Anna Torv (born 7 June 1979) is an Australian actress who has worked extensively in the United States. Her performance as Olivia Dunham in the Fox science fiction series Fringe (2008–2013) earned her four consecutive Saturn Awards for Best Actress on Television, a record for any performer. She portrayed psychologist Wendy Carr in the Netflix period crime drama Mindhunter from 2017 to 2019, and Tess in the HBO post-apocalyptic drama series The Last of Us in 2023. She is especially known in Australia for the ABC drama The Newsreader, for which she won two consecutive AACTA Awards. She stars in the Netflix drama series Territory,set in Australia's Northern Territory, which premiered in October 2024.
Anna Torv | |
|---|---|
 Torv in 2011 | |
| Born | 7 June 1979 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Education | National Institute of Dramatic Art (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives |
|
Early life and education
editTorv was born in Melbourne[1] on 7 June 1979,[2] the daughter of Susan (née Carmichael), of Scottish descent and Hans Arvid Torv (Tõrv), of Estonian ancestry.[3][4] At age six, she moved with her mother and younger brother to the Gold Coast, where she grew up,[1] initially attending All Saints Anglican School before finishing her schooling at Benowa State High School, where she graduated in 1996.[5]
Following her high school graduation, she relocated to Sydney, New South Wales, where she had been accepted into the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) at the age of 17. As she was too young to get an electricity account on her own, and to go to pubs, she decided to take "a gap year", during which she worked as cafe and bar staff.[1] She graduated with a performing arts degree in 2001.[6][1]
Torv has been estranged from her father,[6] a property developer and radio presenter, for many years.[7]
Career
edit
In 2003, Torv played the role of Ophelia with the Bell Shakespeare Company in John Bell's production of Hamlet.[8] In 2004, she joined the cast of Australia's acclaimed television drama The Secret Life of Us, playing Nikki Martel.[9]
In 2005, Torv recorded a series of audio books for Scholastic Australia's Solo Collection, including titles Little Fingers, Jack's Owl, Spike, and Maddy in the Middle[10] and later did voice work and performance capture for the role of Nariko in the 2007 video game Heavenly Sword.[11]
She then appeared in the BBC series Mistresses in 2008. From 2008 to 2013, Torv played Agent Olivia Dunham in the American television series Fringe. She received an Australians in Film Breakthrough award in 2009. She has been nominated five times for the Saturn Award for Best Television Actress from 2009 to 2013, winning a total of four times.[12] Torv appeared as Virginia Grey on HBO's mini-series The Pacific and later starred in a CollegeHumor Original video as a tyrannical traffic cop.[13] In 2014, Torv reprised her role as Nariko in the film adaptation of Heavenly Sword.[14]
In March 2016, Torv was cast in the role of Dr. Wendy Carr, an FBI consultant, in the Netflix drama Mindhunter.[15][16][17]
In July 2021, Torv was cast in the role of Tess in the HBO post-apocalyptic series The Last of Us.[18][19] The show premiered in January 2023; despite being a guest role, Torv's performance was seen as an early highlight, with Bernard Boo of Den of Geek writing: "With just about an episode and a half, the terrific Anna Torv leaves an indelible impression as Joel's no-nonsense ride-or-die Tess before literally exiting the series with a bang [...]".[20]
Torv played newsreader Helen Norville in the ABC series The Newsreader, released in August 2021, which was set in an Australian TV newsroom in the mid-1980s.[21] The series returned for a second season in November 2023.[22] Torv won the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series twice for her performance as Norville, once for each season.[23][24] For the first season, she won the 2022 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress,[25] and the series also won the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Drama Series.[26] She was nominated for a second Logie for the second season.[27]
In 2021, Torv also appeared in the television series Fires, produced by the ABC Television network, about the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, in which megafires devastated Australia.[28]
In October 2024, Torv appeared in the Neflix series Territory.[29]
Personal life
editTorv's paternal aunt, journalist Anna dePeyster, was married to media mogul Rupert Murdoch for 31 years. Through this marriage, Torv is a cousin of Elisabeth, Lachlan, and James Murdoch.[6]
In December 2008, Torv married American actor Mark Valley, with whom she co-starred in Fringe.[30] In April 2010, it was reported that the couple had separated or divorced several months previously.[31][32]
Torv lived in Los Angeles for over a decade, up until shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020.[33] During her time there, she became a mother and bought a house.[34] She then sold her home and returned to Australia's Gold Coast in early 2020,[33] where she stayed with her mother before moving to Melbourne to film The Newsreader.[28]
As of 2021[update] Torv does not use social media.[33] As of January 2024[update], Torv and her son live in northern New South Wales.[35]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Travelling Light | Debra Fowler | |
| 2006 | The Book of Revelation | Bridget / Gertrude | |
