Essie Davis’s film credits from 1993 to now. When possible we’ll provide information on where to watch them. Feel free to leave comments if you know where to find a specific film in your region !
photo: ben king
Directed by Justin Kurzel, Nitram recounts the events that led to the 1995 Port Arthur Massacre. Essie Davis plays Helen, a recluse heiress who befriends the main character. The film opened at the Cannes Film Festival and won 8 AACTAs, including the Best Supporting Actress award for Essie Davis.
Where to watch it :
Youtube (Canada), Stan (AUS), BFI Player (UK), Hulu/AMC+ (US)
In The Justice of Bunny King, Essie Davis’s titular character fights to get her children back from foster care and embarks on a rocky road trip with her niece Tonyah, played by Thomasin McKenzie. Gaysorn Thavat’s film is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Where to watch it :
Youtube/FilmRise (US, Canada), Stan/SBS On Demand (AUS), Amazon FreeVee (UK)
A follow-up to the popular series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Crypt of Tears follow Davis’s Phryne Fisher and Nathan Page’s Jack Robinson on a new adventure in Jerusalem.
Where to watch it :
ABC iView (AUS), AcornTV (US + UK + Canada)
Justin Kurzel directed this retelling of the life of notorious Australian bushranger Ned Kelly (George MacKay). Essie Davis plays the outlaw’s mother Ellen Kelly. The film was nominated for several AACTAs including Best Film.
Where to watch it :
Stan (AUS), IFC Films Unlimited (Canada), itv (UK), AMC+ (US)
In this heart-wrenching drama, Essie plays Anna, the mother of teenager Milla. After Milla is diagnosed with cancer, the whole family struggles to adjust. Directed by Shannon Murphy, Babyteeth took home 9 AACTA awards, including Best Film and Best Supporting Actress for Essie Davis.
Where to watch it :
Hulu/AMC+ (US), Youtube (UK + AUS), IFC Films Unlimited (Canada)
Justin Kurzel directed this adaptation of the Assassin’s Creed video game in a story that follows Callum Lynch as he discovers this mysterious brotherhood and his family history. Essie plays Callum’s mother in flashbacks.
Where to watch it :
Prime Video (AUS + UK), Youtube (Canada + US)
In this hilarious comedy, Richard Thorncroft, a former tv star, is asked to investigate a murder on the Isle of Mann by the main suspect himself. Essie plays Patricia Deville, his old partner on and off screen turned tv reporter.
Where to watch it :
Prime Video, Apple TV (UK)
Unfortunately, Mindhorn has recently been taken off of Netflix.
This biopic of poet Dylan Thomas focuses on his later years, when Thomas wrestles with alcohol abuse and fraught relationships with his wife Caitlin, played by Essie Davis, and his mistress.
Where to watch it :
AppleTV
Amelia (Essie Davis) struggles to cope with the death of her husband and her son’s subsequent anxiety, when a strange monster comes to haunt them both. Jennifer Kent directed this already classic horror film.
Where to watch it :
Netflix (AUS), Prime Video (UK), Shudder/AMC+ (Canada), AMC+ (US)
After his wife dies of cancer, Matthew Goode’s Tom goes down a self-destructive spiral while his son and his sister (Essie Davis) deal with their own grief.
Where to watch it :
SBS On Demand (AUS), IFC Films Unlimited/AMC+ (Canada), Plex/The Roku Channel (US)
In this animated film, the Guardian Owls of Ga’Hoole go up against the evil owls of St Aggie’s. Essie voices the mother of the brave hero owlet Soren.
Where to watch it :
Prime Video (AUS), Crave (Canada), Youtube (UK + US)
After agreeing to marry a stranger for immigration purposes, Steve has to deal with a fake wedding, real feelings, and a complicated family, including Essie’s Jane.
Where to watch it :
Youtube/Fetch (AUS), Hoopla (US + Canada), Prime Video (UK)
This period film follows the arrival of Meredith (Miranda Otto) and her uncle to a remote lighthouse island. There, they have to contend with a new way of living and with the rare inhabitants, among which Essie Davis’s distrustful Alma Stanley.
Where to watch it :
AppleTV, Youtube (AUS, NZ)
Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman star in Baz Lurhmann’s epic set in 1939 in Northern Australia. Essie plays Cath Carney, the bad guy’s wife but fervent supporter of Kidman’s Sarah Ashley.
