Wayne Blair

Wayne Blair is an Australian actor, writer, and director who began his screen career in 1997. He first appeared in the TV film The Tower that year, followed by roles in All Saints, Wildside, Water Rats, and Fireflies. He starred in the original stage production of The Sapphires in 2005, then directed the 2012 film version, which brought him recognition around the world and won him the AACTA Award for Best Direction. He acted in and directed episodes of Redfern Now, directed all thirteen episodes of Double Trouble, and worked on Lockie Leonard, Dead Gorgeous, and Total Control, where he played Paul Murphy and directed nine episodes. Other credits include Septembers of Shiraz (2015), the 2017 TV remake of Dirty Dancing, Aftertaste, and Irreverent, plus directing on Bay of Fires, Plum, and Mystery Road: Origin. He won a Crystal Bear for The Djarn Djarns and was invited to join the Academy in 2021.