Mark Coles Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Coles Smith
Coles Smith in 2020
Born	1987 (age 37–38) Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Occupation	Actor
Known for	First Indigenous Australian actor nominated for a Gold Logie
Notable work	Last Cab to Darwin Pawno Sweet As
Television	Modern Family Mystery Road: Origin The Dog House Australia
Awards	FCCA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (2015) Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Play (2017) AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Series (2022) AACTA International Award for Best Actor in a Series (2022)

Mark Coles Smith (born 1987), also known as Kalaji, is an Aboriginal Australian actor. He also works as a sound designer, writer, and composer. He is famous for his roles in movies like Last Cab to Darwin (2015) and Occupation: Rainfall (2020). He also starred in the TV series Mystery Road: Origin (2022).

In 2023, Mark Coles Smith made history. He became the first Indigenous Australian actor to be nominated for a Gold Logie. This is a very important award in Australian television. He also won "Best Actor in a Series" at both the AACTA International Awards and the domestic AACTA Awards. These awards were for his role in Mystery Road: Origin.

Early Life and Learning

Mark Coles Smith was born in 1987 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. He grew up on a cattle station near the Fitzroy River. This area is about two hours north of Broome, in a region called the Kimberley. This land belongs to his mother's family, the Nyikina people.

His grandmother, Ningali Lawford, was a dancer and later an actress. Mark's grandfather was a pearl diver. Mark has shared that his family members were all very hardworking.

Mark's parents separated when he was young. He traveled a lot with his mother, who was a university lecturer. She taught about Indigenous mental health. He reconnected with his father when he was about 10 or 11 years old. His father worked on art projects in remote communities. Mark felt an instant connection with him.

Mark started acting at age 14. He got his first role in the children's TV show Ocean Star. His aunt took him to an audition for the show.

In 2007, Mark received an award called the Yvonne Cohen Award. He also studied Aboriginal Theatre in Broome. He later said that he learned most of his acting skills by working with experienced actors.

Mark's Career

Mark Coles Smith has many talents. He works as an actor, sound designer, and writer. He also composes music.

Film and TV Roles

After filming The Gods of Wheat Street in 2014, Mark got a part in an American TV show. He appeared in an episode of Modern Family. He played a tour guide named Koora. This episode was filmed in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.

Mark received great praise for his role as Tilly in the movie Last Cab to Darwin. He won the FCCA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2015.

In 2021, Mark was cast in Mystery Road: Origin. This show is a prequel, meaning it tells a story that happened before the original series. Mark played a younger version of detective Jay Swan. This role was first played by Aaron Pedersen.

In 2023, Mark became the narrator for The Dog House Australia. This happened after the previous narrator, Chris Brown, moved to another TV network.

Mark Coles Smith was nominated for a Gold Logie in 2023. This was a big moment as he was the first Indigenous Australian actor to get this nomination. He was also nominated for "Most Popular Actor" and "Most Outstanding Actor" for his work in Mystery Road: Origin. In 2024, it was announced that Mark will play Jay Swan again in a second series of Mystery Road: Origin.

Stage Acting

Mark has also performed in many plays on stage. His first stage performance was in 2005. It was a play called Crabbing at High Tide.

In 2016, he performed in The Drover's Wife. This play was at the Belvoir Theatre in Sydney. His performance earned him the Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Play in 2017.

In 2020, Mark played a main role in Black Ties. He acted alongside Jack Charles. The play was performed at the Sydney Festival and then toured to other cities.

Music and Sound

Mark Coles Smith is also a talented sound designer and musician. He was the sound designer for the play Which Way Home.

He performs music under the name Kalaji. This name means "whirlwind" in the Nyikina language. His first musical performance was called "Night River" in 2019. This work explored his Nyikina country and the Mardoowarra (Fitzroy River area).

In 2021, he released an electro-pop album also called Kalaji. The album features electronic music, instruments, and sounds recorded from nature. It explores his connection to the Martuwarra (Fitzroy River) and his Nyikina culture. One of the songs is named "Wandjina", which are cloud and rain spirits in Aboriginal Australian mythology.

Narration Work

Mark has also narrated audio projects. In 2020, he narrated a part of the famous poem "The Man From Snowy River".

He narrated the audiobook for "Born Into This" (2021). This is a collection of short stories by Tasmanian Aboriginal author Adam Thompson.

In 2023, he narrated and helped produce a book called Total Reset. This book was a collaboration with a Nyikina elder and the Goolarabooloo people.

Awards and Achievements

Mark Coles Smith has received several awards for his work:

Personal Life

Mark Coles Smith has shared some of the songs that are important to him. In an interview, he listed five songs that help him feel centered. These include "100% Pure Love" by Crystal Waters and "New Killer Star" by David Bowie.

Mark moved to Melbourne in 2015. After living on Australia's east coast for many years, he returned to his hometown of Broome by 2023.

Filmography

Television Roles

Film Roles

Narrator and Presenter Roles

Theatre Work

As an Actor

As Crew (Sound Designer)

Images for kids

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  Coles Smith in 2020