Biography

Mia Wasikowska (Pamela Choat)

In a short amount of time, Mia Wasikowska has established herself as a rising star of the big and small screen. A trained ballerina turned actress, Wasikowska has been challenging herself as a performer since he age of 9.  Wasikowska recently received critical praise from prominent national television critics for her portrayal of the tormented and suicidal teen Sophie in HBO’s Series In Treatment.  Produced by Mark Wahlberg and directed by Rodrigo Garcia, In Treatment focuses on the relationship between a therapist (Gabriel Byrne) and his patients. In recognition of her performance, Wasikowska was honored by the Los Angeles Based organization Australians In Film (whose Host Committee includes Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, NicolKidman, and Hugh Jackman among others) with the Breakthrough Actress Award. The series was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Drama Series.

In January 2009, Wasikowska was seen in a supporting role in the film Defiance. Based on a true story, three Jewish Brothers (Daniel Craig, Live Schrieber, and Jamie Bell) escape from Nazi‐occupied Poland into the Belarusan forest where they encounter a village of Russian resistance fighters. Wasikowska plays Chaya, a young villager who builds a relationship with one of the brothers. Defiance was directed by Ed Zwick and distributed by Paramount Vantage.  In October 2009, Wasikowska appeared in Fox Searchlight’s Amelia starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere, and directed by Mira Nair.  The biopic tells the story of the famous female navigator Amelia Earhart (Swank) who disappeared on a solo flight across the Pacific in an effort to fly around the world. Wasikowska portrays Elinor, a young fan of Earhart whose motivations for building a relationship with Earhart are questioned by her reliable friend George (Gere).

Wasikowska recently wrapped production as the title character in Tim Burton’s retelling of the Lewis Carrol novel, Alice in Wonderland. The Disney live and 3‐D animated film, shot primarily in Los Angeles and London, co‐stars Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Michael Sheen, and Alan Rickman.  Alice in Wonderland will be released on March 5, 2010. 

Wasikowska began her acting career in her home country of Australia, landing a recurring role on the popular medical drama All Saints.  Upon landing her first major role in the independent film Suburban Mayhem, Wasikowska was recognized by the Australian Film Institute Awards for Best Young Actor.  She followed up these projects with acclaimed performances in Lens Love Story, Skin (a short film), September, and in the Australian horror film Rogue alongside Michael Vartan and Radha Mitchell.

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