Alin Sumarwata is an Iranian-born Australian actress, whose roles include May Stone in soap opera Home and Away, Sophia Angleton in East West 101 and Vanessa Villante in Neighbours, a role she played from 2012 to 2013, 2015 and 2019. She has also starred in Strike Back: Retribution, Strike Back: Revolution and Strike Back: Vendetta as Gracie Novin.
Alin Sumarwata | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse | Don Hany (2011–) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
Sumarwata was born in Tehran, Iran.[1] She moved to Australia with her family at the age of seven. Sumarwata gained a scholarship to the Australian Theatre for Young People and later attended the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts.[2] She worked part time in a law firm and an accounting firm, while she graduated from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws.[2]
Career
One of Sumarwata's early acting jobs was a role on Indonesian television soap opera Kenapa Ada Cinta.[3][4] In 2009, Sumarwata starred as Yasmin Van Koors in the mini-series, False Witness.[5] She joined the cast of Home and Away in the recurring role of May Stone, before moving onto roles in Rescue Special Ops and East West 101.[6][7]
Sumarwata stars as Isabella Fortino in short film, Dark Horse. For her portrayal of Isabella, Sumarwata won the "Best Female Actor in a Short Film" award at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival.[8] The following year, Sumarwata appeared in Sea Patrol and Tangle.[9][10]
On 5 December 2011, it was announced Sumarwata had joined the cast of Neighbours in the regular role of Vanessa Villante.[9][11] Sumarwata and her family relocated from Sydney to Melbourne, so she could film her scenes.[12] Sumarwata's character was written out in 2013.[13] She made three guest appearances in 2015,[14][15][16] and she reprised the role again in 2019.[17]
In 2016, Sumarwata joined the cast of Strike Back as Gracie Novin for the show's sixth series, which began airing in 2017.[18] She reprised the role for the seventh series Strike Back: Revolution, which aired in 2019.[19] Sumarwata reprised the role for the final season, Strike Back: Vendetta which started airing on February 14, 2020.
Personal life
Sumarwata is married to actor Don Hany. They have two daughters.[3][10]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Soul Traces: The Introduction | Clara Woods | TV movie |
| 2005 | The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant | Nani | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Death's Requiem | Sarah | Short film |
| 2008 | The Terrorist | Short film | |
| 2008 | Octopus | Jane | Short film |
| 2009 | False Witness | Yasmin Van Koors | Also known as The Diplomat |
| 2009 | Home and Away | May Stone | Recurring role |
| 2009 | Rescue Special Ops | Brooke Henley | Episode: "Rescue in the Blue Mountains" |
| 2009 | East West 101 | Sophia Angleton | Recurring role |
| 2009 | Dark Horse | Isabella Fortino | Short film |
| 2010 | Sea Patrol | Sylvanna Gorski | Episode: "In Too Deep" |
| 2010 | Tangle | Julie | Episode: "Sleepwalking" |
| 2011 | Burning Man | Nurse | Film |
| 2012–2013, 2015, 2019 | Neighbours | Vanessa Villante | Main cast |
| 2015 | Mary: The Making of a Princess | Princess Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg | TV movie |
| 2016 | Jack Irish | Galerry Owner | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Strike Back: Retribution | Lance Corporal Gracie Novin | Main cast |
| 2019 | Strike Back: Revolution | Lance Corporal Gracie Novin | Main cast |
| 2019 | My Life Is Murder | Morgana Finch | Episode: "Feet of Clay" |
| 2020 | Strike Back: Vendetta | Lance Corporal Gracie Novin | Main cast |