Essie Davis was born on January 7, 1970, in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. She is the daughter of artist George Davis. She attended Clarence High School and then studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, graduating in 1992.
Davis began her acting career primarily on stage, performing in various productions with the Sydney Theatre Company. Her early film roles included appearances in Australian films throughout the 1990s.
Davis gained wider recognition for her role as Stella Olemaun in the 2003 film The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Her performance as Lady Crane in Season 6 of the HBO series Game of Thrones (2016) further elevated her profile.
She achieved significant acclaim for her leading role as Amelia Vanek in the 2014 horror film The Babadook, directed by Jennifer Kent. Her performance garnered numerous awards and nominations.
Davis also starred as Phryne Fisher in the Australian television series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (2012-2015) and the subsequent film Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears (2020). She is also known for her role as Ellen Kelly in Nitram (2021).
Her filmography includes: