Biography of Toni Collette
Australian actress Toni Collette realized early on that she wanted to be an actress. On her journey to her dream, she worked hard—dropping out of school in 1991 for the theater stage and seizing any film roles she could. After the premiere of "Muriel's Wedding" in 1992, Toni became well-known in Australia and set her sights on conquering Hollywood.American cinema embraced her by the early 2000s, placing her alongside already well-known actors. Toni dedicatedly lost and gained weight for film roles, sang on Broadway, appeared in both horror and science fiction, did everything possible to constantly advance her career, and continues to do so now.
Early Years
Toni Collette was born in Sydney on November 1, 1972. Her childhood was far from easy. Her parents were always busy with work: her father was a truck driver, and her mother worked in customer service. Toni was the eldest child and, in the absence of her parents, had to take care of her two younger brothers.In her free time, when she wasn't studying or doing chores, Collette would watch old movie tapes until they wore out. She became so immersed in the plots that she wouldn't react to the outside world. It was then that she realized she wanted to become an actress.
Toni started participating in all school plays and, as a teenager, made her debut on the stage of a real city theater, playing a small role in the musical "Godspell."
Theater
In 1988, Toni told her parents that she had left school to start working at the Australian Youth Theatre, where she had been attending courses for the past year. Her family supported her decision. In 1990, she played a notable role in the play "Operation Holy Mountain." In 1991, she was accepted into the National Institute of Dramatic Art on her first attempt, but stopped attending classes after a year and a half. The lively and charming blonde was invited to play a female role in a production of Anton Chekhov's play Uncle Vanya, and the rehearsal schedule did not align with her studies. Toni chose work and didn't regret it: for her role as Sonya, she received the "Best Debut" award in 1992. The lead role in "Uncle Vanya" was played by actor Geoffrey Rush, whose work she had always admired.Australian Cinematography
Tony made her screen debut in 1990 with a minor role in the series "A Country Practice." She appeared in a feature film two years later, starring in the drama "Spotswood," with the lead role played by Anthony Hopkins.Tony's breakthrough came with the lead role in the comedy-drama "Muriel's Wedding" in 1992. To portray her character, the actress gained 18 kilograms in less than two months. The role of the charmingly naive woman who believes in fairy tale love earned Collette recognition, audience admiration, a Golden Globe nomination, and an Australian Film Institute Award.
Producers had high hopes for the 1997 Australian romantic comedy "Diana & Me," in which Tony played the role of a full namesake of Princess Diana Spencer. However, Diana's tragic death shortly before the premiere led to the film's box office failure.
Hollywood Career
The actress managed to work both in her native Australia and in Hollywood. The year 1999 was especially successful for her. First, she had the opportunity to work with director Peter Greenaway on the film "8 1/2 Women." For the role of a nun from a brothel, she shaved her head several times.A few months later, the thriller "The Sixth Sense" by M. Night Shyamalan was released, instantly becoming a blockbuster. In the mystical film, Toni played the mother of a boy with supernatural abilities, whom a psychiatrist, played by Bruce Willis, tries to help. The actress received not only a record fee of a million dollars but also an Oscar nomination.
Probably because of this, in 2005, Toni didn't resist when she learned that she needed to gain 11 kilograms for the role in the comedy "In Her Shoes." In the story, she played the older sister of the character Cameron Diaz, although Toni was actually younger than her co-star.
Another major success in Collette's career was her role as the mother in the 2006 drama "Little Miss Sunshine." The road movie about an eccentric family heading to a children's beauty pageant garnered over a dozen different award nominations. Toni was also recognized, receiving nominations for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for her performance.
That same year, she starred in the drama "Tsunami," about life after the devastating natural disaster in the Indian Ocean. Toni was again nominated for a Golden Globe and, for the first time, for an Emmy.
In 2009, Collette began appearing in the series "United States of Tara." She played the main character, a woman suffering from dissociative identity disorder. In the story, Toni's character believed that seven different women coexisted within her. The actress played the lead role for three seasons. Her talented portrayal of a woman forced to balance the ordinary life of a mother and wife with mental challenges earned Collette first an Emmy (2009) and then a Golden Globe (2010).
Films and series featuring Toni were released every year. She appeared in the drama "The Way Way Back" (2013), the thriller series "Hostages" (2013), and the adventure "Hector and the Search for Happiness" (2014).
In 2014, Collette broke her promise and returned to Broadway after a 14-year hiatus for a role in the musical "The Realistic Joneses." The following year, at the Toronto Film Festival, the drama "Miss You Already" premiered: Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette played two friends who had to deal with one of them facing a serious illness.
