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Michala Banas

Michala Banas
Born
Michala Elizabeth Laurinda Banas

(1978-11-14) 14 November 1978 (age 46)
Wellington, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealander
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1985–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2019)​

Michala Elizabeth Laurinda Banas[1] (born 14 November 1978) is a New Zealand television actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Marissa Taylor in Always Greener and as Kate Manfredi in McLeod's Daughters.

Life and career

Born in Wellington, New Zealand into a family of New Zealand, English and Scottish descent, Michala starred in her first advert at only 18 months of age.

Her debut film performance was when she was five years old, in the New Zealand film Dangerous Orphans. Her Australian debut television performance was as Louisa in the miniseries Mirror, Mirror in 1995.

From 2001 to 2003, Banas played main character Marissa Taylor in the Seven Network drama Always Greener.

In 2002, she had a small role in the film adaptation Scooby-Doo.

Banas is an accomplished singer, and in 2003 released a single, "Kissin' The Wind", which made the top 30 on the Australian Recording Industry Association 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.[2]

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 Australian national tour of the Broadway musical, Avenue Q, playing the roles of "Kate Monster" and "Lucy the Slut". Banas was one of three celebrity faces for Proactiv Solution in Australia and New Zealand.

Banas had a guest role as Tiffany Turner on the drama series Winners & Losers,[1] and a supporting role on ABC3 teen drama Nowhere Boys as Phoebe. In 2013, Banas starred in the ABC comedy series Upper Middle Bogan as Amber Wheeler. The series had run for three seasons.

In 2019, Banas begun serving as an intimacy coordinator for television projects, a coordinator is used in scenes where two actors/actresses are preparing to be intimate and the coordinator makes sure that both people are comfortable with what is about to happen.[3]

In June 2019, it was announced that Banas would appear in the sitcom Fam Time which was originally intended to broadcast on the Seven Network in 2020, however was indefinitely shelved until June 2024, when it was announced it would be released on 7plus on 11 July 2024.[4][5][6] In 2020, she joined the filming for Halifax: Retribution[7] and has since appeared in several other projects including ABC's Turn Up The Volume and Gold Diggers.

On 23 September 2024, Banas would join Jo Stanley in the women led radio station Broad Radio as a co-host.[8]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Dangerous Orphans Anna Hanna
2002 Scooby-Doo Carol
2003 Ned Muffy
2010 The Colours of Home Karen Short film
2016 Nowhere Boys: The Book of Shadows Phoebe Hartley
2018 That's Not My Dog! Michala

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
1995 Mirror, Mirror Louisa Iredale 20 episodes
1998 State Coroner Zoe Martin 2 episodes
1999 Murder Call Kylie McDonald Episode: "Cut & Dried"
Flipper Karen Episode: "Spring Break"
Blue Heelers Tara Bruckner Episode: "Winning at All Costs"
2000 Blue Heelers Michaela Brady Episode: "Leg Work"
The Lost World Renata Episode: "Unnatural Selection"
2000–2001 Round the Twist Ariel 11 episodes
Something in the Air Angela O'Connor
2001 BeastMaster Loriel Episode: "Mydoro"
The Saddle Club Shoshonna Green Episode: "Star Quality"
2001–2003 Always Greener Marissa Taylor 50 episodes
2004–2008 McLeod's Daughters Kate Manfredi Main role (seasons 4–8)
2008 The Mansion Megan McKean 1 episode
Neighbours Libby Kennedy 18 episodes
2011–2016 Winners & Losers Tiffany Turner 16 episodes
2012 Beaconsfield Caroline Russell 2 episodes
2013–2016 Upper Middle Bogan Amber Wheeler Main role
Nowhere Boys Phoebe Hartley Recurring role (seasons 1–2)
2015 Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Enid 1 episode
2019 Get Krack!n Rose Bailey 1 episode
Bad Mothers Jesse 4 episodes
2020 Halifax: Retribution Erin [9]
Larry The Wonderpup Pearl 8 episodes
2022 Joe vs. Carole Dr. Hernandez 1 episode
2023 Turn Up the Volume Mish 5 episodes [10]
Gold Diggers Tippy 6 episodes [11]
2024 Fam Time Belinda Box 6 episodes [12]

Self appearances / interviews

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2024-present Broad Radio Self / Co-Host
2022 Would I Lie to You? Australia Herself
2021 Spicks and Specks Herself 1 episode [13]
2018 Hughesy, We Have a Problem Herself Celebrity Problem
Show Me the Movie! 1 episode
2014–2015 Have You Been Paying Attention? Herself 6 episodes

source: [14]

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2024 Love Stories Wife Brisbane Festival
2023 The Memory of Water Mary Ensemble Theatre [15]
2021 Boy Swallows Universe Frankie Bell Queensland Theatre Company
2021 The Truth Laurance Melbourne Theatre Company [16]
2018 Lottie in the Late Afternoon Clara
2016 The Odd Couple Gwendolyn Pigeon MTC [17]

Discography

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions
AUS[18]
"Kissin' the Wind" 2003 28

References

  1. ^ a b Lowie (20 September 2010). "Michala Banas confirms role on new drama". Media Spy. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  2. ^ Byrne, Fiona (10 August 2008). "Kym Valentine: I had no idea I was so ill". Herald Sun. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  3. ^ "What it means to be an 'Intimacy Coordinator' in film and TV". honey.nine.com.au. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  4. ^ Knox, David (6 June 2019). "Seven announces new sitcom, Fam Time". TV Tonight. TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Seven Studios' New Comedy Fam Time". 7Plus. Seven West Media. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  6. ^ Knox, David (26 June 2024). "Fam Time sitcom to (finally) screen on 7Plus". TV Tonight. TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Michala Banas on finally playing a detective on TV in Halifax: Retribution". www.nine.com.au. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  8. ^ Stigell, Fredrika (22 September 2024). "Former Radio Host Jo Stanley Launches Broad Radio, Scaling Up Radio Offering For Women". B&T. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Australian Television: Halifax Retribution: cast". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Airdate: Turn Up The Volume | TV Tonight". 27 February 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  11. ^ says, Chuck128 (8 March 2023). "Cameras roll on Gold Diggers for ABC | TV Tonight". Retrieved 9 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Groves, Don (5 June 2019). "Michala Banas, Benson Jack Anthony and Duncan Fellows wrestle with 'Fam Time'". IF Magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  13. ^ Release, Media (13 May 2021). "Eddie Perfect, Michala Banas and Nazeem Hussain special guests this weekend on SPICKS AND SPECKS". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Showcast". app.showcast.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  15. ^ Blake, Jason (26 October 2023). "The Memory of Water (Ensemble Theatre)". Limelight. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  16. ^ On, Thuy (28 June 2021). "Theatre Review: The Truth, MTC". www.artshub.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  17. ^ Peard, Anne-Marie (12 November 2016). "The Odd Couple is an odd choice". AussieTheatre.com. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Michala Banas - Australian chart history". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
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