Michala Banas
Encyclopedia
Michala Elizabeth Laurinda Banas (icon; born 14 November 1978) is a New Zealand
television actress, and singer now living in Australia.
, New Zealand
, she starred in her first commercial at only 18 months of age.
Her debut film performance was when she was 5 years old, in New Zealand film, Dangerous Orphans. Her Australian debut television performance was as Louisa in miniseries Mirror, Mirror
in 1995.
From 2001, Banas played Marissa Taylor in Always Greener
and in 2002 she had a small role in the film adaptation of Scooby-Doo
.
Banas is an accomplished singer, and in 2003, she released a single, "Kissin' The Wind", which made the top 30 on the ARIA Singles Chart
.
In 2004, Banas joined the cast of McLeod's Daughters
as the character Kate Manfredi, the best friend of Jodi Fountain McLeod. She played Kate from episodes 88 to 170, when she took a short break to later return in episode 177. It was announced in 2007 that she would leave McLeod's Daughters in its final season. Banas' last episode was aired in early December 2008.
From 11 November 2008, Banas appeared in the role of Libby Kennedy
on the Australian soap opera
Neighbours
for a five week period after Kym Valentine
was forced to take a temporary break due to illness.
In 2009, Banas filled in for Fox FM
's Jo Stanley
on The Matt and Jo Show
while Stanley was on maternity leave. That same year saw her star in the national tour of the Broadway musical, Avenue Q
, playing the roles of 'Kate Monster' & 'Lucy the Slut'. Banas is currently one of three celebrity faces for Proactiv Solution
in Australia and New Zealand.
Banas has a guest role as Tiffany Turner in new drama series Winners & Losers
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
television actress, and singer now living in Australia.
Career
Born in WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, she starred in her first commercial at only 18 months of age.
Her debut film performance was when she was 5 years old, in New Zealand film, Dangerous Orphans. Her Australian debut television performance was as Louisa in miniseries Mirror, Mirror
Mirror, Mirror (TV series)
Mirror, Mirror is a television programme co-produced by Australia and New Zealand. Presented as a single complete story given in a serial with 20 episodes, there are cliffhangers between some of the episodes....
in 1995.
From 2001, Banas played Marissa Taylor in Always Greener
Always Greener
Always Greener was an Australian television drama/comedy series that aired on the Seven Network which followed the fortunes of two families, one from the city and the other from the country, when they decide to switch homes and start a new direction in life for themselves...
and in 2002 she had a small role in the film adaptation of Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo (film)
Scooby-Doo is a 2002 American comedy film based on the Hanna-Barbera television cartoon series Scooby-Doo about a group of young detectives and their talking dog. It is the first installment in the Scooby-Doo live action film series...
.
Banas is an accomplished singer, and in 2003, she released a single, "Kissin' The Wind", which made the top 30 on the ARIA Singles Chart
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
.
In 2004, Banas joined the cast of McLeod's Daughters
McLeod's Daughters
McLeod's Daughters is a Logie award-winning Australian drama series that aired on the Nine Network from 2001 to 2009. It tells the story of two sisters, Claire and Tess McLeod, who are reunited after they inherit the family farm...
as the character Kate Manfredi, the best friend of Jodi Fountain McLeod. She played Kate from episodes 88 to 170, when she took a short break to later return in episode 177. It was announced in 2007 that she would leave McLeod's Daughters in its final season. Banas' last episode was aired in early December 2008.
From 11 November 2008, Banas appeared in the role of Libby Kennedy
Libby Kennedy
Elizabeth Grace "Libby" Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kym Valentine. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 and departed in 2004, before returning on 12 November 2007. Libby is the only daughter of Karl and Susan Kennedy...
on the Australian soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
for a five week period after Kym Valentine
Kym Valentine
Kym Valentine is a Maltese Australian actress best known for her portrayal of Libby Kennedy in the soap opera Neighbours.-Early and personal life:...
was forced to take a temporary break due to illness.
In 2009, Banas filled in for Fox FM
FOX FM (Melbourne)
Fox FM is a radio station that serves the Melbourne, Australia, broadcasting on the FM band at a frequency of 101.9 MHz. Licensed to Mount Dandenong, Victoria, the station is currently owned by the Austereo Radio Network. The station's transmitter is located on the ATV-10 transmission tower on top...
's Jo Stanley
Jo Stanley
Joanne "Jo" Stanley is an Australian television and radio personality.Stanley has appeared as the host of Network Ten's Bread TV program, a show that focuses on small business and is currently the host of The Matt and Jo Show on Austereo's FOX FM, a show she joined in 2003.- Biography :She...
on The Matt and Jo Show
The Matt and Jo Show
The Matt and Jo Show is a breakfast radio show broadcast on Fox FM in Melbourne, Australia. Matt Tilley and Jo Stanley are hosts. Troy Ellis is anchor. Adam Richard presents gossip reports...
while Stanley was on maternity leave. That same year saw her star in the national tour of the Broadway musical, Avenue Q
Avenue Q
Avenue Q is a musical in two acts, conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics. The book was written by Jeff Whitty and the show was directed by Jason Moore and produced by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, and Jeffrey Seller...
