Kestie Morassi (born 9 August 1978) is an Australian film and television actress. She played Natalie in the TV series Satisfaction (2007–2010) and Maggie Astoni in Home and Away (2017–2020). Morassi has also appeared in the films Dirty Deeds (2002), Wolf Creek (2005) and The Illustrated Family Doctor (2005), and has made television appearances on Underbelly (2008), Wilfred (2010) and Black Snow (2022).
Early life Morassi was born in Adelaide, South Australia. She lived in Adelaide until she was thirteen years old. She studied at the National Theatre, Melbourne Drama School, graduating in 1994, and another five years at Drama with a Difference where she later became a full-time teacher for the school.Author unknown (date unknown). "Dirty Deeds". Drama With A Difference. Retrieved on 5 April 2010 from http://www.dramawithadifference.com.au/about/articles.html .
Career Morassi first appeared on the television series Neighbours in 1996. She would later appear in BeastMaster, Stingers and The Secret Life of Us in the early 2000s before making the transition to films in 2002 alongside an all-star cast including Bryan Brown, Toni Collette, Sam Neill, Sam Worthington and John Goodman in Dirty Deeds which saw her nominated for a Best Supporting Actor award by the Film Critics Circle of Australia.
Morassi has also appeared in Darkness Falls, Travelling Light, Strange Bedfellows, Thunderstruck, The Illustrated Family Doctor and Josh Jarman before getting her international break in the Australian box-office success Wolf Creek, which screened at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. She played backpacker Kristy Earl, for which she was nominated for an Australian Film Institute award for Best Supporting Actress in 2005.Soares, Andre (26 November 2005). "Australian Film Institute Awards – 2005". Alt Film Guide, 26 November 2005. Retrieved on 5 April 2010 from . She also starred in the Patrick Hughes short film Signs for Schweppes opposite Nick Russell.
In recent work, Morassi played whip-cracking brothel manager Natalie in Foxtel's groundbreaking drama Satisfaction and portrays sultry and infatuated criminal defence lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson in the Nine Network TV drama series Underbelly.STV (20 November 2009) "Kestie Morassi – Zarah". Underbelly cast guide. STV, 20 November 2009. Retrieved on 5 April 2010 from . In 2010, she had a guest appearance on Wilfred, playing "Kat".
Morassi joined the cast of Seven Network soap opera Home and Away in 2017 as Maggie Astoni. She departed in July 2020, along with Rohan Nichol who plays her on-screen husband Ben Astoni.
In 2020 Morassi returned to the big screen in paranormal horror Surrogate alongside Jane Badler. Morassi plays Natalie Paxton, a nurse and single mother, who falls mysteriously ill and struggles to save her family from being destroyed. Surrogate premiered April 6, 2022 at Sun Theatre, Yarraville, Victoria for a limited four-week theatrical run where it was number 1, two weeks running. Surrogate was released internationally in September 2022 on TubiTV and Amazon Prime.
Filmography
Film + Year Title Role Notes 2002Dirty Deeds Margaret NominatedFCCA Award for Best Supporting Actor (Female) 2002The Merchant of Fairness Katrina 2002 Travelling Light Rhonda 2003 Darkness Falls Nurse Lauren 2003 Strange Bedfellows Carla 2003 Thunderstruck Amy 2004 Josh Jarman Sasha 2005 Wolf Creek Kristy Earl NominatedAFI Award for Best Supporting Actress 2005 The Illustrated Family Doctor Jennifer 2008 SignsStacey Short film 2009 Piñata Wendy Short film 2009 Birthday Lily Melbourne Underground Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress 2010 The Wedding Party Jacqui 2010 Blame Cate 2012 Fearless Rachel Lepinsky Short film 2012 Real Meal Deal Activist Short film 2014 Fractions Peta Short film 2020 Surrogate Natalie Paxton
Television
+ Year Title Role Notes 1996 Neighbours Charnelle Edwards 1 episode 2001 The Saddle Club Mrs. Sharlow 1 episode 2001 Beastmaster Erial Episode: "The Legend Reborn" 2002 The Secret Life of Us Larissa 2 episodes 2003 Stingers Simone 1 episode 2006 Two Twisted Rose 1 episode 2007–2010 Satisfaction Natalie Main role 2008 Underbelly Zarah Garde-Wilson TV miniseries 2010 Wilfred Kat 1 episode 2010 Offspring Ivy 3 episodes 2017–20 Home and Away Maggie Astoni Main role (Seasons 30–33) 2023 Almost Paradise Janice 1 episode
References
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