Jacki Weaver

Jacqueline Ruth Weaver (born 25 May 1947) is an Australian theatre, film, and television actor. She emerged in the 1970s during the Australian New Wave through her work in Ozploitation films such as Stork (1971), Alvin Purple (1973), and Petersen (1974). She later starred in Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), Caddie (1976), Squizzy Taylor (1982), and a number of television films and miniseries. She also starred in Australian productions of plays such as Death of a Salesman and A Streetcar Named Desire.

Weaver received international attention and nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in the crime film Animal Kingdom (2010) and the comedy drama film Silver Linings Playbook (2012), the former of which also earned her the National Board of Review Award. This attention led her to receive roles in further Hollywood projects, including the films The Five-Year Engagement (2012), Parkland (2013), Magic in the Moonlight (2014), The Disaster Artist (2017), Bird Box, Widows (both 2018), Poms (2019), Stage Mother (2020), and Father Stu (2022).

On television, Weaver starred in the Starz comedy series Blunt Talk (2015–2016), the Fox Showcase political thriller Secret City (2016–2019), the Epix thriller Perpetual Grace, LTD (2019), and the Stan science fiction series Bloom (2019–2020). Since 2021, she has played a recurring role as Caroline Warner in the Paramount Network neo-Western series Yellowstone.

Early life

Jacqueline Ruth Weaver was born in Hurstville, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales.^[2][3] Her mother, Edith (née Simpson), was a migrant from England, and her father, Arthur Weaver, was a Sydney solicitor.^[4] She attended Hornsby Girls' High School and was Dux of her school. She won a scholarship to study sociology at university, but instead embarked upon an acting career.^[5][6]

Career

1960s–2000s

Weaver has been working in Australian film, stage, and television since the 1960s. In 1963, at the age of 16, Weaver mimed the role of Gretel to the soprano Janet Rutledge in an ABC production of Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras.^[7] In 1964 at the Palace Theatre in Sydney, Weaver and a number of other Australian singers such as The Delltones and her then-boyfriend Bryan Davies performed a satire on the Gidget movies, in which Weaver performed as "Gadget". In the mid-1960s, she appeared on the Australian music show Bandstand. In one appearance, she sang a 1920s-style pastiche, the novelty song "I Love Onions". The turning point in her career came in 1965 just before she was about to go to university and was cast in the Australian TV series Wandjina!^[8]

In 1971, Weaver made her big screen debut playing the female leading role in the comedy film, Stork directed by Tim Burstall, for which she won her first Australian Film Institute Award. She later starred in the comedy films Alvin Purple (1973), and Petersen (1974). She played supporting role in Peter Weir's critically acclaimed mystery film version of Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), and a more substantial appearance in Caddie (1976) for which she won her second Australian Film Institute Award. In the following years, Weaver appeared in TV series, miniseries, and made-for-television movies, playing leading and supporting roles. Her notable television movies including Polly Me Love (1976), and Do I Have to Kill My Child? (1976), for which she received Logie Award for Best Individual Performance By An Actress.^[3]

Weaver starred in the miniseries Water Under the Bridge (1980) and The Challenge (1986), and 1982 drama film Squizzy Taylor. Also in the 1980s she appeared alongside Sir Les Patterson and politician Barry Jones on Parkinson^[9] Contrary to popular belief, Weaver has never appeared in a soap opera.^[10] She starred in the 1988 ABC drama series, House Rules about a Melbourne house-wife who becomes a member of parliament.^[11] After years off-screen, Weaver returned to film starring in the comedy-drama Cosi.^[12]

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Weaver found it increasingly difficult to gain roles on screen or television and she devoted much of her energy to the Australian stage, starring in plays including A Streetcar Named Desire, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Death of a Salesman, Reg Cribb's Last Cab to Darwin, and Chekhov's Uncle Vanya alongside Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh in 2010–11. Weaver has performed in more than 80 plays.^[1] Her stage abilities were recognised with a "Mo" award. In 2005, she released her autobiography, Much Love, Jac.^[13]

2010–present

In 2010, Weaver starred in the Melbourne-set crime thriller Animal Kingdom playing a gang family matriarch. Her performance received praise from film critics and earned her Critics' Choice, Golden Globe Award, and Academy Award nominations as well as winning the Australian Film Institute Award, the National Board of Review, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award, and a Satellite Award.

Weaver made her Hollywood debut with the 2012 comedy The Five-Year Engagement, alongside Emily Blunt and Jason Segel, and starred in Park Chan-Wook's English-language debut, Stoker, alongside fellow Australian actors Nicole Kidman and Mia Wasikowska, and British actor Matthew Goode.^[14] In 2012, Weaver received Actor Award, Critics' Choice, and Academy Award nominations for her role as a supportive mother in the comedy-drama film Silver Linings Playbook.^[1]

Weaver played Marguerite Oswald in the 2013 historical drama film Parkland and same year starred in the supernatural horror film Haunt. She made her American television debut guest-starring as a Rebel Wilson' character mother in her short-lived comedy series Super Fun Night. In 2014, she starred in the adaptation of Richard Alfieri's play Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks opposite Gena Rowlands,^[15] Marjane Satrapi's comedy-horror The Voices, and the romantic comedy Magic in the Moonlight written and directed by Woody Allen. She returned to Australia appearing in Last Cab to Darwin (2015) and Goldstone (2016) receiving Australian Film Critics Association for Best Supporting Actress. Her other notable film credits including Equals (2015), The Polka King (2017), Life of the Party (2018), Bird Box (2018) and Widows (2018). She starred alongside Diane Keaton, Pam Grier and Rhea Perlman in the 2019 comedy film Poms (2019).^[16] The following year, she played the leading role in the comedy-drama film Stage Mother.^[17] Also that year, she starred in The Grudge, a remake of the 2004 supernatural horror film, and the Australian drama Penguin Bloom starring Naomi Watts. In 2022, she played Mark Wahlberg' mother in the biographical drama film Father Stu.^[18]

