Sianoa Smit-McPhee is an Australian actress and singer. From 2005 until 2007, she played Bree Timmins in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. She starred in As the Bell Rings, the HBO series Hung, and The Kettering Incident. She has also appeared in the feature films All Cheerleaders Die (2013) and Fallen (2016).

Sianoa Smit-McPhee
Born
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active2004–present
Spouse
John Rush
(m. 2012)
RelativesKodi Smit-McPhee (brother)

Early life

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Smit-McPhee was born in Adelaide to Sonja Smit and Andy McPhee, an actor and former professional wrestler.[1] She has six siblings from her father's three marriages, including Kodi Smit-McPhee, who is also an actor. Smit-McPhee attended Croydon Primary and Allenby Gardens Primary, before she moved to Melbourne with her family when she was seven years old.[2] Her father got her into acting when she was three years old and she starred in a number of commercials.[3]

Career

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After signing to her father's agents, Smit-McPhee secured a role in police drama Blue Heelers as a girl with gender dysphoria. She had to cut her long hair for the role.[2] Shortly after, she won the role of Bree Timmins in the long-running Australian TV series Neighbours, which she played from 2005 to 2007.[2][4] After leaving Neighbours, Smit-McPhee starred in the children's television series As the Bell Rings, which aired on the Disney Channel.[5] She also starred in the 2008 short film Hugo, which had its Australian premiere at the Canberra Short Film Festival. The film centres on a school girl (Smit-McPhee) who finds a moth-boy and tries to win a science competition with him.[6] From 2009 to 2011, Smit-McPhee starred in the HBO series Hung as Darby Drecker.[2][7]

Smit-McPhee made her feature film debut in the 2011 American sports film Touchback, alongside Kurt Russell.[8][9] In 2012, she featured in the American Broadcasting Company's television film Firelight,[10] as well as the series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.[11] The following year, she starred in All Cheerleaders Die, alongside her former Neighbours co-star Caitlin Stasey.[2] Smit-McPhee and her husband also wrote and produced the song "Take a Bite of My Heart", which was featured in the film and performed by her.[2] In 2014, she guested in an episode of Criminal Minds,[11] and appeared in the thriller film Mall.[12]

After living in Los Angeles for around ten years, Smit-McPhee moved back to Australia to launch her music career.[2][13] She played at the Adelaide Fringe in March 2017.[2] She also appeared in The Kettering Incident, which was filmed in Tasmania, and the 2016 feature film Fallen.[2]

Personal life

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Smit-McPhee has been married to American music producer John Rush since 2012.[2]

Filmography

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Film roles
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Hugo Desma Short film
2012 Touchback Sasha
2013 All Cheerleaders Die Leena Miller
2014 Mall Shel
2016 Fallen Molly Zane
Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Blue Heelers Charlie Campbell Episode: "One of the Boys"
2005–2007 Neighbours Bree Timmins Main cast
2007–2009 As the Bell Rings DJ Main role
2009–2011 Hung Darby Drecker Main role
2012 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Bridesmaid Episode: "The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre"
2012 Firelight Tammy Television film
2014 Criminal Minds Sue Walsh Episode: "Gabby"
2016 The Kettering Incident Chloe Holloway Main role

References

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  1. ^ Cook, Craig (27 February 2015). "The fabulous McPhees from Adelaide are taking the world of movies by storm". The Advertiser. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Debelle, Penny (18 March 2017). "Changing her tune". The Advertiser. Retrieved 22 February 2024 – via Gale.
  3. ^ Maddox, Garry (18 October 2010). "Acting game is a family affair". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  4. ^ Dubecki, Larissa (19 January 2006). "Critic's View – Tuesday". The Age. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  5. ^ McManus, Bridget (27 September 2007). "High school drama doesn't ring a bell". The Age. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  6. ^ McLintock, Penny (16 October 2008). "Festival attracts Australia's best short films". ABC News. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Hung – Darby Drecker". HBO. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  8. ^ Byrne, Fiona; Cosgter, Alice; Webber, Nicola (28 August 2010). "Bogan scores a touchdown". Herald Sun. Retrieved 5 April 2024 – via Gale.
  9. ^ Armitage, Hugh (1 March 2012). "'Touchback': Kurt Russell gives advice in the new trailer". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  10. ^ Thomas, Phyllis (20 April 2012). "Firelight — DeWanda Wise talks working with Cuba Gooding on ABC's Sunday night movie". TVMusic Network. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  11. ^ a b Heading, Carly (21 March 2017). "You Won't Believe What This 'Neighbours' Star Looks Like Now!". Hit Network. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Mall". Silver Lining Entertainment. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  13. ^ Moran, Jonathon (7 October 2016). "Neighbours cutie Bree now unrecognisable: Sianoa Smit-McPhee's all grown up". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
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