| 2014 | Heavenly Sword | Nariko (voice) | |
| Love Is Now | Virginia Grey | ||
| 2015 | The Daughter | Anna | |
| 2017 | Stephanie | Jane | |
| 2023 | Scarygirl | The Keeper (voice) | |
| 2024 | Force of Nature: The Dry 2 | Alice Russell |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | White Collar Blue | Neighbour | Television film |
| Young Lions | Irena Nedov | Recurring role (series 1) | |
| 2004 | McLeod's Daughters | Jasmine McLeod | 2 episodes |
| 2004–2005 | The Secret Life of Us | Nikki Martel | Recurring role (series 4) |
| 2007 | Frankenstein | ITU nurse | Television film |
| 2008 | Mistresses | Alex | Recurring role (series 1) |
| 2008–2013 | Fringe | Olivia Dunham | Main role |
| 2010 | The Pacific | Virginia Grey | Episode: "Peleliu Landing" |
| 2011 | The Cleveland Show | Herself | Episode: "A Short Story and a Tall Tale" |
| CollegeHumor Originals | Officer Alia | Episode: "Can I Give You a Ticket?" | |
| 2014 | Open | Windsor | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2015 | Deadline Gallipoli | Gwendoline Churchill | Main role; miniseries |
| 2016–2019 | Secret City | Harriet Dunkley | Main role |
| 2017–2019 | Mindhunter | Wendy Carr | Main role |
| 2021 | Fires | Lally Robinson | 2 episodes |
| 2021–present | The Newsreader | Helen Norville | Main role[36] |
| 2023 | The Last of Us | Tess | 3 episodes |
| 2024 | Nautilus | Revna | 1 episode |
| Territory | Emily Lawson | Main role | |
| So Long, Marianne | Charmian Clift | Main role |
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | The Night Before Christmas | Bess | Roman Scandals Theatre Restaurant | |
| 1998–2001 | Undiscovered Country | Unknown | Unknown | Credited from playbill of the 2003 production of Hamlet |
| Bodyline: Time's Up | ||||
| Richard III | ||||
| Basic Burlesque | ||||
| 2001 | Plenty | Susan Traherne | NIDA Theatre | 2 April 2001 |
| Language of the Gods | Alicia | 5 May 2001 | ||
| Ring Round the Moon | Capulat | NIDA Studio | 27 June 2001 | |
| Goodnight Children Everywhere | Ann | 28 September 2001 | ||
| Kiss Me, Kate | Chorus Girl | Parade Theatre | 17 October 2001 | |
| 2002 | The Credeaux Canvas | Amelia | SBW Stables Theatre | In association with the Griffin Theatre Company |
| 2003 | Hamlet | Ophelia | Bell Shakespeare | |
| 2005 | The Cherry Orchard | Anya | Sydney Theatre Company |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Heavenly Sword | Nariko (voice) | Also motion capture |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | NAVGTR Awards | Lead Performance in a Drama | Heavenly Sword | Nominated |
| 2009 | Saturn Awards | Best Actress on Television | Fringe | Won |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress Fantasy/Sci-Fi | Fringe | Nominated | |
| Scream Awards | Breakout Performance – Female | Fringe | Nominated | |
| 2010 | Saturn Awards | Best Actress on Television | Fringe | Won |
| Scream Awards | Best Television Performance | Fringe | Nominated | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress Fantasy/Sci-Fi | Fringe | Nominated | |
| 2011 | Saturn Awards | Best Actress on Television | Fringe | Won |
| International Online Cinema Awards | Best Actress in a Drama Series | Fringe | Nominated | |
| Scream Awards | Best Science Fiction Actress | Fringe | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actress in a Drama Actress | Fringe | Nominated | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress Fantasy/Sci-Fi | Fringe | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Saturn Awards | Best Actress on Television | Fringe | Won |
| IGN Awards | Best TV Actress | Fringe | Nominated | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress Fantasy/Sci-Fi | Fringe | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Saturn Awards | Best Actress on Television | Fringe | Nominated |
| 2016 | AACTA Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Daughter | Nominated |
| 2017 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | Secret City | Won |
| 2019 | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Secret City | Nominated |
| 2021 | AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | The Newsreader | Won |
| 2022 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress | The Newsreader | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | The Newsreader | Won | |
| Equity Ensemble Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Series in a Drama Series | The Newsreader | Won | |
| 2023 | Online Film & Television Association | Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series | The Last of Us | Nominated |
| International Online Cinema Awards | Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series | The Last of Us | Nominated | |
| Gold Derby Awards | Drama Guest Actress | The Last of Us | Nominated | |
| TV Scholar Awards | Best Guest Performance in a Drama | The Last of Us | Nominated | |
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Kiss | The Last of Us | Nominated | |
| 2024 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | The Last of Us | Nominated |
| CinEuphoria Awards | Merit - Honorary Award Shared with the cast | The Last of Us | Won | |
| AACTA Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | The Newsreader | Won | |
| Logie Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Drama | The Newsreader | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "The secret life of Anna Torv". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ "On This Day: June 7". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015.
- ^ "Busy keeping secrets on Fringe Aussie stars in hot new show". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ^ Anna Torv on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson 4/7/10. AnnaTorvDotCom. 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Anna Torv's story Archived 2 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine, perthnow.com.au. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ a b c "Torv is her own mistress". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 May 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Moore, Ann Wason (13 June 2016). "Anna Torv: The quiet achiever". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Info re Torv and Bell Shakespeare Company, The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 June 2003. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ "Revisit Anna Torv's Iconic Early Role In The Secret Life Of Us". 10Play. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Anna Torv Audiobooks". AnnaTorverse. 22 April 2016.
- ^ Fussman, Cal. Anna Torv Is a Woman We Love, Esquire, 8 February 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
- ^ Woman, The (25 June 2010). "2010 Saturn Award Winners". Dreadcentral.com. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
- ^ "Can I Give You A Ticket? (With Anna Torv)". 21 November 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ "First Look: Heavenly Sword Movie". IGN.com. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Torv takes lead role in Abrams' drama". Digital Spy. 31 January 2008.
- ^ "We Should Be More Excited That Mindhunter Has Brought Anna Torv Back Into the Spotlight". 18 October 2017.
- ^ "Anna Torv Boards David Fincher's Netflix Drama Mind Hunter". The Hollywood Reporter. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ "HBO's The Last of Us Casts Anna Torv in Key Role". The Hollywood Reporter. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (16 February 2022). "'The Last Of Us': HBO Chief Gives Premiere Date Update On Video Game Adaptation". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ Boo, Bernard (22 January 2023). "The Last of Us Episode 2 Review: Anna Torv Steals the Show as Tess". Den of Geek. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ Lobb, Adrian (9 November 2023). "The Newsreader star Anna Torv on how hit drama explores journalistic ethics". Big Issue. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Richardson, Hollie; Seale, Jack; Catterall, Ali (9 November 2023). "TV tonight: Anna Torv returns in classy drama The Newsreader". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "AACTA announce the winners for the 2024 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group". AACTA. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "AACTA Awards winners: Talk to Me, The Newsreader win big, Margot Robbie recognised as trailblazer". ABC News. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Logie winner Anna Torv returns for season two of The Newsreader". The New Daily. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "The Victorian projects that swept the 2022 TV Week Logies". VicScreen. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "All the winners of the 2024 Logie Awards". 9News. 18 August 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ a b Connaughton, Maddison (24 September 2021). "From Mindhunter to Newsreader: Anna Torv on how she chooses her next role". the Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Slatter, Sean (17 July 2024). "Netflix turns 'Desert King' into 'Territory' with Anna Torv leading the cast". IF Magazine. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Dos Santos, Kristin. "Fringe Stars Anna Torv and Mark Valley Married!" E!, 2 February 2009.
- ^ Jordan, Julie (9 April 2010). "Anna Torv and Mark Valley Split". People. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
- ^ D'Zurilla, Christie (12 April 2010). "Divorce in bulk: Kate Walsh, Anna Torv and Mark Valley -- and birds". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ a b c Quigley, Genevieve (10 July 2021). "Why you won't find The Newsreader actor Anna Torv on social media". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ Torv, Anna (1 August 2023). "Anna Torv: "I fought back the tears and carried on!"". The Australian Women's Weekly (Interview). Interviewed by Rieden, Juliet. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Neill, Rosemary (January 2024). "The gruelling shoot Anna Torv will never forget". The Australian. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Filming underway on the Newsreader S2". TV Tonight. 11 July 2022.