, playing the roles of 'Kate Monster' & 'Lucy the Slut'. Banas is currently one of three celebrity faces for Proactiv Solution
Proactiv Solution
Proactiv Solution is an over-the-counter topical treatment for mild to moderate forms of acne, widely known for being marketed in Guthy-Renker infomercials since 1995...
in Australia and New Zealand.
Banas has a guest role as Tiffany Turner in new drama series Winners & Losers
Winners & Losers
Winners & Losers is a Australian television drama series first broadcast on the Seven Network on 22 March 2011. It was created by the producers of Packed to the Rafters and is aired in the show's former time slot...
.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Dangerous Orphans | Anna | |
| 2002 | Scooby-Doo Scooby-Doo (film) Scooby-Doo is a 2002 American comedy film based on the Hanna-Barbera television cartoon series Scooby-Doo about a group of young detectives and their talking dog. It is the first installment in the Scooby-Doo live action film series... |
Carol | |
| 2003 | Ned Ned (film) Ned is an Australian film, directed by Abe Forsythe. It is satire of Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, and his iconographical status as a "hero."The film was released in the same year as Ned Kelly, starring Heath Ledger.... |
Muffy | |
| 2010 | Karen | Short film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Mirror, Mirror Mirror, Mirror (TV series) Mirror, Mirror is a television programme co-produced by Australia and New Zealand. Presented as a single complete story given in a serial with 20 episodes, there are cliffhangers between some of the episodes.... |
Louisa Iredale | 20 episodes |
| 1998 | State Coroner State Coroner (TV series) State Coroner was an Australian television series screened on Network Ten in 1997 and 1998. There were two series produced with a total of 29 episodes. The series was set in the State Coroner's office complex and featured investigations into deaths, murders, suicides, accidents and natural causes... |
Zoe Martin | Episode: "Days of Reckoning" Episode: "Days of Reckoning II" |
| 1999 | Murder Call Murder Call Murder Call was an Australian television series, created by Hal McElroy for the Southern Star Entertainment and seen on the Nine Network between 1997 and 2000. The idea to the series was born by the books of Tessa Vance by Jennifer Rowe: Suspect/Deadline and Something Wicked... |
Kylie McDonald | Episode: "Cut & Dried" |
| 1999 | Flipper Flipper (1995 TV series) Flipper, is an American revival television series of the original 1964 Flipper television series. The first two seasons aired in first-run syndication; seasons 3 and 4 aired on the PAX network.... |
Karen | Episode: "Spring Break" |
| 1999 | Blue Heelers Blue Heelers Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :... |
Tara Bruckner | Episode: "Winning at All Costs" |
| 2000 | Blue Heelers Blue Heelers Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :... |
Michaela Brady | Episode: "Leg Work" |
| 2000 | Renata | Episode: "Unnatural Selection" | |
| 2000-2001 | Round the Twist Round the Twist Round the Twist is a Logie Award-winning Australian children's television series about three children and their widowed father who live in a lighthouse and become involved in many magical adventures.... |
Ariel | 11 episodes |
| 2000-2001 | Something in the Air | Angela O'Connor | 11 episodes |
| 2001 | BeastMaster BeastMaster (TV series) BeastMaster is a Canadian television series that aired from 1999 to 2002. It was loosely based on a 1982 MGM movie The Beastmaster. The series aired for three complete seasons... |
Loriel | Episode: "Mydoro" |
| 2001 | Shoshonna Green | Episode: "Star Quality" | |
| 2001-2003 | Always Greener Always Greener Always Greener was an Australian television drama/comedy series that aired on the Seven Network which followed the fortunes of two families, one from the city and the other from the country, when they decide to switch homes and start a new direction in life for themselves... |
Marissa Taylor | 50 episodes |
| 2004-2008 | McLeod's Daughters McLeod's Daughters McLeod's Daughters is a Logie award-winning Australian drama series that aired on the Nine Network from 2001 to 2009. It tells the story of two sisters, Claire and Tess McLeod, who are reunited after they inherit the family farm... |
Kate Manfredi | 119 episodes |
| 2008 | Megan McKean | Episode: "1.12" | |
| 2008 | Neighbours Neighbours Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems... |
Libby Kennedy Libby Kennedy Elizabeth Grace "Libby" Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kym Valentine. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 and departed in 2004, before returning on 12 November 2007. Libby is the only daughter of Karl and Susan Kennedy... |
23 episodes |
| 2011 | Winners & Losers Winners & Losers Winners & Losers is a Australian television drama series first broadcast on the Seven Network on 22 March 2011. It was created by the producers of Packed to the Rafters and is aired in the show's former time slot... |
Tiffany Turner | 5 episodes |
| 2012 | Beaconsfield | Caroline Russell | Episode: "1.1" Episode: "1.2" |