Toni Collette facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toni Collette
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Collette in 2013
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| Born |
Toni Collett
1 November 1972 |
| Other names | Toni Collette-Galafassi |
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| Occupation | Actress, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1990–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Dave Galafassi
(m. 2003; sep. 2022) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
Toni Collette (born on 1 November 1972) is a talented Australian actress, singer, and songwriter. She is famous for her roles in TV shows and independent films. Toni has won many awards, including a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. She has also been nominated for an Academy Award and a Tony Award.
Toni Collette first appeared in a film called Spotswood in 1992. She became widely known for her role in the comedy-drama Muriel's Wedding (1994). This role earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination and an AACTA Award. She also received great praise for her part in the thriller The Sixth Sense (1999), which led to an Academy Award nomination.
Her other well-known films include About a Boy (2002), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Hereditary (2018), and Knives Out (2019). On television, she starred in the series United States of Tara (2008–2011), winning a Primetime Emmy Award. She also appeared in the miniseries Unbelievable (2019) and The Staircase (2022). Toni made her Broadway debut in The Wild Party (2000).
Toni Collette married Dave Galafassi, a drummer, in 2003. They have two children. She was the lead singer of the band Toni Collette & the Finish. She wrote all the songs for their album, Beautiful Awkward Pictures (2006).
Contents
Early Life and Training
Toni Collette grew up in Sydney, Australia. She is the oldest of three children. Her father was a truck driver, and her mother worked in customer service. Toni remembers her parents being very supportive, even though they didn't have a lot of money. She loved watching movies with her mom.
When she was 14, Toni had her first acting role in a high school play called Godspell. The next year, she decided she wanted to be an actor. In 1989, with her parents' permission, she joined the Australian Theatre for Young People. She later studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1991. She left NIDA after 18 months to act in a play called Uncle Vanya.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting Out in the 1990s
Toni Collette first appeared on TV in 1988 as a singer. Her first acting role on TV was in 1990 in the drama series A Country Practice. Her first professional theater role was in a play called Operation Holy Mountain. Critics noticed her amazing performance.
In 1992, she made her first movie, Spotswood. She played Wendy, a factory worker. Critics praised her performance, and she was nominated for an AACTA Award. To prepare for her role in Muriel's Wedding (1994), Toni gained 18 kilograms (about 40 pounds) in seven weeks. The movie was a big success. Critics loved her "vibrant and energetic" performance. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and won an AACTA Award for Best Actress.
In 1996, Toni starred in three popular films: Così, Lilian's Story, and Emma. For Lilian's Story, she won her second AACTA Award. In Emma, she played Harriet Smith, a close friend of the main character. In 1998, she won her third AACTA Award for her role in The Boys.
The Sixth Sense and Broadway Debut
When Toni Collette first read the script for The Sixth Sense (1999), she was worried it would be a typical action movie. But she was deeply moved by the story and decided to audition. She played Lynn Sear, a mother trying to raise her son, Cole, who can talk to ghosts. The movie was a huge success, earning over $670 million. Toni was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2000, she made her Broadway debut in The Wild Party. She played Queenie, a showgirl. She was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical.
In 2002, she had important roles in The Hours and About a Boy. For About a Boy, she was nominated for a BAFTA Award. She won an award for both performances. In 2003, she played the main role in Japanese Story. Critics praised her performance, calling it one of her best. She won her fourth AACTA Award for this role.
TV Success with United States of Tara
In 2005, Toni starred in the film In Her Shoes with Cameron Diaz and Shirley MacLaine. The movie was about two sisters and their grandmother. In 2006, she appeared in Little Miss Sunshine, a comedy-drama about a family trip. The film was a big hit and earned her more award nominations.
In 2008, Toni took on the main role in the TV series United States of Tara. She played Tara Gregson, a wife and mother with dissociative identity disorder. This meant she played many different personalities within one character. She found this role challenging but rewarding. The show was very popular and received great reviews. Toni won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her performance in 2009.
Recent Work
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In 2013, Toni Collette received praise for her roles in the independent films The Way, Way Back and Enough Said. She also starred in the TV drama Hostages. In 2014, she returned to Broadway in the play The Realistic Joneses, earning high praise for her performance.
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In 2015, Toni starred with Drew Barrymore in Miss You Already, a drama about two friends. She also played a mother in the horror film Krampus, which was a commercial success. In 2018, she delivered a powerful performance in the horror film Hereditary. She played Annie Graham, a mother dealing with supernatural events. This role was very difficult for her, but critics called it one of her best.
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In 2019, Toni appeared in the mystery thriller Knives Out, which was a big commercial success. She also starred in the Netflix miniseries Unbelievable, which was watched by millions. In recent years, she has continued to take on leading roles in films like Dream Horse (2020), Stowaway (2021), and Nightmare Alley (2021). She also starred in the TV series Pieces of Her (2022) and The Staircase (2022).
Music Career
Toni Collette has loved music and singing since she was young. In 1996, she sang three cover songs for the movie Cosi. In 2000, she recorded nine songs for The Wild Party Broadway musical album. Critics called her a "topnotch singer." She also recorded duets for the Connie and Carla (2004) soundtrack.
In 2006, Toni formed the band Toni Collette & the Finish with her husband, Dave Galafassi. She wrote all 11 songs on their first album, Beautiful Awkward Pictures, which was released in 2006. The band toured Australia and even performed at Live Earth in Sydney in 2007.
Philanthropy and Causes
Toni Collette supports many charities, including Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, and Feeding America. She has also supported PETA in the past.
In 2009, she auctioned off T-shirts she designed to raise money for various charities. She has also raised money for OzHarvest, an organization that gives leftover food to people in need in Australia. She sold some of her personal items to raise money for Cure Our Kids, which helps the oncology unit at The Children's Hospital at Westmead.
In 2014, Toni became a global ambassador for Concern Worldwide, an organization that fights extreme poverty. She visited Haiti to see their work firsthand. She has also appeared in public service announcements to encourage donations for Concern's campaigns.
Acting Style
Toni Collette is known for her ability to play many different types of characters. She often chooses roles that are complex and show real human emotions. She prefers working in independent films because they focus more on telling a good story than on making a lot of money.
Toni has said that she doesn't find it hard to separate herself from her roles after filming. She tries to understand her characters deeply. She doesn't focus on how big a role is, but on the character as a whole person. Other actors, like Brie Larson, have said that Toni is an inspiration because she can "disappear" into her roles.
Personal Life
Toni Collette has shared that she found it challenging to adjust to being famous when she was in her 20s. She traveled a lot and explored different places during this time.
She met musician Dave Galafassi in 2002. They got married in a Buddhist ceremony on January 11, 2003. They have two children together. Toni enjoys camping and meditating. The family lived in Los Angeles for a while before moving back to Sydney in 2019. In December 2022, Toni announced that she and Dave were divorcing.
Discography
- Toni Collette & the Finish: Beautiful Awkward Pictures (2006) – Hoola Hoop Records/MGM (HOOLAHOOP002)
Other Appearances
- "Best Friend", "Finale: The Wild Party", "People Like Us" (by Toni Collette and Yancey Arias), "Queenie Was a Blonde", "This Is What It Is", "Welcome to My Party", "Wild Party" from The Wild Party: A Decca Original Broadway Cast Album (soundtrack album, 2000) – Decca Broadway/Universal Music Group (012 159 003–2)
- "Airport Medley: Oklahoma / Superstar / Papa Can You Hear Me? / Memory", "Let Me Entertain You", "Maybe This Time", "Don't Rain on My Parade", "Medley: Everything's Alright / Don't Cry for Me", "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair", "There Is Nothing Like a Dame", "Cabaret" (all by Nia Vardalos and Toni Collette) from Connie and Carla: Music from the Motion Picture (2004) Epic Records (5178262000, EK 92430)
- "Hello Halo (Cooper Todd Remix)" (by David Galafassi, Toni Collette, Nathan Cooper, Benjamin Todd) from Miss You Already (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2015) – Sony Classical
Filmography
Awards and Nominations
Toni Collette has received many awards and nominations throughout her career. She has won five AACTA Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She has also been nominated for two British Academy Film Awards and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
For her role in Muriel's Wedding (1994), Toni received her first Golden Globe Award nomination. For The Sixth Sense (1999), she was nominated for an Academy Award. She also received BAFTA Award nominations for About a Boy (2002) and Little Miss Sunshine (2006). Her work in the series United States of Tara (2008–2011) earned her a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. For the miniseries Unbelievable (2019), she won a Critics' Choice Television Award and received more nominations for the Golden Globe Award and Primetime Emmy Award.
Images for kids
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Collette in 2013
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The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Kensington, New South Wales, where Collette studied acting
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Director M. Night Shyamalan cast Collette in The Sixth Sense (1999), for which she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
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Collette at the 60th British Academy Film Awards in 2007, where she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
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Collette at the Australian premiere of The Way, Way Back in 2013
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Collette attending the premiere of Miss You Already at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival
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Collette attending the premiere of Knives Out at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival
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Collette at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con
See also
In Spanish: Toni Collette para niños
