Danielle Cormack (born 26 December 1970) is a New Zealand stage and screen actress. She was one of the original cast members of the long-running soap opera Shortland Street, though she is also known for her roles as the Amazon Ephiny in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess, Bea Smith in Wentworth, Cynthia Ross in The Cult, and Shota in Legend of the Seeker. Other works include the 2009 film, Separation City, and the Australian series Rake.NZ On Screen biography with permission via Creative Commons
Acting career Danielle Cormack is a stage and screen actress from New Zealand. She portrayed notorious Sydney underworld figure Kate Leigh in Underbelly: Razor, and doctor Rory Finch in Jack Irish.
In 2012 Cormack was announced as Bea Smith in the Foxtel prison drama Wentworth when the series had first gone into production for four years, before leaving the show in 2016. The role of Bea Smith was originally played by Val Lehman. in Prisoner. Cormack has since appeared regularly at Wentworth-related events in the US and the UK, and hosted the 2023 New Jersey Event.
In 2022, Cormack narrated the SBS documentary series Life on the Outside, which showed what life is like for newly released prison inmates.
In 2023 she appeared in Erotic Stories on SBS Television. In the same year, she was named as part of the cast for New Zealand dramedy series Madam. Cormack was also named in the cast for Stan Australia drama Year Of.
She served as executive producer for the short film Oi (2024). On 8 December 2024, Cormack was announced in the cast for series 3 of Foxtel legal drama The Twelve.
Cormack, alongside Wentworth cast member Nicole da Silva, started the production company Four One One, and together they produced their first play Whose Afraid in 2022. Cormack and da Silva in 2023 directed the short film Why We Fight. Why We Fight was nominated for an AACTA award for Short Film.
On 17 April 2025, Cormack was named as part of the extended cast for series two of ABC series Return to Paradise. On 16 September 2025, Foxtel announced a documentary for the late Brian Walsh with Cormack announced as one of many guests.
On 17 July 2026, Cormack was named in the cast for series three of Scrublands.
Other activities In 2018, Cormack, while working alongside aid agency ChildFund, helped build a water tank that would supply villages in Uganda.
Cormack went to provide humanitarian aid to children in Ukraine after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Cormack is an ambassador for SHINE for Kids.
Personal life Cormack was in a relationship with Pana Hema Taylor from 2009 until 2013. She has two children: one with Taylor, and one from a previous relationship.
In an interview with LOTL magazine in 2016, Cormack said that she had had long-term relationships with both men and women, and indicated that she prefers to avoid applying labels to patterns of sexuality.
Cormack is an avid motorbike fan and often goes on motorbike rides to manage stress.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1993SnapFelicityShort filmVera SmithShort film1994The Last TattooMolly1997Topless Women Talk About Their LivesLiz1998Via SatelliteChrissy / Carol1999Siam SunsetGraceChannelling BabyBunnie2000Lucinda2004Without a PaddleToniStringerButcherTogetherRoseShort film2005JaneShort filmRiver QueenViola2006MirageVariousShort filmCross My HeartKrystalShort filmPerfect CreatureMargaret Sparrow2008Rachel Cradle2009Separation CityPam Nicholson2025Backseat SheenaShort
Television Year Title Role NotesRef1987–89GlossTania VeitchMain role1992–93Shortland StreetAlison RaynorMain role 1994High TideMeghan KellyEpisode: "Sitting Ducks"1995High TideJill McMillanEpisode: "Dead Heat"StaceyTelevision filmOvernightKellyTelevision film1995–2001Xena: Warrior PrincessEphinyRecurring role (8 episodes)1997Hercules: The Legendary JourneysLady Marie DeValleEpisode: "Les Contemptibles"1997–99Hercules: The Legendary JourneysEphinyEpisodes: "Prodigal Sister", "Sky High"2000Jack of All TradesKatherineEpisode: "A Horse of a Different Color"Cleopatra 2525RainaEpisodes: "Mind Games", "Trial and Error", "Out of Body"Xena: Warrior PrincessSamsaraEpisode: "Lifeblood"2004Maiden VoyageLynn FabrizioTelevision film2006Maddigan's QuestMaddieMain role (13 episodes)2007Rude AwakeningsDimity RushMain role (11 episodes)2008City HomicideShirley SteadmanEpisode: "Taniwha"AmyEpisodes: "1.11", "1.12", "1.13"2008–10Legend of the SeekerShotaRecurring role (6 