Toni Collette Bio
Toni Collette (born Collett; 1 November 1972) is an Australian actress, singer, and songwriter. Known for her work in television, blockbusters, and independent films, her accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award, with nominations for an Academy Award, two British Academy Film Awards, and a Tony Award. Collette made her film debut in the 1992 film Spotswood. Her breakthrough came playing a socially awkward romantic lead in Muriel’s Wedding (1994), which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination. She later was nominated for the Academy Award for the thriller The Sixth Sense (1999), as well as two BAFTA Awards for the romantic comedy About a Boy (2002) and the comedy-drama Little Miss Sunshine (2006). She has also acted in Emma (1996), Velvet Goldmine (1998), The Hours (2002), Japanese Story (2003), In Her Shoes (2005), Mary and Max (2009), The Way, Way Back (2013), Hereditary (2018), Knives Out (2019), I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020), Nightmare Alley (2021), Juror No. 2 (2024), and Mickey 17 (2025). On television, she starred as a suburban mother with multiple personality disorder in the Showtime comedy-drama series United States of Tara (2008–2011), earning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She was later Emmy-nominated for playing a police detective in the Netflix miniseries Unbelievable (2019) and Kathleen Peterson in the Max miniseries The Staircase (2022). Collette starred as Evelyn Wade, the founder and leader of a reform academy for troubled teens, in the Netflix limited series Wayward (2025), which was released September 25th, 2025. On stage, she made her Broadway debut playing a vaudeville dancer in the musical The Wild Party (2000), for which she earned a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination. She returned to Broadway in the Will Eno play The Realistic Joneses (2014).
Early Life and Background
Toni Collette is the eldest of three children, having two younger brothers. She was raised in the Sydney suburb of Glebe until the age of six, then in Blacktown, New South Wales. Her father, Bob Collett, was a truck driver, and her mother Judy (née Cook) was a customer-service representative. Collette later learned on an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? that Bob was possibly born as a result of his mother Norma’s (née McWhinney) having an extramarital affair with a US Navy chief petty officer stationed in Australia during and after World War II. Despite a public appeal in August 2015, her biological grandfather’s name is not known. Collette has described her family as “[not] the most communicative” but has said that despite her parents’ lack of money, they were supportive and made their children feel cared for. She has fond memories of growing up in Blacktown, where she and her mother watched Saturday afternoon movie matinees presented by Bill Collins. She described her younger self as having “crazy” amounts of confidence. When she was 11, she believed she had appendicitis and convinced her doctors: She was taken to an emergency department and had the appendix removed. As a student at Blacktown Girls High School, her favorite activities included netball, tap dancing, and swimming, and she took part in local singing competitions. Her ambition was to perform in musicals, as she loved to sing and dance.
Path to Hollywood
Collette’s first acting role was a high school performance of Godspell at the age of 14; she auditioned by singing Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love for You.” She decided to become an actor the following year and was influenced by Geoffrey Rush’s stage performance in The Diary of a Madman (July–August 1989). In 1989, with her parents’ approval, she transferred to the Australian Theatre for Young People, later explaining, “I was 16. And it’s not like I wasn’t good at school, or I didn’t enjoy it, I did. I just loved acting more. I don’t regret that decision, but I can’t believe I made it.” The actor returned the extra “e” at the end of her surname, which Stanley Collett had removed, as it sounded better for a stage name. She started at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in early 1991 but left after 18 months to appear as Sonya in Uncle Vanya (August–September 1992), directed by Neil Armfield, alongside Rush in the title role.
