Skip to content
MovieCove
Deborah Mailman

Deborah Mailman

Actor · Born July 14, 1972 (54) · Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia

Deborah Jane Mailman, AM (born 14 July 1972) is an Aboriginal Australian television and film actress, and singer. She was the first Aboriginal actress to win the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and has gone on to win four more both in television and film. The awards are now known as the AACTA Awards.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 14, 1972 (54)
From
Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
Works as
Actor
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 52 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Up 65% in 30 days

What are Deborah Mailman's films like?

Across their 23 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
25%
Bonds
24%
Society
19%
Ideas
10%
Morality
10%
Survival
10%
Power
3%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 3 · Dark 3

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 14 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 13 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 9 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 7 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 7
Ally
2 of 7
Shapeshifter
1 of 7
Mentor
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Hopeful
9
Warm
9
Joyful
8
Melancholic
8
Other
23

How their films linger

Feel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Deborah Mailman's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Deborah Mailman's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

52 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page; 8 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • A Grief Encounter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Adrienne

  • Wolfram (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Pansy

  • Kangaroo(2025)

    as Rosie

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Last Days of the Space Age(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · as Eileen Wilberforce

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Runt(2024)

    as Bernadette Box

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Ark: The Animated Series(2024)

    Show 14 episodes · as Deborah Walker (voice)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back(2023)

    as Maggie Diggins (voice)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Boy Swallows Universe(2024)

    Show 3 episodes · as Poppy Birkbeck

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Scarygirl(2023)

    as Treedweller (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The New Boy(2023)

    as Sister Mum

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Australia's Wild Odyssey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

  • H is for Happiness(2019)

    as Penelope Benson

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Combat Wombat(2020)

    as Maggie Diggins (voice)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • 2067(2020)

    as Regina Jackson

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Total Control(2019)

    Show 18 episodes · as Alex Irving

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Bite Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 8 episodes · as Anna Morton

  • Mystery Road(2018)

    Show 6 episodes · as Kerry Thompson

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Three Summers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Pam

  • Little J & Big Cuz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 40 episodes · as Big Cuz (voice)

  • A Few Less Men(2017)

    as Sergeant Simpson

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Cleverman(2016)

    Show 12 episodes · as Aunty Linda

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Wolf Creek(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bernadette

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Tomorrow When the War Began (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 6 episodes · as Kath

  • Jack Irish(2016)

    Show 7 episodes · as Cynthia

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Oddball(2015)

    as Mayor Lake / Narrator

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Blinky Bill the Movie(2015)

    as Blinky's Mother (voice)

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Redfern Now: Promise Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Lorraine

  • Paper Planes(2014)

    as Maureen

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Jack Irish: Dead Point(2014)

    as Cynthia

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Darkside(2013)

    as Pamela

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • It's a Date (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Joanne

  • Please Like Me(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Siobhah

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Redfern Now(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lorraine

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Mental(2012)

    as Sandra

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Sapphires(2012)

    as Gail

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Mabo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Bonita Mabo

  • Offspring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 52 episodes · Actor

  • Bran Nue Dae(2009)

    as Roxanne

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Ralph (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Writer

  • Rush(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Gabe

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Lucky Miles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Lisa (voice)

  • The Book of Revelation(2006)

    as Julie

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Going Bush (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Australian Rules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Thanks

  • Rabbit-Proof Fence(2002)

    as Mavis

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Play School: Nursery Rhymes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Deborah

  • The Secret Life of Us(2001)

    Show 86 episodes · as Kelly Lewis

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Monkey's Mask(2000)

    as Lou

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Third Note (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Tina

  • Dear Claudia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Cathy

  • Radiance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Nona

  • Repeats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles, 51 of them dated from 1998 to 2026; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

The Sapphires (2012)

$20M worldwide

Highest rated

Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

The Secret Life of Us (2001)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19982026

Peak 2013 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting50 of 52: 50 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting1 of 52: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 52: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 52: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1990s3 · acting2000s11 · 9 acting · 2 crew2010s23 · acting2020s14 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 6% of 16 roles
0116

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Deborah Mailman's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 32 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 32 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back (2023)

93rd percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)

Midcredits 91st · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Deborah Mailman's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 2 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 37 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles16–78 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Deborah Mailman work with?

People who share at least 2 of Deborah Mailman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Wayne Blair shares the most, 6.

Directors

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles