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Deborra-lee Furness is an internationally acclaimed actress as well as a
passionate supporter of children and defender of their human rights across the
globe.
A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York
Deborra-lee has won Best Actress awards from the highly regarded Film Critics
Circle of Australia, the Variety Award and Best Actress at Seattle International
Film festival for the movie SHAME. She received a Best Actress
Award at the San Sebastian International Film (Spain) Festival for her role in
WAITING. Deborra-lee has appeared in many movies (resume
attached) and worked extensively in television and on stage. Ms Furness was
nominated by the Australian Film Institute for her Guest Starring role in
SEA CHANGE, and for Best Supporting Actress in the Ray Lawrence
directed JINDABYNE. She won the FILM CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD OF
AUSTRALIA for her portrayal of Jude in JINDABYNE.
Deborra-lee is soon to be seen in the Ana Kokinos directed BLESSED.
Deborra-lee has also directed a one woman show Portrait of a Lady
for the London Stage, and directed a series of plays for The Hollywood
Playhouse. She wrote and directed the short film STANDING ROOM ONLY,
which has been shown throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and the USA at all major
film festivals.
She hosted a television series for FOXTEL Australia
DIRECTORS ON DIRECTING. Deborra-lee along with her husband Hugh
Jackman and business partner John Palermo have established the production
company SEED PRODUCTIONS.
Deborra-lees humanitarian work for children is
a driving force in her life, in 2005 she co-founded the RAFIKI SOCIETY in
Vancouver, which is operational in assisting orphanages in Africa. It is her
passion that children all over the world be given every chance to live a
fulfilled life and achieve their full potential. Deborra-lee is Patron of THE
LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION for displaced children in Melbourne Australia; Patron of
the BONE MARROW DONOR INSTITUTE for children with leukemia and is on the
ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR FILM AID INTERNATIONAL, working with refugees throughout
the world; Patron of INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION FAMILIES OF QUEENSLAND.
In
2007 Deborra-lee founded ORPHAN ANGELS a child advocacy lobby group, focusing on
improving adoption programs, procedures and legislation in Australia and raising
awareness and understanding of the issues for adoptive children and their
families.
Orphan Angels facilitated the launch of Australias NATIONAL
ADOPTION AWARNESS WEEK, 2009 is its second year.
As a WORLD VISION
ambassador Deborra-lee recently travelled to Cambodia and Ethiopia to assist
with raising awareness and funds. She is also International Secretariat for the
GLOBAL POVERTY PROJECT and is a board member of WORLD WIDE ORPHANS AUSTRALIA.
Deborra-lee Furness was recently honoured at the WORLD WIDE ORPHANS GALA in
New York City for all her work in advocacy for vulnerable children. |