Toni Collette Career
Early Career (1990–1999)
In late 1988, Collette appeared in Burger Brain – The Fast Food Musical with The Sydney Morning Herald reviewer Bob Evans noting she “sings like a dream.” She made her television debut in 1988 on a comedy, variety show Blah Blah Blah as a singer. Her first television acting role was in 1990, a guest appearance as Tracy on the Seven Network drama series A Country Practice. Her first professional theatre role was as Debbie in Operation Holy Mountain in May of that year at Q Theatre, Penrith. Frank Barnes of Journal of the N.S.W Public School Teachers Federation noticed, “Collette [is] simply amazing in her professional debut as the girl with cerebral palsy.” She joined the Sydney Theatre Company and, from December 1990 to February 1991, appeared in A Little Night Music at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. In 1992, she made her feature film debut in the ensemble comedy drama Spotswood (known in the US as The Efficiency Expert), which starred Anthony Hopkins and included a then-newcomer Russell Crowe. She played Wendy, a factory worker who harbours a secret attraction towards fellow worker Carey. Filmnews’ Peter Galvin observed, “it’s here that the film finds real warmth, vigour, and pain, all contained in [her] expressive face; she’s terrific and so is Mendelsohn simply because we believe them.” For the performance, she earned her first AACTA Award nomination, for Best Supporting Actress. In 1992, her agent alerted her to a proposed film project with a good role; a year later Muriel’s Wedding (1994) was financed and started casting in June 1993. Although the actor auditioned on the first day, she did not win the role until three months later. In preparation for portraying Muriel, the actor gained 18 kilograms (40 lb) in 7 weeks. James Berardinelli of Reelviews called her “vibrant and energetic,” while Peter Stack of the San Francisco Chronicle opined that Collette played the lead role with “disarming earnestness.” She received her first Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress and won the AACTA Award for Best Actress.
Breakthrough (1999–2004)
When Collette received M. Night Shyamalan’s script for The Sixth Sense (1999), she feared it would be a “formulaic Hollywood action drama.” However, she was moved by the story and agreed to audition, winning the role over other actors, including Marisa Tomei. She portrayed Lynn Sear, a mother struggling to raise her son Cole who communicates with ghosts. The Sixth Sense grossed US$670 million on a budget of US$40 million and became the second-highest-grossing film of 1999. It gathered six Academy Award nominations including Collette’s for Best Supporting Actress. In 2000 she made her Broadway debut with a leading role in The Wild Party, playing Queenie, a masochistic showgirl who hosts a lavish party with her husband. Collette turned down the title role in Bridget Jones’s Diary due to her Broadway commitments. She followed with a supporting role in the action thriller Shaft (2000). In 2001 she appeared in the HBO TV movie Dinner with Friends and played Beth, a middle-aged woman who struggles with her husband leaving her for another woman. In 2002 she had a supporting role in The Hours, based on the novel of the same name, playing Kitty, a woman who plans to undergo surgery for her infertility. In About a Boy (2002) she portrayed a woman with depression who attempts to commit suicide. Collette played the lead role in Japanese Story (2003) as Sandy, an Australian geologist who develops an intense relationship with a Japanese businessman. The performance led to reviewers welcoming her return to lead roles. She won her fourth AACTA Award statuette for her portrayal of Sandy Edwards in Japanese Story.
Notable Works and Milestones
Among her numerous accolades, Collette received five AACTA Awards from eight nominations, a Golden Globe Award from six nominations, a Primetime Emmy Award from four nominations, and a Screen Actors Guild Award from four nominations. She also received nominations for two BAFTA Awards and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. For her performance in Muriel’s Wedding (1994), Collette received her first Golden Globe Award nomination. For her role in The Sixth Sense (1999), she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She went on to earn BAFTA Award nominations for About a Boy (2002) and Little Miss Sunshine (2006). For the comedy-drama series United States of Tara (2008–2011), Collette earned a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Her work in the miniseries Unbelievable (2019) led her to a Critics’ Choice Television Award win, and garnered further Golden Globe Award and Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Toni Collette Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Toni Collette has received numerous nominations for her performances, showcasing her versatility and talent across various genres and mediums.
Toni Collette Awards Won
Toni Collette has won several prestigious awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award, reflecting her exceptional contributions to film and television.
Toni Collette Family
Toni Collette was married to Dave Galafassi, a musician, from 2003 until their separation in 2022. The couple has two children together.
Personal Life
Collette has expressed her love for camping and enjoys meditating. She has been open about her struggles with bulimia and panic attacks during her 20s, which she overcame through various means, including travel and self-exploration.