Where to watch it :
Disney+ (UK + Australia + Canada) HBO Max (US)
Essie plays Grace Blueburger, whose daughter Esther struggles with fitting in at school until she meets a new and quite different friend, Sunni, and her mom (Toni Collette).
Where to watch it :
Hoopla (Canada + US)
Adapted from the children’s book, Charlotte’s Web tells the story of Wilbur the Pig, who befriends Charlotte the Spider and the young girl Fern Arable (Dakota Fanning). Essie portrays Fern’s mother Mrs Arable.
Where to watch it :
Paramount+ (US +
UK), Netflix/Prime Video (AUS), Youtube (Canada),
Essie is Juliet Moore, a police psychologist counselling Richard Roxburgh’s detective. He is hoping to go back to work after a traumatic event but suddenly finds himself trying to solve a cold case.
Where to watch it :
Youtube (AUS + US), Amazon (UK),
In this dark adaptation of the penny dreadful story, Essie’s Mrs Lovett meets Ray Winstone’s “demon barber”.
Where to watch it :
The Roku Channel (US)
This horror film takes place on a farm where scientific experiments are being conducted on cows. The people living or working on the farm soon have to deal with the consequences of the experiment, particularly veterinarian Orla (Essie Davis).
Where to watch it :
Youtube (AUS), AMC+/Shudder/Amazon FreeVee (US)
In this last installment of the original Matrix trilogy, Essie Davis reprises her role of Maggie, a medic helping Neo.
Where to watch it :
HBO Max (US), Binge/Foxtel Now/Stan (AUS), Youtube (Canada), Sky Go (UK)
A tragic love story set in a dystopian future. Essie plays the part of a doctor.
Where to watch it :
Hoopla (US + Canada), AppleTV (AUS), Sky store (UK)
Essie is Julie in this romantic comedy set in the world of gastronomy.
Youtube
Starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson, the film tells the story of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer and his famous painting Girl with a Pearl Earring. Essie Davis is Vermeer’s wife Catharina.
Where to watch it :
SBS On Demand (AUS), Netflix (Canada), BFI Player (UK), Cinemax (US)
The film follows the Kirby siblings as they deal with their father’s Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and with their personal relationships (including with Essie’s Beth).
Where to watch it :
Youtube
In the second part of the Matrix trilogy, Davis plays Maggie, a medic in the Resistance who monitors Neo while he’s in the Matrix.
Where to watch it :
HBO Max (US), Binge/Foxtel Now/Stan (AUS), Youtube (Canada), Sky Go (UK)
Essie is Helen Davis, a woman whose friend (Sigrid Thornton) is threatened by someone from her past.
Where to watch it :
Prime Video (AUS), Tubi (US + Canada), Amazon (UK),
Essie won the Best Actress award at TropFest for her work in this short film directed by Justin Kurzel. Senses of Cinema describes the film as “moments of connection in two very lonely lives”.
Richard Flanagan adapts his own novel. Essie Davis is Jean, the girlfriend of Sonya’s father, a woman who comes back to Tasmania after twenty years away.
Where to watch it :
Internet Archive (archive.org)
Essie plays Evelyn Bookman, love interest to Inspector Jim Hansen, who is on the trail of serial killer Jack the Ripper.
In this short film, Henry finds a way to stay young but isn’t happy without his childhood sweetheart Alice (Essie Davis).
Where to watch it :
The director uploaded it here
Essie plays Detective Gilhooley, who is involved in the investigation of the rape and murder of a young girl.
Where to watch it :
Youtube
When Ben is sentenced to community service, he lands at a local day center managed by Essie’s Wendy Davis. Romance is in the air ! Also starring Tammy Macintosh.
Where to watch it :
FilmRise (US)
Lilian (Roth Cracknell / Toni Collette) comes back to Sydney after forty years spent in a mental institution and tries to help the people she meets there, including a prostitute played by Essie Davis.
Where to watch it :
Netflix (AUS)
Short film directed by Robert Connolly.
Essie Davis is Kate, the daughter of an Aussie family living in the bush during the early 1900’s. An Australian classic featuring Joan Sutherland, Barry Otto, and Murray Bartlett among many others.
Where to watch it :
Internet Archive (archive.org)
Detective Quinlan (Anthony LaPaglia) crosses path with Jilly (Essie Davis) while investigating corruption in the police department.
Where to watch it :
Youtube
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Essie Davis Daily 