Dichen Lachman

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Dichen Lachman
Lachman at the 2009 Starfury Convention
Born (1982-02-22) 22 February 1982 (age 42)
Nationality
  • Australian
Alma materUniversity of Adelaide
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Years active2005–present
Spouse
(m. 2015)
Children1

Dichen Lachman (/ˈdən ˈlækmən/;[1] born 22 February 1982) is an Australian actress and model. She earned recognition starring as Katya Kinski in the soap opera Neighbours (2005–2007) and as Sierra in Joss Whedon's science fiction drama series Dollhouse (2009–2010).

Lachman went on to portray Suren in the supernatural comedy-drama series Being Human (2012), Tani Tumrenjack in the military action-drama series Last Resort (2012–2013), Jiaying in the superhero drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2014–2020), Reileen Kawahara in the cyberpunk drama series Altered Carbon (2018–2020), Frankie in the crime drama series Animal Kingdom (2018–2021), and Ms. Casey in the thriller series Severance (2022–present).

Lachman has appeared in numerous films, such as Aquamarine (2006), Bled (2009), Lust for Love (2014), Too Late (2015), Bad Therapy (2020), Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).

Early life[edit]

Lachman was born in Kathmandu, Nepal. She moved to Adelaide, Australia, in the early 1990s with her family. Her father is Australian and her mother is Tibetan and born in India.[2] She attended West Lakes Primary School, Gilles Street Primary School, Norwood Morialta High School, St Mary's College, Adelaide, Annesley College and the University of Adelaide. She moved to Los Angeles shortly after she finished with the Australian TV drama Neighbours in 2007.[3]

Career[edit]

Lachman first filmed an ad in Australia for Wanadoo, which aired in the United Kingdom. In 2005, she joined the cast of the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Katya Kinski. She had auditioned for the role of Elle Robinson, but the producers decided to create the part of Katya for her.[4][5]

Lachman at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con.

Lachman played a small role in the feature film Aquamarine. After she finished shooting the role of Aaren in the film Bled, Lachman joined the cast of the film Aztec Rex in Hawaii. In an interview with The Soap Show, Lachman said she had appeared on the BBC television show Ready Steady Cook while visiting England in late 2006. In the interview, she explained that she was in Los Angeles to advance her acting career, but said she would love to work in the UK and Australia.

On 26 March 2008, it was announced that Lachman would portray Sierra in the television series Dollhouse, created by Joss Whedon.[6][7]

In an interview with ScifiNow in 2009, Lachman responded to the rumour that she would star in an upcoming television show based on Star Wars by saying, "I am a huge George Lucas fan. I love those movies and it would be a dream come true—I'd love to do it, it would be incredible."[8] She was named one of the 100 hottest women on screen for 2009, by the lesbian media site AfterEllen.com. "What a privilege to be there," she said.[9]

She guest starred as an insurance agent/street racer on NCIS: Los Angeles. She also appeared as Amy Hanamoa, the widow of a murdered police officer, in an episode of Hawaii Five-0. Lachman made a guest appearance in an episode of the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood, for its fourth series Torchwood: Miracle Day.[10] Additionally, in 2011 it was announced in Variety that Lachman would be joining the cast of Being Human as a series regular.[11] Lachman also made a brief appearance in the web-series The Guild during Season 5, episode 8 as a party guest during a gaming convention.

In 2012, it was announced Lachman would be joining the Shawn Ryan–driven pilot Last Resort for ABC,[12] and she subsequently appeared as a main character during the show's 13-episode run. She also guest starred in the second season of the Jane Espenson scripted web series, Husbands.[13]

Between 2010 and 2013, while working on other productions, Lachman and her close friend Anton King produced Lust for Love. King wrote the script in 2010 and used Kickstarter[14] to raise funds to make the movie. The initial goal was to raise US$70,000; however, when the deadline was reached on 11 November 2011 more than 1,500 people had pledged money, with a final figure of US$101,030.[14] To complete the movie, additional funds were raised through friends and family. British filmmaker Jack Wylson came on board as a producer, Australian actor Adam J. Yeend as co-producer, and Adam Bricker[15] as director of photography. Alessandro Ongaro of Luna Pictures Entertainment also made major contributions during post production.

In 2014, Lachman began shooting in Canada, where she joined the cast of The 100 in the role of Anya[16] and had a recurring role on ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

On 11 June 2015, a new movie called Too Late, starring Lachman, was released during the Los Angeles Film Festival. On 22 October 2015, it was announced that Lachman landed a recurring role on the third season of Michael Bay's action-adventure TNT series The Last Ship. Lachman had been cast as Jesse, a helicopter pilot who lives off-the-grid.[17] She starred as Reileen Kawahara in Netflix's original television series, Altered Carbon, an adaptation of the 2002 novel of the same name by Richard K. Morgan. The first season was released on 2 February 2018.[18] Also, starting in 2018, Lachman began a recurring role as Frankie on Animal Kingdom during its third season.

