Toni Collette

Born into a modest family and the eldest of three siblings, Antonia Collette studied for a year and a half at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. Legend has it that her first important performance was when she was eleven years old, when she pretended to have appendicitis to avoid going to school; so convincing was she, that she had her appendix removed. Since what she wanted was to act at all costs, as soon as the opportunity arose she left school and ran to express her emotions on stage. She did not exhibit the typical exuberant beauty that accelerates the heart rate of the male spectator, but she had talent, charm and beauty in abundance, so that she managed to stand out in theatrical productions such as Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya . But her first contact with the cinema came quickly, at the age of 20, inSpotswood , alongside Anthony Hopkins and Russell Crowe .

The media leap was provided by an acid tragicomedy that from the outset seemed like a nice product, without more:Muriel’s Wedding (PJ Hogan, 1996). Her role as a dissatisfied woman in search of love, an ugly duckling that she built by gaining almost 20 kilos, made the audience fall in love; her self-confidence singing Abba’s ‘Waterloo’ with Rachel Griffiths dazzled everyone, and gave her the Australian Film Institute’s award for best actress, as well as a Golden Globe nomination. Despite the international impact of this work , Toni continued doing jobs in her homeland. But in 1996 she made the Americas and together with Gwyneth Paltrow she delivered two films, My unknown friend and the janeaustenianaEmma . Interesting and unfairly unknown is her exploration of the world of offices inWaiting for the hour (1997). His professionalism in secondary works, which he embroiders, allowed him a change of record the following year inVelvet Goldmine (1998), where she was the ex-wife of glam rock star Brian Slade.

Perhaps Toni has come in handy with that image that he transmits of authentic humanity. Happy or depressed, suffering or tender, her feelings pierce the celluloid. Thus, the actress knew how to be in the right place and at the right time to shine a role that, from the outset, was not the most appetizing in the splendid supernatural thriller by M. Night Shyamalan The sixth sense (1999). Her composition, which expressed all the feelings of a mother perplexed by the panic attacks of a son who “sometimes sees dead,” received a well-deserved Oscar nomination.

The truth is that Toni is not averse to any role, however small, and has walked in films such as the revisiting of blaxploitationShaft (2000), the haunting courtroom thrillerTo the limit of the truth (2002), the composition of another mother, but of comedy, in the wonderfulA big boy (2002), and a little role in the Oscar-winning WoolfianThe hours (2002). And since the girl doesn’t want to give up her roots – and playing leading roles, it must be said – she sometimes shoots in Australia, as in the case of Dirty Deeds (2002) and Japanese Story (2003). Which has ‘side’ effects as pleasant as discovering love: because it was her when she returned to her land when she met Dave Galafassi, a drummer in a group, whom she married.

It is true that sometimes he has to do silly things, like Connie & Carla (2004), together with a Nia Vardalos who ‘died’ from the success ofMy Big Fat Greek Wedding , or The Last Hit (2004). But as soon as they offer her a role tailored to her talent, she more than makes up for it. It is the case ofIn her shoes (2005), where she is the clever sister in every sense of the film, with a complex and highly nuanced role, something important in a ‘pie’ film like the one directed by Curtis Hanson .

A singer with a good voice –she performed on Broadway in the musical “The Wild Party”–, a partner in the production company Figurehead created by her, she has three films on the horizon: the black comedyLittle Miss Sunshine , about the world of children’s misses, opposite Greg Kinnear ; The Night Listener , where his ‘partenaire’ is Robin Williams ; and Like Minds , where she is the psychiatrist coroner who must rule on the mental health of a murderous teenager.