Rarriwuy Hick facts for kids

Rarriwuy Hick (born 1990/1991) is an Aboriginal Australian award-winning actress, known for her roles in the television series Redfern Now, Cleverman, Wentworth and True Colours.

Early life and education

Hick was born around 1991 in Sydney, Australia. She grew up in both the suburb of Lilyfield, and in Dhalinybuy, an Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. She was raised speaking Yolŋu Matha and other Aboriginal Australian languages before learning English, and speaks seven dialects. Her mother, Janet Munyarryun, a Yolngu woman, was a founding member of Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Throughout her education, Hick was inspired by her mother to pursue dance and the arts. She attended a Catholic girls high school and showed sufficient interest in dance to establish a troupe. In 2009, she commenced studies at the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College,. She was asked to audition for the Aboriginal-produced play Wrong Skin, and was successful, performing on the tour while studying.

Acting career

Hick starred in two episodes of the television series Redfern Now (2012–2013), and as ongoing character of Ruby Mitchell in Wentworth making her first appearance for series 6, Hick would reprise the role of Ruby Mitchell when the show was renewed for its eighth and final season.'

In 2022 she played the lead role as detective Toni Alma, returning to her home town in Central Australia after living most of her life away from it, in the television miniseries True Colours. One reviewer called her performance "career-best".

In 2023, Hick appeared in Home and Away in the role of Elandra Hudson.

In 2024, Hick was named as part of the cast for upcoming feature film Kangaroo. On 21 November 2024, Hick was named as part of the cast for the second season of the ABC drama Mystery Road: Origin.

Dance and theatre

She established the dance group Yapa Mala and led its choreography. In 2011, she starred in the theatre play Bloodland.

In 2016, Hick starred in a revival of the Louis Nowra play The Golden Age by the Sydney Theatre Company and her performance and dance received praise.

Other activities

Hick was living in Arnhem Land at the time of the 2007 Northern Territory National Emergency Response.

In May 2013, Hick and other actors from theatre production The Shadow King in Melbourne were refused taxi rides by several drivers who reportedly drove off after observing that the group members were of Indigenous appearance.

In 2018, Hick started a social media campaign using the hashtag #ourkidsbelongwithfamilies, which became a "rallying cry" of Indigenous Australians fighting to maintain their families together against removals and resettlement of children by authorities.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Nominations