In 2016, the actress appeared in the action film "xXx: Return of Xander Cage" and the war drama "Imperium" with Daniel Radcliffe in the lead male role.
2018 marked Collette's career with the horror debut of director Ari Aster, "Hereditary." The actress portrayed a miniature artist trying to cope with a family tragedy. The film was screened at the Sundance Festival and received excellent reviews from critics and audiences. In interviews, the actress admitted that she rarely watched horror films herself but did not reject acting in the genre, especially if the plot seemed unconventional.
In 2020, Toni starred in the surreal drama "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" and the sports comedy "Dream Horse." In 2021, Collette ventured into science fiction: she played the role of a spaceship commander traveling to Mars in the film "Stowaway."
The end of the year was marked by the premiere of the thriller Guillermo del Toro's "Nightmare Alley," where, besides Toni, Bradley Cooper, Willem Dafoe, and Cate Blanchett also starred. On the first day of filming, the actors had to participate in an explicit scene. Such conditions brought the colleagues together, turning them into a real team.
Additionally, in 2021, Toni decided to step into the role of director, working on a film adaptation of Lily King's "Writers & Lovers."
In 2022, the comedy "Mafia Mamma" premiered, in which Toni was joined by Monica Bellucci, and the thriller "Pieces of Her."
Music
In 2006, Toni Collette embarked on a tour across Australia with her debut pop album "Beautiful Awkward Pictures," supported by the band The Finish. The actress had already showcased her outstanding vocal abilities on Broadway, so she wasn't afraid to try her hand as a singer.In 2007, Collette and The Finish also performed at the Live Earth festival in Sydney.
Toni Collette's Personal Life
Toni Collette didn't get involved in on-set flings and resisted the charm of many Hollywood heartthrobs who sought her attention.However, after the release of the film Velvet Goldmine in 1998, the actress, who also starred in it and was remembered for a phrase that became an aphorism ("If two naked people are seen sleeping together, it doesn't necessarily prove that they had sex. Such things happen, though, for very serious reasons"), started a romance with the lead actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers. But after a year, the couple broke up.
In early 2003, Toni married musician Dave Galafassi. The wedding ceremony took place in Australia. Five years later, the actress gave birth to daughter Sage Florence, and in 2011, their son Arlo Robert was born. Collette and her husband lived in Sydney and owned a mansion in Ireland, where they visited occasionally.
The actress preferred not to discuss her family life, so the news of the divorce in 2022 came as an unpleasant surprise to many of her fans.
Toni has always been actively engaged in public matters. She participated in wildlife conservation festivals and fiercely advocated for animal rights.Toni Collette and David GalafassiWe are united in our decision and share unwavering respect and care for each other. Our children hold primary importance for us, and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit in a different form. We are grateful for the space and love you give us as we develop and peacefully go through this transition. Thank you very much.
Toni Collette Now
In 2023, Toni Collette starred in the science fiction film "Mickey 17", which was initially scheduled for release in spring 2024 but was later postponed to early 2025.Interesting Facts
- In 1983, 11-year-old Toni decided to practice her acting skills and began to pretend she was suffering from severe pain due to a supposedly inflamed appendix. Her frightened parents took her to the doctors, where the young actress continued to act hysterically and writhe in pain. The doctors didn't hesitate and scheduled Toni for surgery: her appendix was removed, even though it wasn't actually bothering her.
Important Dates in Life
- 1988 – Began working at the Australian Youth Theatre
- 1990 – Played a role in the play "Operation Holy Mountain," had a cameo in the series "A Country Practice"
- 1991 – Enrolled in the National Institute of Dramatic Art
- 1992 – Played Sonya in the production "Uncle Vanya," received the Critics' Circle Award for theatrical debut, starred in the comedy-drama "Muriel's Wedding," received the Australian Film Institute Award for "Muriel's Wedding"
- 1999 – Starred in the thriller "The Sixth Sense," received an Oscar nomination for "The Sixth Sense"
- 2000 – Performed on Broadway in the musical "The Wild Party"
- 2003 – Married musician Dave Galafassi
- 2006 – Starred in the drama "Little Miss Sunshine," toured Australia with a debut music album
- 2008 – Gave birth to daughter Sage Florence
- 2009 – Starred in the series "United States of Tara," won an Emmy for "United States of Tara"
- 2010 – Won a Golden Globe for "United States of Tara"
- 2011 – Gave birth to son Arlo Robert
- 2014 – Returned to Broadway for the musical "The Realistic Joneses"
- 2018 – Starred in the horror film "Hereditary"
- 2019 – Appeared in the mystery film "Knives Out"
- 2021 – Starred in the sci-fi film "Stowaway," began working on a directorial debut based on Lily King's book "Writers & Lovers"
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