Peta Wilson
Encyclopedia
Peta Gia Wilson is an Australian actress and model. She is best known as Nikita in the television series La Femme Nikita.
in the Australian Army
. She spent several years in Papua New Guinea
, when her father was stationed there. Her parents' marriage came to an end in 1982.
at the Actors Circle Theatre
and with Tom Waits
at the TomKat Repertory Group. After some education in acting, Wilson was hired for some small roles in independent films, such as in Loser and in One of Our Own. Then, in 1996, Wilson was preparing to continue her studies at an acting school in New York City, but she decided to audition first for a new television show to be produced for the USA cable TV channel
in North America. From a field of just over 200 aspiring actresses who auditioned for the starring role, the new program's producers chose to offer the job to Wilson, and she accepted. This new show was called La Femme Nikita, based on the French movie Nikita. Each episode was one hour long, and the series was produced by a combination of Canadian and American companies. The show ran for five years and 96 episodes on the USA network. There were 22 episodes per season for four years, and another eight episodes in its fifth and final TV year. Most of the episodes of La Femme Nikita were filmed in and around the city of Toronto, Ontario.
Wilson's co-stars in this TV series were the actors Roy Dupuis
, Don Francks
, Alberta Watson
and Eugene Robert Glazer
, and for her acting in La Femme Nikita, Wilson was nominated twice for the annual Gemini Award
for "Best Performance by An Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role", though she did not win.
In 2001 Wilson took part in the International Film Festival in Moscow, where she met with Russian president Vladimir Putin
, who confessed to being a fan of hers.
In the realm of major motion pictures, Wilson collaborated with the Scottish actor Sean Connery
in 2002–3 during the production of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
. She played the role of the vampire Mina Harker
, and Connery played Allan Quatermain
. She also portrayed real-life actress Anny Ondra
in the television movie "Joe and Max" (2002).
During 2006, Wilson had a small role in the movie Superman Returns
as the character "Bobbie-Faye", a spokeswoman for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States.
from the mid-1990s until their separation in 2002. They are the parents of one son, Marlowe Harris, who was born in February 2002.
Early life
Wilson was born in Sydney on November 18, 1970. She is the daughter of the caterer Karlene White Wilson and Darcy Wilson, a former warrant officerWarrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. She spent several years in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, when her father was stationed there. Her parents' marriage came to an end in 1982.
Career
Wilson worked first as a model in Australia and in Europe, before she moved to Los Angeles in 1991 to study acting with Arthur MendozaArthur Mendoza
Arthur Mendoza was the principal acting instructor for the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting West. He has taught in Los Angeles for more than 20 years and has worked with such talents as Khandi Alexander, Sasha Barrese, Peta Wilson, Finola Hughes, Branford Marsalis, Deidre Hall, John Jopson, and...
at the Actors Circle Theatre
Actors Circle Theatre
Actors Circle Theatre was established by Arthur Mendoza in 1985 in Los Angeles, California. The curriculum of acting classes at Actors Circle Theatre is based on the Stella Adler Technique. All students must begin with Technique I and Technique II, earning entrance into Beginning Scene Study, only...
and with Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
at the TomKat Repertory Group. After some education in acting, Wilson was hired for some small roles in independent films, such as in Loser and in One of Our Own. Then, in 1996, Wilson was preparing to continue her studies at an acting school in New York City, but she decided to audition first for a new television show to be produced for the USA cable TV channel
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
in North America. From a field of just over 200 aspiring actresses who auditioned for the starring role, the new program's producers chose to offer the job to Wilson, and she accepted. This new show was called La Femme Nikita, based on the French movie Nikita. Each episode was one hour long, and the series was produced by a combination of Canadian and American companies. The show ran for five years and 96 episodes on the USA network. There were 22 episodes per season for four years, and another eight episodes in its fifth and final TV year. Most of the episodes of La Femme Nikita were filmed in and around the city of Toronto, Ontario.
