Shareena Clanton facts for kids

Shareena Clanton is an Australian actress. She has acted in many movies, TV shows, and plays. She is well-known for playing Doreen Anderson in the TV drama series Wentworth from 2013 to 2017.

Early Life and Education

Shareena Clanton was born in Perth, Western Australia. Her family background is very diverse. Through her mother, she has roots from the Wangkatha, Yamatji, Noongar, and Gidja peoples. From her father's side, she has Cherokee, Blackfoot, and African-American heritage.

She first studied an Aboriginal Theatre course. This was at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Later, she was accepted into the full acting course there. She finished her studies and graduated in 2010.

Acting Career

Shareena Clanton started her acting career early. In 2009, before she even graduated from WAAPA, she appeared in her first movie. It was a comedy called Stone Bros., where she played a character named Leah. In 2011, she became a main cast member in the TV series Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth.

Theatre Performances

Clanton also has a strong background in theatre. In 2011, she performed on a main stage for the first time. This was in the play My Wonderful Day by Alan Ayckbourn. It was shown at the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney. After that, she played Adrianna in The Comedy of Errors. She also played Ariel in The Tempest. Both of these plays were part of the Shakespeare WA events.

Television Roles

Shareena Clanton has starred in many TV series. These include Redfern Now (in 2012) and Wentworth (from 2013 to 2017). In Wentworth, she was the youngest main cast member.

In 2021, it was announced that Clanton would appear in the soap opera Neighbours. She was set to play a character called Sheila Canning 2. However, before her first episode aired, Clanton spoke publicly about her concerns. She shared that she had experienced racism while working on the show. An investigation into these claims began. Other former cast members also came forward with similar experiences. The investigation finished in late 2021.

In 2022, Clanton played Valerie in seven episodes of Joe vs. Carole. Also in 2022, she lent her voice to the character Deb in the animated series Childish Deano.

In 2023, she played Ruby in the miniseries The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. Ruby is a ranger who becomes a friend to the main character. This series won awards and was available on Amazon Prime Video.

In 2024, Clanton appeared in the second season of The Twelve on Foxtel. She was also announced as part of the cast for the 2025 Stan series Invisible Boys.

Other Activities

In February 2018, Shareena Clanton appeared on the ABC Television show Q+A. On the show, she spoke about the importance of Indigenous voices. She said they should have a place in parliament.

Awards and Recognition

• 2011: She was nominated for a Sydney Theatre Award. This was for Best Newcomer for her role in My Wonderful Day.
• 2012: She was nominated for an Australian Film Institute Awards. This was for her role in Redfern Now.

Film and Television Appearances

Shareena Clanton has appeared in many films and TV shows. Here are some of her notable roles:

Film

• 2009: Stone Bros. as Leah
• 2015: Last Cab to Darwin as Sally

Television

• 2012: Redfern Now as Lilly (1 episode)
• 2013–2017: Wentworth as Doreen Anderson (53 episodes, main role)
• 2016–2018: Nowhere Boys: Two Moons Rising as Sonia Jarra (14 episodes, supporting role)
• 2018: The Cry as Detective Lorna Jones (4 episodes, main role)
• 2021: Neighbours as Sheila Canning 2 (18 episodes, guest role)
• 2022: Joe vs. Carole as Valerie (7 episodes)
• 2023: The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart as Ruby (3 episodes)
• 2024: The Twelve as Kora Gardner (6 episodes)
• 2025: Invisible Boys as Karla Hammersmith (7 episodes)