In 2020, she returned for small story arcs on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Altered Carbon, and she also appeared in the film Bad Therapy. In 2022, Lachman joined the main cast of Severance, which premiered on Apple TV+. She appeared as Ms. Casey, a wellness counselor. The series received acclaim from critics and audiences, with Lachman being nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama at the 2nd Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards. Soon after she appeared as antagonist Soyona Santos in the film Jurassic World Dominion. Lachman was then announced as the titular character in Steven Brand's noir thriller Joe Baby.[19]

Dichen Lachman in 2009

Personal life[edit]

She has been married to American actor Maximilian Osinski since January 2015, and gave birth to their daughter in May 2015.[20]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Eastworld Thug #4 Short film
2006 Safety in Numbers News Reporter
Aquamarine Beth-Ann
2008 Aztec Rex Ayacoatl Television film
2009 Bled Aaren
2010 Sunday Punch Jill Short film
2014 Lust for Love Cali Also producer
2015 Too Late Jilly Bean
2020 Bad Therapy Stern
2021 Raya and the Last Dragon General Atitaya / Spine Warrior Voice
2022 Jurassic World Dominion Soyona Santos
2024 Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Post-production

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2005–2007 Neighbours Katya Kinski Main role; 106 episodes
2009–2010 Dollhouse Sierra / Priya Tsetsang Main role; 27 episodes
2010 NCIS: Los Angeles Allison Pritchett/Allysia Takada Episode: "Full Throttle"
Hawaii Five-0 Amy Hanamoa Episode: "Manaʻo"
2011 Torchwood: Miracle Day Lyn Peterfield Episode: "Rendition"
The Guild Herself Episode: "Social Traumas"
2012 Being Human Suren Main role (season 2); 7 episodes
Don't Try This at Home Jen Episode: "Sex/Death, Part II"
The Glades Chef Lana Kim Episode: "Food Fight"
Husbands Pillow Girl #1 Episode: "Appropriate Is Not the Word"
The League Marbella Episode: "12.12.12"
2012–2013 Last Resort Tani Tumrenjack Main role; 13 episodes
2013 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jessica Lowell Episode: "Fearless"
King & Maxwell Benny 7 episodes
2014 The 100 Anya 7 episodes
2014–2015, 2020 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Jiaying 11 episodes
2014–2015 Shameless Angela 6 episodes
2016 The Last Ship Jesse 8 episodes
2016–2017 Supergirl Roulette / Veronica Sinclair 2 episodes
2018–2020 Altered Carbon Reileen Kawahara Main role (season 1); 7 episodes
Guest (season 2); 2 episodes
2018–2021 Animal Kingdom Frankie 23 episodes
2022–present Severance Ms. Casey Main role[21]
2022 Baymax! Additional voices

Web[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Spooked Carol Episode: "Paranormal Professionals"
2015 Hollywood Hitmen Eva Episode: "The Tied Up Guy"; also producer
2016 Scary Endings Laura (voice) Episode: "The Grinning Man"

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2015 E! Online Best. Ever. TV. Awards Best Fight (shared with Eliza Taylor) The 100 Runner-up [22]
2022 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Severance Nominated [23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Dichen Lachman". The Name Engine. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  2. ^ Topel, Fred (5 May 2009). "Dichen Lachman on Dollhouse". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Dichen Lachman Interview". Syfy UK blog. 11 December 2010. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Dichen Lachman". Supanova Pop Culture Expo. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  5. ^ Swift, Lynn; Jones, Helen (9 March 2010). "Neighbours Made Me Famous!". ATV Network. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  6. ^ Ausiello, Michael (27 March 2008). "Breaking: Battlestar Stud Playing Dollhouse with Dushku". TV Guide. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  7. ^ Kristin Dos Santos (26 March 2008). "Dollhouse Casting Alert!". E!. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  8. ^ "Dichen Lachman to star in Star Wars tv series?". Whedonesque.com. 25 August 2009. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  9. ^ Ellis, Scott (31 May 2009). "Doll of role has this star on rise". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  10. ^ Ausiello, Michael (5 January 2011). "Exclusive: Torchwood Adds All My Children Vet Havins, Dollhouse Alum Lachman". TVLine. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  11. ^ Weisman, Jon (29 June 2011), "'Being Human' adds Lachman to cast", Variety
  12. ^ Ausiello, Michael (8 April 2012), "Dollhouse Alumna Dichen Lachman Boards ABC's Undersea Drama Pilot Last Resort", TVLine
  13. ^ Vary, Adam B (28 June 2012). "'Husbands': EP and star on season 2 of their gay-marriage web series -- EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  14. ^ a b Kickstarter
  15. ^ "Lust For Love". 1 August 2013.
  16. ^ Bricker, Tierney (13 January 2014). "The 100 Casting Scoop: Dollhouse Alum to Guest Star on the CW's New Drama". E!.
  17. ^ "Nikki M. James Joins 'BrainDead'; 'The Last Ship' Casts 2". Deadline Hollywood. 22 October 2015.
  18. ^ "'Altered Carbon': James Purefoy, Martha Higareda & 2 Others Cast in Netflix Series". Deadline TV. 4 August 2016.
  19. ^ Grobar, Matt (27 June 2022). "'Severance's Dichen Lachman, Willa Fitzgerald, Ron Perlman & Harvey Keitel To Topline Noir 'Joe Baby' directed by Steven Brand". Deadline. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Dichen Lachman is a Mom!". Whedonopolis. 28 May 2015.
  21. ^ ‘Severance’: Dichen Lachman Joins Apple Drama Series
  22. ^ "And the Winners Are... from Best. Ever. TV. Awards 2015: And the Winners Are!". E! Online.
  23. ^ Hipes, Patrick (11 January 2023). "SAG Awards Nominations: The Complete List". Deadline. Retrieved 15 February 2024.

External links[edit]