Wilson's co-stars in this TV series were the actors Roy Dupuis
Roy Dupuis
Roy Dupuis is a Canadian actor best known for his role as counterterrorism operative Michael Samuelle in the television series La Femme Nikita...
, Don Francks
Don Francks
Donald Harvey Francks or Iron Buffalo is a Canadian actor, vocalist and jazz musician.- Life and work :Francks was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is a drummer, poet, native nations champion, motorcyclist, author and peace activist...
, Alberta Watson
Alberta Watson
Faith Susan Alberta Watson , known professionally as Alberta Watson, is a Canadian movie and television series actress.-Early life:...
and Eugene Robert Glazer
Eugene Robert Glazer
Eugene Robert Glazer is an American actor best known for his portrayal of "Operations" on the TV show La Femme Nikita. Glazer was raised in Brooklyn, New York, and worked at a variety of jobs before moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s to pursue his acting career...
, and for her acting in La Femme Nikita, Wilson was nominated twice for the annual Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
for "Best Performance by An Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role", though she did not win.
In 2001 Wilson took part in the International Film Festival in Moscow, where she met with Russian president Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
, who confessed to being a fan of hers.
In the realm of major motion pictures, Wilson collaborated with the Scottish actor Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
in 2002–3 during the production of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (film)
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a 2003 superhero film adaptation loosely based on characters from the comic book limited series The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore, who is also famous for Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell. It was released on July 11, 2003, in the...
. She played the role of the vampire Mina Harker
Mina Harker
Wilhelmina "Mina" Harker is a fictional character in Bram Stoker's 1897 horror novel Dracula.- In the novel :She begins the story as Miss Mina Murray, a young school mistress who is engaged to Jonathan Harker, and best friends with Lucy Westenra...
, and Connery played Allan Quatermain
Allan Quatermain
Allan Quatermain is the protagonist of H. Rider Haggard's 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines and its various prequels and sequels. Allan Quatermain was also the title of a book in this sequence.- History :...
. She also portrayed real-life actress Anny Ondra
Anny Ondra
Anny Ondra was a Czech film actress. She was born Anna Sophie Ondráková in Tarnów, Galicia, Austria–Hungary, now Poland, and died in Hollenstedt near Harburg, Germany.-Life:...
in the television movie "Joe and Max" (2002).
During 2006, Wilson had a small role in the movie Superman Returns
Superman Returns
Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. It is the fifth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a alternate sequel to Superman and Superman II by ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace .The film stars...
as the character "Bobbie-Faye", a spokeswoman for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States.
Personal life
Wilson lived with her long-time boyfriend Damian HarrisDamian Harris
Damian David Harris is an English film director and screenwriter.-Biography:Harris was born in London, one of three sons of the late Irish actor Richard Harris and his first wife, Welsh actress Elizabeth Rees-Williams. His brothers are English actors Jared Harris and Jamie Harris.-Career:In 1968...
from the mid-1990s until their separation in 2002. They are the parents of one son, Marlowe Harris, who was born in February 2002.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Girl of His Dreams | |||
| 1995 | Naked Jane | Marissa | ||
| 1996 | Loser | Alyssha Rourke | ||
| 1997 | One of Our Own | Cpl. Jennifer Vaughn | Alternative title: Denver P.D.: One of Our Own | |
| 2000 | Mercy | Vickie Kittrie | ||
| 2003 | Mina Harker | Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress | ||
| 2006 | Superman Returns Superman Returns Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. It is the fifth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a alternate sequel to Superman and Superman II by ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace .The film stars... |
Bobbie-Faye | Alternative title: Superman Returns: An IMAX 3D Experience | |
| 2007 | Gardens of the Night Gardens of the Night Gardens of the Night is a 2008 drama film, starring Gillian Jacobs, John Malkovich, Ryan Simpkins and Tom Arnold; and directed and written by Damian Harris.-Plot:... |
Sarah | ||
| 2009 | Beautiful Beautiful (2009 film) Beautiful is a 2009 Australian independent film, written and directed by Dean O'Flaherty, which was released by Adelaide-based Kojo Pictures on 5 March 2009. The film marked the feature filmmaking debut of both O'Flaherty and Kojo Pictures... |
Sherrie | ||
| 2010 | Errand boy | Genie | short | |
| 2011 | Havana Heat | Captain Camille Davenport | ||
| 2011 | Guardian of the Harem | (rumored) | ||
| 2011 | Liberator | Marla Criswell | short |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Woman Undone | Receptionist | Television movie |
| 1996 | Strangers | Martha | Episode: "Going Without" |
| 1996 | Highlander: The Series Highlander: The Series Highlander: The Series is a fantasy-adventure television series featuring Duncan MacLeod of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, as the Highlander. It was an offshoot and another alternate sequel of the 1986 feature film with a twist: Connor MacLeod did not win the prize and Immortals still exist post-1985... |
Inspector | Episode: "Promises" |
| 1997 | Vanishing Point Vanishing Point (1997 film) Vanishing Point is a 1997 television remake of the 1971 cult film.The film stars Viggo Mortensen, Jason Priestley, Peta Wilson, Christine Elise and Keith David and the same model 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T as in the original, and was directed by Charles Robert Carner.The remake originally aired on... |
Motorcycle girl | Television movie |
| 2001 | Other People | Harriet Stone | Television pilot |
| 2001 | Alex | Mini-series | |
| 1997– 2001 |
La Femme Nikita | Nikita | 96 episodes Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television The following are a list of Saturn Award nominees & winners for Best Actress on Television:-1990s:*1996: Gillian Anderson - The X-Files**Claudia Christian - Babylon 5**Melissa Joan Hart - Sabrina, the Teenage Witch... Nominated—Gemini Award Gemini Award The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are... Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role(1998 – Spring) Nominated—Gemini Award Gemini Award The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are... Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role(1999 – for episode "Cat and Mouse") |
| 2002 | Joe and Max | Anny Ondra Anny Ondra Anny Ondra was a Czech film actress. She was born Anna Sophie Ondráková in Tarnów, Galicia, Austria–Hungary, now Poland, and died in Hollenstedt near Harburg, Germany.-Life:... |
Television movie Nominated—Best Sports Movie ESPY Award Best Sports Movie ESPY Award The Best Sports Movie ESPY Award has been presented annually since 2002 to the sports-related feature film adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year.... |
| 2004 | False Pretenses | Dianne/Dee Dee | Television movie |
| 2005 | Jonny Zero Jonny Zero Jonny Zero is an action-crime drama television series that aired on the Fox network in 2005. It starred Franky G, GQ, and Brennan Hesser. It was cancelled after eight episodes. It began airing on Monday nights on ABC TV in Australia in early 2007.-Plot:... |
Aly | Episode: "Diamonds & Guns" Episode: "Bounty" |
| 2006 | Two Twisted Two Twisted Two Twisted is an Australian TV mystery anthology drama which premiered on the Nine Network on 14 August 2006. Narrated by Bryan Brown, who also produced the series' predecessor, Twisted Tales, each episode of the series contains two short half-hour stories, that have a twist ending... |
Mischa Sparkle | Episode: "A Flash Exclusive" |
| 2009 | Malibu Shark Attack | Heather | Television movie |
| 2010 | CSI: Miami | Amanda | Episode: "Sudden Death" |
By the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films
- Nominated: 2003 Saturn AwardSaturn AwardThe Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within...
– Best Supporting Actress – The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (film)The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (film)The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a 2003 superhero film adaptation loosely based on characters from the comic book limited series The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore, who is also famous for Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell. It was released on July 11, 2003, in the... - Nominated: 1998 Saturn AwardSaturn AwardThe Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within...
– Best Genre TV Actress – La Femme Nikita (1997)
The Gemini Awards
- Nominated: 1999 Gemini AwardGemini AwardThe Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
– Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role – La Femme Nikita (1997) Episode – "Cat and Mouse" - Nominated: 1998 Gemini AwardGemini AwardThe Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
– Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role – La Femme Nikita (1997)