episodes)2009Buzzy Bee and FriendsElle-Gator (voice)Recurring role (14 episodes)Cynthia RossMain role (13 episodes)2010Forever New ZealandCatherineTelevision film2010–16RakeScarlet MeagherMain role (32 episodes)2011East West 101Angela TravisEpisodes: "Jerusalem", "Behold a Pale Horse", "Revelation"Underbelly: RazorKate LeighMain role (13 episodes)2012Miss Fisher's Murder MysteriesAnna RossEpisode: "Queen of the Flowers"Buzzy Bee and FriendsElle-Gator (voice)Episodes: "2.1", "Memories", "Oscar's Ups and Downs"2013–16WentworthBea SmithMain role (46 episodes) 2016Deep WaterBrenda MacIntosh4 part miniseries on SBSStake OutDavina"Hijacking Hijinks"2018Patricia MooreMarnie9 episodes Jack Irish Rory Finch5 episodesSecret CityKaren KoutoufidesMain role2019Fresh EggsLuluTV seriesMy Life Is MurderNikki Malone / Nicole ButteraTV series, episode: "The Locked Room"2022The Secrets She KeepsVicky Michaelson Season 2 (6 episodes)2023Year OfLucinda Prichard9 episodesErotic StoriesGinger1 episode (The Deluge) 2024MadamDeziyahTV series: 8 episodesDouble Parked EdieTV series 1 episode2025The Last AnniversaryKate Kennedy TV series: 1 episodeThe TwelveGabe NichollsTV series; 8 episodes (season 3: Cape Rock Killer)Return to Paradise Asher Svensson TV series: 1 episode (Apex Predator)2026Dead BonesTV seriesTBAScrublands: TrustTBATV series
Other appearances YearTitleRoleNotesRef2025The Great Entertainer SelfDocumentary 2025Memory Bites with Matt MoranGuest1 episode2022Life on the OutsideSelf/NarratorDocumentary 3 episodes 2019Wentworth: Behind the BarsSelfTV Special2017CramSelf1 episode 2016An Audience With the Cast of Wentworth SelfTV Special
Theatre Year Title Role NotesRef1993EastSylvMercury Theatre, Auckland1994EastSylvZurich Arts Festival – Lucerne, Switzerland1996Spare PrickLucindaBasement Theatre, Auckland1996Return of the Summer Street SevenLucindaBasement Theatre, Auckland1997ArcadiaChloe CoverlyAuckland Theatre Company1999TrainspottingVariousNew Zealand Tour2001Alison / VariousAuckland Theatre Company2001StellaAuckland Theatre Company2002FloAuckland Theatre Company2003EvelynAuckland Theatre Company2003VariousNew Zealand Tour2004Skin TightElizabethNew Zealand Tour2004CaligulaCaesoniaAuckland Theatre Company2004Sex with StrangersRobynHerald Theatre, Auckland2005Sex with StrangersProstituteHerald Theatre, Auckland2005VariousSilo Theatre, Auckland2006Katherine MansfieldHerald Theatre, Auckland2007Katherine MansfieldDownstage Theatre, Wellington2008DorineMelbourne Theatre Company2008Rock 'n' RollLenkaMelbourne Theatre Company & Sydney Theatre Company2010Christ AlmightyThree Wise MenThe Basement Theatre, Auckland2011Yellow MoonHollieB Sharp2012Top GirlsMarleneSilo Theatre2014RupertAnna MurdochTheatre Royal, Sydney 2015Boys Will Be BoysAstrid WentworthSydney Theatre Company2016StraightStephKings Cross Theatre2018The MisanthropeAlcesteBell Shakespeare, with Griffin Theatre2018HeddaHeddaQueensland Theatre Company2020Every Brilliant Thing(Director)Silo Theatre, Auckland2022Whose Afraid CastBelvoir St 2023Blessed Union CastBelvoir St2026WSueOld Fitz Theatre2027Every Second Wednesday SueMelbourne Theatre Co
Awards Year Award Category Production Result 1997 New Zealand Film and TV Awards Best Actress Topless Women Talk About Their Lives 1999 Channelling Baby 2000 The Price of Milk Fantasporto International Film Festival Siam Sunset 2005 Drifting Cloud International Film Festival Best Performance Together 2006 TV Guide Best on the Box People's Choice Awards Best Actress Maddigan's Quest 48 Hour Film Festival Best Manic Performance Mirage Richmond Road Short Film Festival Best Performance Female Together 2009 Aotearoa Film & Television Awards Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film Separation City 2010 Qantas Television Awards Best Performance by Actress in General Television The Cult 2011 Equity Awards Best Ensemble Cast Rake 2012 Logie Award Most Popular Actress Underbelly: Razor & East West 101 2014 Outstanding Actress Wentworth Logie Awards Most Outstanding Drama Series Most Outstanding Actress 2015 ASTRA Award Most Outstanding Female Actor AACTA Award Best Lead Actress in a Drama Wentworth Logie Award Most Outstanding Actress Wentworth Most Outstanding Drama Series Wentworth 2016 AACTA Award Best Actress in a Drama Wentworth Logie Award Most Outstanding Drama Series Wentworth 2017 Most Outstanding ActressWentworth Most Outstanding Drama Series Wentworth
References
External links
Danielle Cormack on Instagram