Susan Prior is an Australian actress, who has worked extensively in film, television and theatre.
Early life and education Prior attended a high school that specialised in music, where she took an interest in singing and playing the cello, as well as being heavily involved in sports. She was also chosen for the Student Representative Committee. She subsequently participated in dance with the Australian Dance Theatre 's youth group Mummy 's Little Darlings, including performing at the Adelaide Festival.
Prior travelled from Adelaide to Sydney to audition for National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney and was accepted into the school, graduating in 1991.
Career Prior began her acting career on stage. After performing in productions with Belvoir Theatre Company and Griffin Theatre Company from 1992, she played Tegwyn in an Australian touring production of That Eye, the Sky, directed by Richard Roxburgh from 1994 to 1995.
Prior's first onscreen appearance was in a small part alongside Toni Collette, in 1994 comedy film Muriel's Wedding. She followed this with roles in 1996 comedy-drama Idiot Box with Ben Mendelsohn, 1997 action film Heaven's Burning with Russell Crowe and 1998 drama film Praise.
Prior's performance as Lizzie in a 1997 Griffin Theatre Company production of Wolf Lullaby earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Green Room Awards. Playing Carla in an SBW staging of Sweet Road saw her win an award for Outstanding Performance at the Norman Kessell Memorial Awards in 2001.
In 2000, Prior appeared in the film A Wreck A Tangle with Damian Walshe-Howling. In 2003, she co-wrote and starred in the film A Cold Summer, seeing her nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Film Critics' Circle Awards. She then landed a recurring guest role in medical drama All Saints in 2005, playing psychotic stalker Beth Chandler, who fixates on Vincent Hughes (Christopher Gabardi), before kidnapping Cate McMasters (Alexandra Davies). In 2006, she appeared in the comedy thriller film Suburban Mayhem, with Michael Dorman and Anthony Hayes.
In 2007, Prior starred in short film The Saviour which was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the Academy Awards. That same year, she performed in a Sydney Theatre Company production of Riflemind at The Wharf, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman which earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 2008 Helpmann Awards.
Prior played Alicia Henry in David Michôd's 2010 crime drama feature Animal Kingdom, alongside Ben Mendelsohn, Guy Pearce, Joel Edgerton and Jacki Weaver. In 2012, she played opposite Ryan Kwanten and Sarah Snook in comedy drama film Not Suitable for Children, and also had a recurring guest role in long-running soap opera Home and Away, playing the role of Margaret Henderson. That same year, she also landed the recurring role of Yvonne Hennessey in drama series Puberty Blues, the series reimagining of the 1981 film of the same name. Her portrayal saw her nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama.
Prior's performance as Electra in a 2013 production of Small and Tired for Belvoir won her a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She was then cast in another Michôd feature film, the 2014 dystopian western drama The Rover, with Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson. Her performance earned her an AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
After playing Sasha, the wife of Richard Roxburgh 's Mikhail in a production of The Present for Sydney Theatre Company in 2015, Prior made her Broadway debut in the same production at the Barrymore Theatre. She then appeared opposite Angourie Rice, Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving in 2017 mystery drama film Jasper Jones, in the role of Gwyn Wishart, before playing head teacher, Ms Lee Issen in 2018 film Book Week, and Norma Gowland in docudrama film Riot, with Damon Herriman, Jessica De Gouw and Xavier Samuel.
In 2021, Prior landed a role in ABC comedy series Aftertaste, playing sister Denise, sister of the main character, celebrity chef Easton West (Erik Thomson). The series also starred Rachel Griffiths. In early 2022, Prior played one of the lead roles, Martha, in a State Theatre Company South Australia production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, to acclaim by critics.
In 2024, Prior played Tish in comedy musical film The Deb, with Rebel Wilson. The following year, she appeared in Foxtel comedy-drama series The Last Anniversary, based on Liane Moriarty's book of the same name. She played the role of Margie, alongside Teresa Palmer, Miranda Richardson and Danielle Macdonald.
