Catherine Văn-Davies

Catherine Văn-Davies
Born
Canberra, Australia
EducationQueensland University of Technology
HB Studio, NYC
OccupationActress
Years active2007–present
Known forAmazing Grace
The Twelve
Hungry Ghosts
PartnerFayssal Bazzi

Catherine Văn-Davies (born 1985 or 1986[1]) is an Australian actress of partial Vietnamese descent.

Early life

Văn-Davies' mother was a refugee from Vietnam who arrived in Australia at the age of 18, after the United States and allies withdrew from the country.

Văn-Davies was born in Canberra, spent part of her early childhood in Indonesia, and her school years in Brisbane, Queensland. After graduating from high school, she undertook a business degree at the Queensland University of Technology. She soon switched her focus to acting and completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2006. She also studied at the HB Studio in New York City.[2][1]

Career

After returning to Australia from New York, Văn-Davies moved to Sydney and worked mostly in theatre. In 2019 she won a Sydney Theatre Award for her role in Angels in America (Best Female Support), and another one for White Pearl (Best Ensemble).[2] In 2021, she starred as Abigail in Playing Beatie Bow.[3] At the 2023 Sydney Theatre Awards, she won Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production for her role in Constellations and Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production for A Streetcar Named Desire.[4] She also serves as co-artistic director of the Old Fitz Theatre.[5][6]

Văn-Davies has also appeared in multiple Australian TV series, most notably Hungry Ghosts (2020) [7][8] and Amazing Grace (2021).[9] In 2022, she appeared in the ABC drama Barons,[10][11] as well as Foxtel legal drama The Twelve.[12]

In 2023, Văn-Davies made several television appearances in Stan series Wolf Life Me, reimagined comedy series Mother and Son[13] and crime miniseries The Claremont Murders. In the latter series she played the real-life Alison Fan, who reported on the case from the first day to the last day.[14][15] The following year, she played the recurring role of film star Stevie Marlow in the soap opera Home and Away.[16]

Personal life

Văn-Davies has been in a relationship with fellow Australian actor Fayssal Bazzi since 2014.[17]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Hot Source Presenter
2014 Precinct 13 Frisky Dupont TV series, season 2, episode 1: "Baby Jane's, Goodbye"
2017 Pet Killer Vivian Web series
2018 True Story with Hamish & Andy Physical Girl TV series, season 2, episode 5: "Phil"
Fighting Season Social Worker Miniseries, episode 6: "Outside The Wire"
2019 The Letdown Siah TV series, season 2, 2 episodes
2020 Liberty Street Phoebe TV series, 1 episode 8: "Phoebe & Tait"
Hungry Ghosts May Le Miniseries, 4 episodes
2021 Amazing Grace Laney Tran TV series, 8 episodes
2022 Barons Shirley Kwong Miniseries, 4 episodes
The Twelve Vanessa Young Miniseries, 10 episodes
It's Fine, I'm Fine Kate Miniseries, episode 4: "I Hate This Thing"
2023 The Claremont Murders Alison Fan Miniseries, 2 episodes
Mother and Son Maya TV series, season 1, 8 episodes
Wolf Like Me Melanie TV series, season 2, episode 3
2024 Home and Away Stevie Marlow / Miranda TV series, 27 episodes
2024 Bump Louise TV series, season 5, episode 1 (guest)

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane Wedding Guest Feature film
When Sally Met Frank Nurse Short film
2009 Entanglement Theory Dancer Short film
Lonely Gyspy Short film
2023 Sweet Juices Sarah Short film
Dog Brittany Short film