On American television, Weaver starred in the 2015 Fox limited series Gracepoint and the Starz comedy series, Blunt Talk (2015–16) opposite Patrick Stewart. She returned to Australia with starring role in the Fox Showcase political thriller Secret City (2016–19), and Stan science fiction series Bloom (2019–20). In 2019, she starred in the Epix thriller Perpetual Grace, LTD (2019) and in 2021 she began appearing in the recurring role as Caroline Warner in the Paramount Network neo-Western series, Yellowstone.^[19]

Personal life

In September 1966 Weaver told TV Week that she would marry the pop singer Bryan Davies, adding that 'I'll probably get cold feet again like I've done before'.^[20] Shortly afterwards she married TV producer David Price, her director on the television series Be Our Guest, after an eight-week courtship.^[21] The marriage ended in 1970. She had a son that year with her partner at the time, John Walters.^[22] Weaver had a relationship of many years with Richard Wherrett, director of the Sydney Theatre Company.^[23]

She married Max Hensser in 1975. She lived with Phil Davis, a former Sydney crime reporter, Canberra Press Secretary, and executive producer for Mike Willesee, for five years until 1981. She married radio and television presenter Derryn Hinch in 1983. She and Hinch renewed their vows^[10] before divorcing in 1998.

She is currently married to actor Sean Taylor.^[24]

Filmography

Films

Television

Stage

Awards and nominations

References

1. ^ "Jacki Weaver - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com
2. ^ O'Neill, Helen (26 April 2019). "The golden age of Jacki Weaver: 'I'm prepared for it to evaporate'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
3. ^ Pender, Anne (December 2016). "Jacki Weaver – 'I'm Very Stella'". AustLit. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
4. ^ Weaver, Jacki (2007). Much Love, Jac. Allen & Unwin. pp. 2–7. ISBN 978-1741750560.
5. ^ Jacki Weaver (2005). Much Love, Jac. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-74114-618-6.
6. ^ "Jacki Weaver actress" by Jennie Curtin, The Age (11 April 1986)
7. ^ "A World of Make-Believe". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 31, no. 34. 22 January 1964. p. 21. Retrieved 29 March 2023. – via National Library of Australia.
8. ^ Tom Ryan, "Jacki Weaver", Cinema Papers, April 1982 pp. 121–124, 185
9. ^ "Sir les Patterson circa 1985 pt1". YouTube. August 2010.
10. ^ Weaver, Jacki (7 June 2019). "Aussies in Hollywood Podcast: Jacki Weaver". SoundCloud. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
11. ^ "House Rules (1988) - the Screen Guide - Screen Australia"
12. ^ Stratton, David (26 March 1996). "Cosi"
13. ^ Much Love Jac accessed 1-9-2016
14. ^ Dunning, Craig (29 July 2011). "Jacki Weaver has landed another blockbuster role alongside Nicole Kidman in Stoker". The Daily Telegraph. Archived 7 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
15. ^ "Jacki Weaver To Star In Indie '6 Dance Lessons In 6 Weeks'". Deadline Hollywood. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
16. ^ "Jacki Weaver Says the Poms Dance Sequences Were More Difficult Than They Look". Vanity Fair. 10 May 2019.
17. ^ Harvey, Dennis (2 July 2020). "'Stage Mother': Film Review"
18. ^ "Father Stu". – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
19. ^ Hahn, Kate. "Get to Know the New Threat to the Duttons in 'Yellowstone' Season 4". TV Insider
20. ^ 'Jacki to wed producer!' TV Week 12 November 1966 p. 16
21. ^ 'Mini-skirt wedding' TV Week 26 November 1966 pp. 12-13
22. ^ Jones, Caroline (2 June 2003). "Secret Life of Jacki". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
23. ^ Tranter, Kirsten (2 November 2013). "Jacki Weaver: Hooray for Hollywood". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
24. ^ Gilbey, Ryan (24 July 2020). "Jacki Weaver: 'Michael Powell said I was headed for great things. He didn't tell me it would take 50 years'". The Guardian
25. ^ Galuppo, Mia (2 August 2016). "Jacki Weaver to Play Melissa McCarthy's Mom in 'Life of the Party' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
26. ^ Vagg, Stephen (May 21, 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: Split Level". Filmink. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
27. ^ "Love's Labour's Lost". AusStage.edu.au. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
28. ^ "Fred by Beatrix Christian". AustralianPlays.org. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
29. ^ Uncle Vanya Archived 24 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine at the Sydney Theatre Company
30. ^ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
31. ^ Stedman, Alex (27 August 2013). "Australian Thesps Honored for Hollywood Breakthroughs"
32. ^ "Jacki Weaver wins AACTA lifetime achievement award", Sydney Morning Herald, 27 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-27
33. ^ "2016 GLUGS THEATRE AWARDS". Stage Whispers. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2023.

External links

• Jacki Weaver at IMDb
• Jacki Weaver at the National Film and Sound Archive