Prior is set to appear in the upcoming biopic Fenech – The Jeff Fenech Story in the role of boxer Jeff Fenech's mother, Mary.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes Ref 1994 Muriel's Wedding Girl at Wedding Feature film 1996 Idiot Box Luce Feature film 1997 Heaven's Burning Sharon Feature film Sneak Preview Short film 1998 Praise Sophie Feature film War Story Mother Short film 1999 Doctor By Day Kay Short film 2000 A Wreck A Tangle Eleanor Feature film 2002 Little Blue Mum Short film 2003 A Cold Summer Phaedra Feature film 2005 A Divided Heart Millie Vickery Feature film Monster Mother Short film The Saviour Carmel Short film Still Time Sue Short film 2006 Suburban Mayhem Christine Andretti Feature film 2007 The Uncertainty Principal Sue Short film Nothing Lasts Forever Woman Short film 2008 The View from Greenhaven Kate Feature film 2010 Animal Kingdom Alicia Henry Feature film 2011 The Engagement International Commission for Missing Persons Short film 2012 Not Suitable for Children Marcie Feature film Careless Love Lee Feature film 2013 The Twin Annie / Sarah Short film My Mother Her Daughter Susan Short film 2014 The Orchard Rachel Short film The Rover Dorothy Peeples Feature film Snowblind Gene Short film Handyman Melinda Short film 2015 Second Hand Gabby Short film Reg Makes Contact Susan Short film Bunny New Girl Alice Dunn Short film 2017 Jasper Jones Gwyn Wishart Feature film 2018 Book Week Lee Issen Feature film The Second The Detective Short film Riot Norma Gowland TV movie 2020 Cube Season Mirren Cube (voice) Animated short film Groundhog Night Cheryl Short film Mukbang Sandra Short film 2021 Chopin's Piano George Sand Feature film The Gathering Gale Short film Ascendant Barbara Wolf Feature film 2024 The Deb Tish Feature film Just a Farmer Kathryn Fenech – The Jeff Fenech Story Mary Fenech Feature film Delia The Woman in Green Short film;Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes Ref 1995 G.P. Linda Swanson 1 episode 1996 Police Rescue Debra 1 episode House Gang Chris 1 episode 2000 Water Rats Rosie Callaghan 2 episodes 2002 Farscape Kirayh 1 episode Young Lions Christine Malouf 1 episode 2005 All Saints Beth Chandler 15 episodes 2006 Two Twisted Nurse Hughes Anthology series, 1 episode 2012 Rake Barbara 1 episode Home and Away Margaret Henderson 6 episodes 2012–2014 Puberty Blues Yvonne Hennessey 17 episodes 2015 Love Child Geraldine Donnelly 1 episode 2017 Doctor Doctor Minnie 3 episodes Top of the Lake Beccy 1 episode 2018 Fighting Season Dr. Linda 1 episode Bite Club Tricia 1 episode Safe Harbour Renee 3 episodes 2019 The Commons Mayor Lena Gordon 1 episode The Other Guy Sharon 1 episode Frayed Ruth 2 episodes Glitch Anna Donohue 3 episodes Les Norton Chenille 4 episodes Jade of Death Donna 2 episodes 2020 The Gloaming Counsellor Susan Kelly 2 episodes 2021 The Moth Effect Staff Member 1 episode 2021–2022 Aftertaste Denise West 12 episodes 2023 Zombie Therapy Web series 2024 Bump Mara 1 episode 2025 The Last Anniversary Margie 6 episodes
Theatre Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1982 Fatal Johnny Royalty Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Festival of Arts 1991 Merrily We Roll Along NIDA, Sydney Tales from the Decameron / Serious Money NIDA, Sydney 1992 The Will Harold Park Hotel, Sydney with Lounge Acts Last of the Earl Grey / A Surprise for Miffy Belvoir, Sydney with Missing Link Productions Little Ragged Blossom / More About Cuddlepot and Snugglepie Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Co Like Whiskey on the Breath of a Drunk You Love / The Flaw / Spumante Romantica Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Co Shorts at the Stables Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Co Fractured Intimacies Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Co Water Daughter / Glycerine Tears / The White Room Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Co 1993 The Gentleman's New Clothes (aka Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme) Belvoir, Sydney The Pitchfork Disney Belvoir, Sydney 1994–1995 That Eye, the Sky Tegwyn Australian tour 1995 Sydney Stories 1: The Ninth Wonder / The Price of Prayer / The Last Days of a Famous Mime / Family Running for Mr. Whippy Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC The Jungle Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 1995–1997 Who 's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Honey Australian tour with STC 1997 Wolf Lullaby Lizzie Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Griffin Theatre Co 1998 Love for Love Sydney Opera House with STC The Surgeon of Honour Mencia St Stephen's Church, Sydney with STC La Dispute Hermaine St Stephen's Church, Sydney with STC 1999 Laughter on the 23rd Floor Sydney Opera House with Ensemble Theatre 2000 The Ecstatic Bible Scott Theatre, Adelaide for Adelaide Festival of Arts Sweet Road Carla SBW Theatre, Sydney with Ensemble Theatre 2001 King Lear The Fool / Cordelia STC 2002 The Soldiers Tale The Devil Australian Chamber Orchestra 2002–2003 Alone it Stands Various roles NSW/ACT tour 2003 The Cavalcaders Nuala Ensemble Theatre, Sydney with O'Punksky's Theatre Co 2004 Dreaming Transportation Singer Sydney Opera House with Performing Lines 2005 Hurlyburly Bonnie Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Stablemates Arabian Night Franziska NIDA Theatre, Sydney Top Shorts God Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney 2006 Constance Drinkwater & the Final Days of Somerset Constance Drinkwater Stables Theatre, Sydney with Tamarama Rock Surfers 2007 Riflemind Lynn Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 2008 Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Blanche Dubois STC 2008–2009 Venus and Adonis Venus AUS/NZ tour with Bell Shakespeare & STC 2009 The Web Ivy Playhouse, Perth, Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga with Black Swan Theatre Co 2010 Our Town Mrs. Gibbs Sydney Opera House with STC King Lear Cordelia Australian tour with Bell Shakespeare 2011 The Libertine Elizabeth Malet Darlinghurst Theatre with Sport for Jove 2013 Small and Tired Electra Belvoir, Sydney 2014 Is This Thing On? Brianna Belvoir, Sydney 2015 Suddenly Last Summer Mrs Grace Holly Sydney Opera House with STC Death and the Maiden Paulina Salaa Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC & MTC 2015; 2017 The Present Sasha Sydney Theatre with STC & Barrymore Theatre, Broadway 2016 A Midsummer Night 's Dream Peter Quince / Fairy / Singer Sydney Opera House with STC The Distance Bea Southbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC Kin (staged reading) Mrs Mignon Bloom STC 2018 Bliss Alice Dalton Belvoir, Sydney, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne 2020 Dev Online, Australia Baroness Nihil Zalay Online 2022 Who 's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Martha Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA Chalkface Denise Hart Sydney Opera House, Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with STC & STCSA 2024 The Incorrigibles Mog Murphy Kings Cross Theatre, Sydney
Awards and nominations