Theatre

As actor

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Terrain! Terrain! Terrain! Various characters QUT
Camille Sophie QUT
Twelfth Night Maria QUT
We Will Rock You! Scaramouche QUT
2006 Our Country's Good Duckling QUT
Lion in the Streets Isobel QUT
Once in a Lifetime Miss Chasen / Coat Check Girl QUT
2010 He Left Quietly (reading) Various New York Theatre Workshop
2011 Running Blind Sue / Lola Milk Crate Theatre
Secrets Lizzy Milk Crate Theatre
The Bitter End Catherine Midsumma Festival
Waltzing Woolloomooloo: The Tale of Frankie Jones Frankie Arthur
Brigitte, Bracken & Box Brigitte, Bracken & Street Girl Milk Crate Theatre
The Kiss Various characters Company B
2011; 2013–2015 Cut Snake Kiki Coriander Regional NSW & VIC tour, Brisbane Festival with Arthur/Critical Stages/RAV, Theatre Works
2012 Unfinished Coral Milk Crate Theatre
sex.violence.blood.gore Annabel Lee MKA
2012; 2013 Full Circle Ruth Milk Crate Theatre
2013 Lord of the Flies Sam US-A-UM / Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
2014 Superhero Training Academy Collateral Glammage Arthur
The Myth Project: Twin Adi Arthur / MTC
2014; 2016 Dangerous Liaisons Emilie / Azolan Little Ones Theatre / MTC / Darwin Festival / Brisbane Powerhouse
2015 No Place Like Slim / Charlotte / Flick Milk Crate Theatre
Dracula Dracula Little Ones Theatre
2016 Ground Control Tara Rachel Perks & Bridget Balodis
Turquoise Elephant Visi / Vika Griffin Theatre Company
Back at the Dojo Lois & others Belvoir Theatre Company / Stuck Pigs Squealing
2017 The Merchant of Venice Nerissa Bell Shakespeare
2017; 2020 The Happy Prince Swallow Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane with La Boite Theatre Company / Little Ones Theatre
2018 Complexity of Belonging Catherine Chunky Move
An Enemy of the People Randine Belvoir Theatre Company
The Misanthrope Eliante Bell Shakespeare / Griffin Theatre Company
Going Down Natalie STC / Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
2019 White Pearl Built STC / National Theatre of Parramatta
Angels in America Harper Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney with Apocolypse Theatre Company[18]
Titus Andronicus Clown Bell Shakespeare
2020 No Pay? No Way! Margherita STC
2021 Playing Beatie Bow Abigail Kirk Wharf Theatre with STC[19]
Honour Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
2023 Sex Magick Liraz Griffin Theatre Company
Constellations Marianne STC[20]
A Streetcar Named Desire Stella Redline Productions[5]
2024 American Signs The Consultant / Various characters Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC[21]

As crew

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Coming Undone Assistant Director / Choreographer Cabaret Salon Series (NYC)

[22][23]

References

  1. ^ a b Siobhan Hegarty: The realities of a dream job as an actor in Australia. ABC Australia, 20 February 2020
  2. ^ a b https://westernedge.org.au/archives/program/forging-your-own-path-a-discussion-with-catherine-van-davies-mark-cole-smith-and-zahra-newman-about-working-in-the-australian-arts-industry Archived 23 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 21 April 2021)
  3. ^ Rugendyke, Louise (23 February 2021). "How the power of teenage girls makes Playing Beatie Bow an enduring classic". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  4. ^ Blake, Jason (29 January 2024). "The Winners: 2023 Sydney Theatre Awards announced". Limelight. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b Low, Lenny Ann (6 June 2023). "The two women shaking up the idea of what makes good theatre". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Catherine Văn-Davies". www.sjmanagement.com.au. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  7. ^ Knox, David (21 August 2020). "Ghost stories close to home | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  8. ^ Knox, David (17 August 2020). "Hungry Ghosts casts net wide for new talent | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  9. ^ Knox, David (9 October 2020). "Filming underway on Amazing Grace | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  10. ^ Knox, David (22 March 2022). "Airdate: Barons | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  11. ^ Knox, David (29 September 2021). "Filming wraps on Barons for ABC | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  12. ^ Knox, David (13 December 2021). "More cast announced for Foxtel's The Twelve | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  13. ^ Knox, David (11 July 2023). "Airdate: Mother & Son | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  14. ^ Knox, David (8 April 2023). "Gallery: The Claremont Murders | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  15. ^ Knox, David (13 March 2023). "The Claremont Murders: trailer | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  16. ^ Cooper, Brenna (25 March 2024). "Home and Away reveals possible new love interest for Remi Carter". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  17. ^ Catherine Nikas-Boulos: At home with actor and Hungry Ghosts star Catherine Van-Davies. The Chronicle, 18 August 2020
  18. ^ "Angels in America". Apocalypse. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  19. ^ Travels, Theatre (3 March 2021). "Review: Playing Beatie Bow at Sydney Theatre Company". Theatre Travels. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  20. ^ Review, Arts (19 July 2023). "Constellations comes to The Wharf Theatre". Australian Arts Review. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  21. ^ Theatre, Aussie (15 May 2024). "Catherine Văn-Davies stars in electrifying new one-person play AMERICAN SIGNS". AussieTheatre.com. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  22. ^ https://www.sjmanagement.com.au/talent/catherine-van-davies
  23. ^ https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/521526