Mark Coles Smith

Mark Coles Smith (born 1987) is an Indigenous Australian actor originally from Broome in Western Australia.

Mark Coles Smith
Coles Smith in 2020
Born1987 (age 35–36)[1]
Broome, Western Australia, Australia
Occupationactor
Known forBeing the first Indigenous Australian actor to be nominated for a Gold Logie
Notable work
Television
AwardsFCCA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (2015)
AACTA International Award for Best Actor in a Series (2023)

He is known for his roles in Last Cab to Darwin (2015), Picnic at Hanging Rock (2018) and Occupation: Rainfall (2020), as well as Mystery Road: Origin (2022) and the Canadian series Hard Rock Medical (2013-18).[2]

Life and career

Coles Smith was born in Broome in 1987, and made his debut in the Network Ten children's TV show Ocean Star at the age of 14 after being taken to an open audition by his aunt.[3]

In 2007, Coles Smith received the VCA Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts' Yvonne Cohen Award, and graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Aboriginal Theatre.[4]

After filming his role in The Gods of Wheat Street in 2014, Coles Smith was cast in an episode of American sitcom Modern Family playing a tour guide called Koora in an episode filmed in the Blue Mountains.[5]

Coles Smith won critical acclaim for his performance as Tilly in Last Cab to Darwin, and was awarded with FCCA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2015.[6]

In 2021, Coles Smith was cast in Mystery Road: Origin, a prequel to the original two series.[7] In the prequel, Coles Smith played a younger version of detective Jay Swan, a role originated by Aaron Pedersen.[8]

Following Chris Brown's defection from Network 10 to the Seven Network in 2023, Coles Smith succeeded Brown as the narrator of The Dog House Australia.[9]

At the 12th AACTA International Awards, Coles Smith won the AACTA International Award for Best Actor in a Series for his portrayal of Detective Jay Swan in Mystery Road: Origin.[10]

In 2023, Coles Smith became the first Indigenous Australian actor ever to be nominated for a Gold Logie.[11] He also received nominations for the Logie Award for Most Popular Actor and the industry-voted Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor for his role on Mystery Road: Origin.[11]

Coles Smith was one of three identities from ABC TV nominated for the Gold Logie with Leigh Sales and Shaun Micallef also nominated, with Coles Smith crediting the latter with helping him draw inspiration from the Curiosity Cul-de-sac parodies on Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell for his role on Mystery Road: Origin.[12]

Since 2015, Coles Smith has lived in Melbourne.[13]

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
2003Ocean StarSpider12 episodes
2005Blue HeelersLuke ParnellEpisode: "One Good Turn"
2007–2010The CircuitBilly Wallan8 episodes
2009Dirt GameWillieEpisode: "Boab Dreaming"
2010Beneath Hill 60Billy Bacon
2012Ace of SpadesChristianShort
2013Around The BlockSteve Wood
2013Miss Fisher's Murder MysteriesTom DerrimutEpisode: "Deadweight"
2013–2018Hard Rock MedicalGary Frazier
2014Modern FamilyAustralian GuideEpisode: "Australia"
2014The Gods of Wheat StreetTristan Freeburn6 episodes
2014Old SchoolJason Dhurkay8 episodes
2014WurinyanHenryShort
2015Last Cab to DarwinTillyFCCA Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated – AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role[14]
Nominated – AFCA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
2015AirlockJonah Ashbrook
2015PawnoPaulyNominated – AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominated – FCCA Award for Best Supporting Actor
2016HuntersDylan Briggs13 episodes
2016Please Like MeRicky1 episode
2017Doctor DoctorDan2 episodes
2018Picnic at Hanging RockTom
2018–PresentShaun Micallef's Mad as HellVarious (incl. Bumfrey Moo)14 episodes
2019Will Australia ever have a black Prime Minister?Presenter
2019Les NortonJack 'Palings' Murphy1 episode
2020Halifax: RetributionKip Lee
2020Outback RingerNarrator
2021Occupation: RainfallCaptain Wessex
2022AkoniSammy
2022Savage RiverJoel Thorpe
2022Mystery Road: OriginJay SwanSeries 3 main, succeeded Aaron Pedersen
2022Sweet AsIan[15]
2023The Dog House AustraliaNarrator[9]
2023 The Clearing Wayne Dhurrkay TV series

References
  1. "Smith, Mark Coles (1987-)". City Libraries, City of Gold Coast. Gold Coast City Council. The person, Smith, Mark Coles (1987 - ) represents an individual associated with resources found in City Libraries, City of Gold Coast
  2. Bailey, John (31 May 2023). "Mystery Road star's ghosts: 'sometimes I can feel them nearby'". The Age. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  3. "My first job: Mark Coles Smith, actor". The New Daily. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  4. Mark Coles Smith – Talent Information
  5. Domjen, Briana (17 March 2014). "Aussie actor Mark Coles Smith steered clear of Modern Family sex bomb Sofia Vergara because she was 'absolutely gorgeous'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  6. "2015 Awards". FCCA Awards. Film Critics Circle of Australia. Retrieved 29 July 2023. Best Actor - Supporting Role: Mark Coles Smith (Last Cab to Darwin)
  7. Quinn, Karl (21 August 2021). "'Big boots to fill': Mark Coles Smith inherits Aaron Pedersen's iconic role". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. Byram, Vickii (13 July 2022). "A drive down Mystery Road with Mark Coles Smith is a journey back to detective Jay Swan's origins". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  9. Knox, David (9 February 2023). "Mark Coles Smith narrates The Dog House". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  10. Knox, David (24 February 2023). "AACTA International Awards 2023: winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 July 2023. ABC's Mystery Road: Origin taking home Best Drama Series and Mark Coles Smith was named Best Lead Actor in a Series.
  11. Knox, David (28 July 2023). "Mark Coles Smith makes history as first Indigenous actor nominated for Gold Logie". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  12. Karvelas, Patricia (29 July 2023). "'Stoked to be included': Mark Coles Smith on Logie nomination". RN Breakfast. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  13. O'Brien, Mary (31 July 2015). "My secret Melbourne: actor Mark Coles Smith goes looking for the doorway to love". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  14. AACTA Awards 2015 Nominations
  15. Bailey, John (31 May 2023). "Mystery Road star's ghosts: 'sometimes I can feel them nearby'". The Age. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.