Sibylla Budd (born 19 September 1976) is an Australian actress perhaps best known for her roles in the television series The Secret Life of Us and Winners & Losers.

Early life Budd grew up in Canberra, as one of four siblings. She has an older brother, Alex, and two younger brothers, Hamilton and Henry.https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/how-sibylla-budd-s-childhood-inspired-her-career-direction-20200716-p55co0.html

She attended Canberra Girls' Grammar School where she became interesting in acting while performing in plays. After high school, Budd travelled overseas and worked in a pub in Cambridge, England, for six months. When she returned to Australia, she studied acting at the University of Western Sydney, before being accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) in 1997. She graduated with a Bachelor of Dramatic Art in 2000.

Career In 2000 Budd appeared in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) soap opera Something in the Air playing Sharon. In 2001 she was the leading female in The Bank as Michelle Roberts, and played Sam Cooper in the TV miniseries The Farm. That year she also began playing her break-out role of Gabrielle Kovich in The Secret Life of Us.Internet Movie Database, "Sibylla Budd", https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0118932/ Accessed 4 March 2010

Budd left The Secret Life of Us in late 2003, a year before the series was cancelled. In 2005, she joined the cast of medical drama series All Saints playing Dyanna Richardson whose role was Nursing Unit Manager. In 2007 Budd appeared in Channel Nine's naval drama, Sea Patrol as marine biologist Ursula Morrell and in the feature film directorial debut of Gallipoli actor Mark Lee in The Bet, starring alongside Matthew Newton, Aden Young and Australian acting veteran Roy Billing.

Budd also had a guest role in an episode of the Australian comedy series, Kath & Kim as character Sharon Strezlecki's childhood friend.

In 2008 Budd appeared in the $40million advertising campaign to sell Australia, directed by Baz Luhrmann for Tourism Australia entitled "Come Walkabout" with Matthew Le Nevez.

In 2013 Budd appeared in a recurring role on Seven Network's Winners & Losers as Carla Hughes, the Head of Emergency, beginning in Season 3. She also had a guest-starring role in Peter Helliar's series for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation series, It's a Date.

After the 2003 season of Secret Life, Budd joined her co-star Deborah Mailman on a journey to Tanzania with World Vision. The documentary The Secret Life of Tanzania was screened on Australian television in January 2004.

In August 2006 Budd was appointed member of the Advertising Standards Bureau, an advertising industry self-regulation body concerned with standards of advertising material in print, television and radio media.

In 2025, Budd appeared as Channel 9 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown in Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar, the series recreated the Belle Gibson interview.

Personal life Budd met her future husband Peter Carstairs when Carstairs cast Budd in his first feature film, September in 2007. They were married in 2010 and had their first son, Albie in 2011. Their two other children are Freddy and Audrey.https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/how-sibylla-budd-s-childhood-inspired-her-career-direction-20200716-p55co0.html

Budd's father, Dale, was Malcolm Fraser’s Chief of Staff – both when Fraser was Minister for Defence from 1970 to 1971, and Prime Minister from 1975 to 1978.https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/how-sibylla-budd-s-childhood-inspired-her-career-direction-20200716-p55co0.html

Fellow actor Patrick Brammall was a friend of Budd's when she was in early high school.https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/how-sibylla-budd-s-childhood-inspired-her-career-direction-20200716-p55co0.html

Acting credits

Television Year Film Role Notes 2000 Something in the Air Sharon TV series, season 1 episode 59: "We'll Talk About It in the Morning" 2001 The Secret Life of Us Gabrielle Kovich TV film The Farm Sam Cooper TV miniseries, 3 episodes 2001–2003 The Secret Life of Us Gabrielle Kovich TV series, seasons 1–3, 66 episodes 2003 Kath and Kim Lisa-Marie Birkenstock TV series, season 2, episode 3: "The Moon" 2004 The Secret Life of Tanzania Herself TV documentary special 2005–2006 All Saints Deanna Richardson TV series, seasons 8–9, 13 episodes 2007 Sea Patrol Dr. Ursula Morrell TV series, season 1, 6 episodes 2008 Canal Road Daina Connelly TV miniseries, 10 episodes 2013 It's a Date Imogen TV series, season 1, 2 episodes Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Renee Fleuri TV series, season 2, episode 5: "Murder à la Mode" Redfern Now Detective Morris TV series, season 2, episode 3: '"Babe in Arms" 2013–2015 Winners and Losers Carla Hughes TV series, seasons 3–4, 39 episodes 2014 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Martha Harris TV series, season 2, episode 3: "A Foreign Field" Rake Mrs. Guilfoyle QC TV series, season 3, episode 7 2015 Tattoo Tales Narrator Documentary TV series, 8 episodes 2016 Tomorrow, When the War Began Rachel Maxwell TV series, 6 episodes 2018 Picnic at Hanging Rock Mrs Valange TV miniseries, 3 episodes 2020 Mint Condition Audrey Online comedy/drama series Operation Buffalo Lorraine Carmichael TV miniseries, 3 episodes 2022Summer Love Jules TV series, episode 1: "Jules and Tom & Jonah and Steph" 2025 Apple Cider Vinegar Tara Brown TV miniseries, 3 episodes Ten Pound Poms Hilary MorelandTV series: 2 episodes2026Bad CompanyCaitlen AllardTV series, season 1, 1 episode

Film Year Title Role Notes 2001 The Bank Michelle Feature film2006 The Bet Tory Feature film The Book of Revelation Deborah Feature film 2007 September Miss Gregory Feature film 2012 Pause Voice Short film 2015 Jump! Melody Merriwether Short film 2023 Favourites Justine Short film

Theatre Year Title Role Venue / Co. 2004 The Memory of Water Catherine Space 28 with MTC 2005 Ray's Tempest Cynthia Cornish Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney 2006 The Emperor of Sydney Gillian Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company 2008 Boeing-Boeing Gretchen Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal Sydney with Newtheatricals 2008 Yibiyung Lady Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Company B 2009 Playwriting Australia Showcase Theatre Royal, Hobart for National Play Festival 2009 The Lonesome West Girleen Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney with B Sharp 2010 Betrayal Emma Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/404712

References

External links

World Vision, The Secret Life Of Tanzania National Film and Sound Archive Australian Film and Television Archive