18. ^ Blake, Jason (20 January 2016). "The Golden Age review: A brilliant and complex interrogation of Australian culture". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  19. ^ Pemberton, Ash (17 July 2010). "'My family's lives are controlled by the government'". Green Left Weekly. No. 845. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  20. ^ Griffin, Michelle; Cooke, Dewi (1 May 2013). "Taxi drivers bar Aboriginal actors". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  21. ^ Brennan, Bridget (23 March 2018). "Our Kids Belong With Family: Indigenous actress finds support for social media campaign". ABC News. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  22. ^ "'Cleverman's Rarriwuy Hick takes on Sunrise and Minister Gillespie's suggestion for a second Stolen Generation". Kinderling Kids Radio. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  23. ^ "She. Say". The Screen Guide. Screen Australia. 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  24. ^ "Scar". The Screen Guide. Screen Australia. 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  25. ^ "THE HUNTER - Short". Adelaide Film Festival. 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  26. ^ Wynne, Emma (7 July 2014). "Perth filmmaker chronicles husband's transplant wait". ABC News. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Mark Coles Smith heads to Cannes in Genna Chanelle Hayes short Wurinyan". IF Magazine. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  28. ^ Seriously Red at IMDb
  29. ^ "Move It Mob Style". ABC TV. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  30. ^ "Rarriwuy Hick - Deadly Vibe", Deadly Vibe, Vibe Australia, 14 September 2012, retrieved 25 March 2018
  31. ^ "The Gods of Wheat Street: episode 1.01". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  32. ^ Reiha, Amy (30 March 2014). "The Gods of Wheat Street - ABC1's new indigenous drama". First Nations Telegraph. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  33. ^ Groves, Don (8 December 2019). "Rarriwuy Hick boxes on in 'Wentworth'". IF Magazine. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  34. ^ Writer, Staff (5 April 2018). "Leah Purcell Susie Porter Rarriwuy Hick join Wentworth". TVblackbox. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  35. ^ Enker, Debi (29 June 2022). "'My character has authority': Why Rarriwuy Hick's new TV role is a welcome change". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  36. ^ "Home and Away shares first look as new character Elandra arrives". Digital Spy. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  37. ^ Woodhead, Cameron (21 March 2010). "Wrong Skin". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  38. ^ Verghis, Sharon (18 June 2011). "Bangarra's main man Stephen Page celebrates 20 year at helm". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  39. ^ Woodhead, Cameron (17 October 2013). "Theatre review: The Shadow King". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  40. ^ Blake, Elissa (30 January 2014). "Just the ticket". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  41. ^ Jackson, Kevin (19 June 2014). "Brothers Wreck". www.kjtheatrediary.com. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  42. ^ Simmonds, Diana (20 January 2016). "The Golden Age | Stage Noise - Diana Simmonds". www.stagenoise.com. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  43. ^ "Who's Deadly? The Countdown Begins! DEADLYS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED – VOTE NOW!" (PDF). Deadly Awards. Vibe Australia. Press release. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  44. ^ "FEMALE ACTOR OF THE YEAR - Deadly Vibe". Deadly Vibe. Vibe Australia. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  45. ^ Maddox, Garry (28 October 2015). "5th AACTA Awards: the full list of nominees". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  46. ^ Knox, David (3 April 2016). "Logie Awards 2016: nominations". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  47. ^ "7th Annual Equity Ensemble Awards". www.equityfoundation.org.au. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  48. ^ Knox, David (1 October 2022). "Asian Academy Creative Awards 2022: ANZ winners | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
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